KOMODO – A Komodo dragon has mauled a boy to death in eastern Indonesia, police have reported.
The nine year old boy was in bush on Komodo island, part of the Komodo national park, last Saturday, when he was attacked by the animal.
The local district police chief said the dragon had attacked the boy, bit him and tossed him around, and only released him after villagers came and threw stones at it.
The island, one of the largest in the Komodo national park, has no medical clinic and the boy died shortly after the attack, the police chief said.
The park and the western and northern coastlines of neighbouring Flores island are the natural habitats of the giant Komodo dragon, which is the world’s largest monitor lizard.
The lizard can grow up to three metres in length and weigh up to 140 kilograms.
There are an estimated 3000 Komodo dragons remaining in the park and surrounding area and although they are known to be vicious and aggressive, fatal attacks on humans are rare.
