Can you survive a Komodo dragon bite? - Achmad Ariefiandy
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CEFR लेवल
Total Words
Unique Words
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सबटाइटल्स (84 segments)
DownloadYou’re clambering through the bush on one of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands,
when you suddenly spy a Komodo dragon in the clearing ahead.
So, what should you do?
Are you doomed?
Forked tongue flickering; sharp, saw-like teeth glimmering;
and strong, scaly body stretching up to three meters,
Komodo dragons are formidable— and the world’s largest lizards.
They can weigh over 80 kilograms,
but that number fluctuates dramatically since they're capable
of gulping down 80% of their body weight in a single meal.
Komodo dragons are one of dozens of species of monitor lizard.
They evolved in Australia and now inhabit just a few Indonesian islands,
where adult komodos generally have no natural predators—
besides each other.
They begin their lives as limber, tree-dwelling hatchlings.
Within their first year,
they rarely venture to the ground in order to avoid predators,
like adult Komodo dragons.
Because cannibalism certainly isn’t out of the question.
Juveniles actively hunt insects and other lizards.
And once they grow larger, they graduate to the ground,
and their diet eventually shifts dramatically
to include animals several times their size.
They devour deer, pigs, and even water buffalo,
bones and all.
Komodos can lie in wait for hours alongside game trails.
But at the opportune moment, they’ll lunge,
and can reach 17-kilometer-per-hour bursts of speed.
Their extremely sharp teeth have serrated edges
and tips coated in iron that puncture and tear through flesh,
making their bites quite literally metal.
But exactly what komodos owe their hunting successes to—
especially when it comes to taking down larger animals like water buffalo—
has been debated for decades.
Back in the 80s, one researcher proposed that even if their prey initially escapes,
Komodo dragon saliva might store harmful bacteria,
which could proliferate in the bite wound and help kill the animal.
But researchers have since found that not all Komodo dragon saliva
packs such lethal bacteria.
And some bite wounds might get infected all on their own.
Interestingly, Komodo dragons also have venom glands,
which secrete anticoagulant and shock-causing compounds,
possibly exacerbating the destructive powers of their bites.
But it’s unclear whether venom is playing much of an active role.
And Komodos’ thrashing bites alone seem harmful enough
to cause fatal injury much of the time.
But they’re not just hunters; Komodo dragons are also scavengers.
With their characteristic undulating walk
and their snake-like flicking forked tongue,
they’re able to gauge the direction of different scents
and identify rotting flesh from afar.
When one Komodo takes down a water buffalo,
dozens may congregate to feed.
However, despite regularly diving into decaying corpses,
Komodo dragons rarely succumb to infections themselves—
even though males lead devastating wounds on each other during breeding season.
Researchers think this is because their blood is packed with peptides,
which are like small proteins,
many of which can fight microbes and stimulate the Komodo’s immune system.
Some of these antimicrobial peptides have proven so promising
they’re even being investigated for human antibiotic uses.
But how can you protect yourself in the land of dragons?
Komodo Island oral tradition holds that a woman long ago gave birth to twins,
one human and one dragon.
Inextricably connected from then on,
the relationship between humans and Komodo dragons
was to be governed by respect and coexistence
instead of fear and violence.
And indeed, Komodo dragons generally avoid humans—
unless something like rotting flesh is also on the menu.
If you encounter a Komodo, try to stay calm
and avoid sudden movements that could pique their curiosity.
You’re better off orienting yourself behind them or to their side.
If one gets close, you could grab a stick and push it against their shoulder
or hit their sensitive foreheads.
And in the rare event one chases you, try outrunning them, climbing a tree,
or jumping into the ocean—
because they can run fast over short distances,
but they’re no marathon runners.
And large Komodos can’t climb trees anymore and tend to avoid water.
It’s also worth noting that if you did end up in this situation,
it’s probably because you illegally ventured into a protected area
without an experienced guide.
So, better to just avoid doing that to begin with.
Key Vocabulary (50)
toward
"Go to school."
belonging
"Cup of tea."
also
"You and me."
inside
"In the house."
specific
"That book."
Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
A preposition used to indicate that something is in a position above and supported by a surface. It is also used to indicate a specific day or date, or to show that a device is functioning.
A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
A coordinating conjunction used to connect two statements that contrast with each other. It is used to introduce an added statement that is different from what has already been mentioned.
A third-person plural pronoun used to refer to two or more people, animals, or things previously mentioned. It is also commonly used as a singular pronoun to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or to someone who identifies as non-binary.
A coordinating conjunction used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives. it indicates that only one of the options is likely, required, or true.
1
"One dog."
Used to refer to the whole quantity or amount of something, or to every member of a group. It indicates that nothing has been left out from the total being discussed.
A possessive determiner used to show that something belongs to or is associated with two or more people or things previously mentioned. It is also commonly used as a singular possessive when a person's gender is unknown or to be gender-neutral.
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Description
Dig into what we know about Komodo dragons, and find out what you should do if you encounter these giant lizards in the wild. -- Clambering through the bush on one of Indonesia’s Lesser...
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