picture from :
~ https://www.cnnindonesia.com
The komodo dragon, also known as the komodo (varanus komodoensis), is a large species of monitor lizard found on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. This monitor lizard by the native inhabitants of the island of komodo is also referred to by the local name “ora”. Komodo dragons were first documented by a European citizen in 1910. This European explorer then spread the news about the existence of a "crocodile" island. This news finally reached the ears of the Director of the Bogor Zoological Museum, Peter Ouwens. In 1912, he wrote a scientific paper on the documentation and skins of komodo dragons that he got from Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek from the Netherlands. The scientific journal is entitled "On a Large Varanus Species from an Island of Komodo" and forms part of the library The New York Botanical Garden. Starting from the scientific journal Peter Ouwens, the news of the existence of the komodo dragon has become increasingly popular in the world. The name Varanaus Komodoensis also comes from Peter Ouwens. Until finally, in 1926, an explorer named W. Douglas Burden made an expedition to find komodo dragons. The popularity of Komodo Island tourism is increasing. In 2017, more than 120,000 tourists visited Komodo Island, of which 60 percent were foreign tourists. The echo of komodo tourism has even been heard by world celebrities. Call it a hollywood actress who is also the ex-wife of vocalist Coldplay, Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow has already set foot there. Even with a phenomenal racer, Valentino Rossi. The evolutionary development of the komodo dragon begins with the genus Varanus. About 40 million years ago, these animals came from around Asia. Then, they migrated to Australia and evolved into a giant form. 15 million years ago, it was illustrated that Australia and Southeast Asia were divided. This situation then allows the komodo dragons to return to their place of origin in Southeast Asia, precisely in eastern Indonesia. This is evidenced by the latest fossil findings from Queensland, Australia. These fossils show that the komodo dragon actually evolved in Australia before spreading to Indonesia.