Pulau Komodo, Indonesia

Strait of Sumba separates the islands of Flores, Sumbawa and Komodo with the island of Sumba. Flores Island is next to Komodo one of the few Islands where the famous Komodo dragon can be found. Aside from its most famous residents, the Komodo dragons, the inhabitants of this island are mostly descendants of former convicts, exiled to the island and who have mixed with the indigenous Bugis from Sulawesi. The population is primarily Muslim, but Christianity and Hinduism are also practiced. Komodo is one of the 17,508 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia and is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands and forms part of the Komodo National Park. The Komodo dragon, a type of monitor lizard, is the world’s largest and roams the island freely. It also makes it home on some of the smaller surrounding islands. The lizards grow to an average of between 6 and nearly 10 feet long (2 – 3 m) and weigh an average of 150lbs (70 kg). The dragon’s diet consists mainly of carrion, but they will hunt and ambush birds, invertebrates and mammals. Komodo dragons were discovered by Western scientists in 1910 and caused a sensation in zoos all over the world. Komodo National Park, founded in 1980, includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, and was established in order to protect the dragons. It has since become dedicated to the protection of other species, including marine species. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Although the Komodo dragon is the undeniable star attraction, scuba divers come from all over the world to marvel at the diversity of species that can be seen in the waters around these volcanic islands. EXTRACTED FORM MIX SOURCES