Why komodo is endangered

The list, which included the evaluation of more than , species, shifted the status of the Komodo dragon from vulnerable to endangered. The world-famous Komodo dragon is among the species singled out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as likely to face increased threats as the planet warms.

Credit: IUCN. The lizards, which can grow to three metres long, were only recorded by Western scientists in , more than three centuries after Dutch colonists reached south-east Asia. As female dragons can reproduce without the presence of males — they have both male and female sex chromosomes — the process only results in male offspring and can lead to inbreeding. The latest Red List assessed , species globally, finding more than 38, or about 28 per cent of them to be threatened with extinction.

Among those at risk are 37 per cent of shark and ray species because of over-fishing, degradation of habitat and the effects of warming oceans, up from about 30 per cent from the previous Red List report a year ago. The survey, though, did reveal some more positive trends, such as the finding that of the seven most-fished tuna species, four of them are showing some recovery signs as nations improve the enforcement of fishing quotas.

They are currently listed as vulnerable due to habitat destruction from development and natural disasters, loss of large prey such as deer from widespread hunting and illegal hunting of the lizards themselves. The Komodo National Park was established in , covering three islands still inhabited by the Komodo dragon — Komodo, Rinca and Padar — in an attempt to conserve their habitat. It is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually, which, it is hoped, will increase the economic incentive to save the species.

For more on reproduction rights for the images, please visit panos. Collection Reptiles. Leatherback Turtle. Leaf-scaled Sea Snake. Central American River Turtle. Location Asia.

Overall, the organization says, more than 38, species face extinction. Facebook Twitter Email. Komodo dragons are now classified as an endangered species, and climate change is being blamed. Show Caption. Hide Caption. What happens when a Komodo dragon gets the munchies. Check out what feeding time is like for a Komodo dragon at the Cincinnati Zoo.