Komodo dragon attacks Indonesia park ranger.

[OrlandoEastwood]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...es-ranger.html

JAKARTA, Indonesia - An Indonesian park ranger escaped an attack by a Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard species, when his colleagues heard his cries for help and drove the reptile away.

Marcelinus Subanghadir was outside his hut on Komodo Island late Monday when a nearly 7-foot-long dragon grabbed hold of his right foot, Komodo National Park chief Tamen Sitorus said.

The dragon had Subanghadir's foot clamped in its shark-like, serrated teeth until fellow rangers heard his screams and drove it off with wooden clubs, Sitorus said.

Subanghadir, 34, suffered deep lacerations and was recovering at a hospital on nearby Bali.

Komodo dragons can be found in the wild only on the eastern Indonesian islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca. The lizards - thought to number fewer than 4,000 - can grow longer than 10 feet and weigh 150 pounds.

An 8-year-old boy was killed by one of the lizards in 2007 on Komodo Island.

I thought if these things bite you, you're f***ed with a capital "F" since they have venom that kills.

[LeAnn]

Oh my! I wonder what he did to make it so angry!!!

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by OrlandoEastwood

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...es-ranger.html



I thought if these things bite you, you're f***ed with a capital "F" since they have venom that kills.

Yeah their saliva has bacteria and can kill you.

We are going to the Jax Zoo this weekend and the Komodo Dragons are boring since they just sit there and they have limited space

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by OrlandoEastwood

I thought if these things bite you, you're f***ed with a capital "F" since they have venom that kills.

Yeah I remember reading about them having mouthfulls of deadly bacteria or something. Nasty critters...

[OrlandoEastwood]

I liked how the last line stated a location called Komodo Island. That sounds like a bad ass 80's film.

[Porkchop Express]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

Yeah I remember reading about them having mouthfulls of deadly bacteria or something. Nasty critters...

They do have deadly bacteria in their mouth, which is basically a death sentence if your are bitten. I wonder why that is not mentioned? I guess if you are instantly treated with broad antibiotic coverage, you won't get septic.

[MrFattBill]

I would suggest not living on an Island named after them

Reminds me of all the shark attacks from a few years back. When sharks start coming up on land and biting people I will be concerned, until that starts if you are swimming in the OCEAN and get bit too f'in bad. /rant



Bill

[Fors*]

I wonder why the bacteria was never mentioned?

[DJ Manyak]

Here is some details about the venom / bacteria

caused previous researchers to suggest that the dragon kills via blood poisoning caused by the multiple strains of bacteria in the dragon’s saliva. But “that whole bacteria stuff has been a scientific fairy tale,” said Bryan Fry [National Geographic News], lead researcher in a new study. Instead, the dragon uses its sharp, serrated teeth to rend its victim’s flesh while it simultaneously injects a venom that lowers the animal’s blood pressure and prevents blood clotting. Says Fry: “If you keep it bleeding and lower its blood pressure, it’s going to lose consciousness, and then you can tear its guts out at your leisure” [The New York Times].

For the new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers dissected a Komodo dragon that died of natural causes at a zoo in Singapore. They found a set of six venom glands and ducts that led to the spaces between the lizard’s teeth, and detected proteins known to be in snake venom. In particular, compounds known to widen blood vessels and thin the blood — which induces shock — were present. Fry and his colleagues injected the venom into rats and confirmed that their blood pressure and aortic tension decreased. After the injection, the rats also became still, an outward sign of shock

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by OrlandoEastwood

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...es-ranger.html



I thought if these things bite you, you're f***ed with a capital "F" since they have venom that kills.

It's not venom...it's a huge amount of very toxic bacteria in their mouths. They can bite prey, then follow it around for a day or two until it's incapacitated.

Nasty creature, is the dragon.

Edit: computergeek is right! I learn something every day.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science...ite/index.html

[P@t_Mtl]

That must have hurt like h.....

[GORT]

[Show spoiler]komodobite.jpg

Warning this pic is nasty.

[DJ Manyak]

Originally Posted by GORT

[Show spoiler]Attachment 14955

Warning this pic is nasty.

damn and i just ate ribs

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by GORT

[Show spoiler]Attachment 14955

Warning this pic is nasty.

Darn!!! Don't mess with mother nature is the moral of this pic or she will mess right back and she will win

[LeAnn]

EWWWW! That reminds me of the Nature special on spider bites and snake bites!

[OrlandoEastwood]

Originally Posted by GORT

[Show spoiler]Attachment 14955

Warning this pic is nasty.

Yikes, some creatures are not meant to be played around with.