Komodo dragon attack repelled by woman with a broom
Komodo dragon attack handled by 83-year-old Indonesian woman with a broom. The Komodo dragon is the largest living species of lizard. Attacks by Komodo dragons are rare, but growing.
Komodo dragon attack handled by 83-year-old Indonesian woman with a broom. The Komodo dragon is the largest living species of lizard. Attacks by Komodo dragons are rare, but growing.
An 83-year-old Indonesian woman has used a broom to fight off an attack from a Komodo dragon.
Komodo National Park official Heru Rudiharto says the 2-meter (6.5-foot) -long giant lizard bit the left hand of Haifha on Tuesday while she was near her house on Rinca island.
Haifha, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, hit the giant lizard's nose several times with a broom until it left go of her hand. Her neighbors heard her scream and drove the animal away. It took 20 stiches to repair Haifa's hand.
Endangered Komodo dragons are found in the wild in eastern Indonesia. They can grow longer than 3 meters (10 feet). Fewer than 4,000 are believed to be alive.
The Associated Press reports that attacks are rare. But they have occurred with more frequency in recent years.
Another species of monitor lizard, a close relative of the Komodo dragon, was recently discovered in Indonesia.
As reported by LiveScience.com, "The lizard, whose scientific name is Varanus obor, is also called by its popular names, Torch monitor and Sago monitor. It's called Torch monitor because of its bright orange head with a glossy black body. "Obor" means torch in Indonesian.
The newfound lizard is a close relative of the intimidating Komodo dragon, as well as the fruit-eating monitor lizard recently reported from the Philippines."
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.