JAKARTA, 06 September 2008 - The legendary Komodo dragon, a giant carnivorous lizard that feasts on water buffalo, and occasionally even attacks humans, is disappearing from its limited habitat, according to zoologists. The dragons, which grown to three meters long and weigh as much as 165 kilograms, are found only on Komodo and a handful of neighbouring islands in central Indonesia. Already endangered, their numbers are dwindling as a result of habitat destruction and hunting of their prey.

A recent expedition by Indonesian and American zoologists found that the formidable creatures, a protected species, have vanished from one of the smaller islands, Padar. On two other small islands, Nusa Kode and Gili Motang, the populations have dropped to 75 and 115 respectively. Jeri Imansyah, a member of the team, told Indonesia's Tempo magazine: "The theoretical threshold in determining that a species is on the way to extinction is the presence of less than 100 individuals in its population."

  21 November 2008 · Indonesia to plant 100 million trees this year
  20 November 2008 · Indonesia corruption watchdog to work with FBI
  19 November 2008 · Tiny primate rediscovered on Sulawesi
  18 November 2008 · Quicker opening of Jakarta airport toll road
  17 November 2008 · More executions likely to follow in Indonesia
  17 November 2008 · Powerful earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi
  16 November 2008 · Bali water supply endangered by shrinking Lake Batur
  16 November 2008 · Bali police chief 'needs to' enforce new anti-pornography law
  15 November 2008 · Landslide kills ten in West Java province
  14 November 2008 · Rihanna cancels concert in Indonesia amid safety concerns