Russ and Jan's World Cruise: Tuesday, February 28, 2023

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Finally able to post this. Internet has been slow enough that getting photos loaded was problematic.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Komodo Island was on our original itinerary. As happens with any cruise, but particularly one of this length, there are frequent changes. A couple of disappointments, but certainly nothing catastrophic and in many cases something very positive. This being one of those positives.

The change for Komodo was that we would not be visiting Komodo Island, but another island that is part of the Komodo National Park. We will be visiting Rinca Island. On Komodo Island you walk along dirt paths with a guide and a “ranger”. The ranger carries a forked stick and is there to protect you. Komodo Island has about 1,700 dragons. Rinca Island has built elevated wooden walkways and you do not leave the walkways other than at the museum and visitor center towards the end of your tour. Rinca has about 1,300 dragons. You still have a ranger with you as well as a guide, but there is less of a chance of a direct interaction with the dragons.

Also on the islands are deer, water buffalo, monkey, wild boar and numerous types of snakes. Dragons are both carnivorous and cannibalistic. Large ones can be up to 10 feet in length and can weigh up to 150 pounds. Females can lay up to 30 eggs. When the eggs hatch, the babies immediately go up into the trees and live in the trees for about 3 years. Only about 10-15% will survive. The population is rather stable.

Dragons are venomous but their venom doesn’t immediately kill. The venom is an anticoagulant, and they have about 50+ different bacteria in their mouths that also works on whatever animal they have attacked. They take their time feeding on their prey and other dragons may also feed on a kill although it really isn’t cooperative sharing. The dragon will not need to feed again for 3-4 weeks. They are not nocturnal and are most active in the early mornings.

In the hour we were on the island, we saw several dragons, water buffalo, deer, and land crabs. It was quite warm (read "hot"). But we were given bottles of water or soda and wet towels. This island felt like a better experience for the visitor than what I'd seen pictures of for Komodo Island.