Meet the Komodo, Earth's 'Last Dragon'

While kids in other countries can only read about dragons in fairy tales, a child in Indonesia can say: "In my country, real dragons are still alive!"

The world's largest lizard

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest living lizard on Earth — it can reach 3 meters long and weigh over 70 kg. Its ancestors roamed the earth millions of years ago, long before humans existed.

Found only in Indonesia

Komodos are found in no country other than Indonesia — only on Komodo Island, Rinca, Flores, and a few small islands in East Nusa Tenggara. That's why the world calls it "the last dragon".

Its home is called the savanna

Unlike the lush rainforest, the Komodo lives in the savanna — a wide, hot, dry grassland with scattered lontar palms. The Flores savanna is one of Indonesia's most unique ecosystems: it looks quiet at a glance, yet it's home to Timor deer, wild horses, yellow-crested cockatoos, and of course the dragon.

Fun facts for kids

1. Baby Komodos climb trees the moment they hatch — so they aren't eaten by adult Komodos!
2. Komodos can smell prey from several kilometers away with their forked tongue.
3. Female Komodos can lay eggs without a male — a rare ability called parthenogenesis.
4. Despite their size, Komodos can run faster than most humans over short distances.

A dragon that needs protecting

The Komodo is now endangered — only a few thousand remain. The threat isn't dragon hunters like in fairy tales, but climate change and shrinking habitat. The good news: Komodo National Park protects their home, and a generation that knows the Komodo from childhood will grow up to be its guardian.

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Kiko & Boni will meet the last dragon in Savanna Whispers (EKOPLOERS™ Book 3) — see the book details. While you wait, start the adventure with Book 1: Rainforest Whispers!