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An 8-year-old boy was killed by a V. komodoensis on the island of Komodo. First recorded fatality in 33 years

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailtoplatest.asp?fileid=20070604150012&irec=0

This is sad, unfortunately this could happen with other large captive monitors, I sure hope it will never happen, however theirs no dough in my mind some of my croc monitors could kill my children’s 7-9. this has raised enough concern for me to install locks and alarms in my monitor room.

That is so sad! Hope they find the animal that did this. I wished it didn't have to end this way for the animal either!

What do you mean "I hope they find the monitor that did this"??? Do you want them to kill it or something???

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I think they should remove problem animals away from the people. Well, if they can't remove them, then unfortunately the animal has to be put down for the people safety. You have to remember that this is a third world country...not Europe or the U.S. The people are facing starvation and opressive government, they have to be able to make a living without getting attack by an animal who develops a taste for humans. I don't blame the animal for this, but I do think people safety comes first. They are not proposing killing all the lizards...just the problem animal. I believe they do this with Bengal tigers in India, also, although it is rare in most part that tigers would attack and consume humans, but when it does happened (which is rare in most area) the authorities do what they can to ensure the people's safety.

Komodo is a sanctuary for komodo dragons, these lizards are protected not the humans, few peoples inhibit the island and they know very well these dragons, tourist have strict regulation they must obey.

Every single adult dragon can and will kill an infant, its not a question of taste for human its simply a predatory nature.

Tigers in India are killed by ignorant peoples! These animals have lost there territory, they are driven to extinction.
In Sumatra tigers are considered rare, in fact they are plentiful never seen and run away from man, they have better options of prey and habitat.

Peoples don’t understand nature, that’s why they say strange things like you do!

I doubt when people are facing starvation and starving to death and living shack, they would share the same view we do. It's easy to judge them base on our own standard...remember we live in developed country. People in America and Europe are getting fat while some of the poor children in countries like India are dying of malnutrition. It's easy to blame the people over there. But it's not those people's fault; they are trying to scratch out a living to feed themselves from day to day. Blame that on the pet industry that import thousands of wild animals to countries like the U.S. and others in Europe. If there isn't a market for exotic animals, those people are not going to go out and catch them and sell them for profit! That's why it is important to help the people, too. If you don't help the people, then the animals don't get help either.

Don't blame the people over there. The problem is tourists buying wildlife products and people over here and Europe who support the pet industry by buying exotic reptiles and birds.

Whoa wait a minute, not sure how we got to blaming those that buy exotic animals for anything. That is an important part of the economy for many people / cultures.

Anyway, I agree with your basic premise (problem animal should be removed) but…in that sense all the komodos could be considered in that light. My first take on this is that any komodo will opportunistically kill and / or eat anything that comes their way…human or not. What I am saying is I doubt there is a ‘taste for humans’ developed like the mammalian predators you reference. In fact I would say it would be more accurate to say those mammalian predators lost their fear of humans (due to starvation or just conditioning) more than developed a taste for human flesh. I don’t think komodos have much fear of anything as adults.

On the flip side, my monitors definitely have food triggers (seeing me for example) so it could be argued the one that was ‘successful’ in eating that boy will search out more of the same ‘success’ relentlessly.

Tragic situation either way.

Tom

This is an easy fix. Yes, this Dragon must pay for its offense. So instead of death he/she will be sentenced to confinement for life. How will this happen?

Catch said Komodo Dragon. Charge and convict(jury trial of course). At sentencing the Dragon will get life of confinement to industrialized nations zoo's. Here it will receive "diesel therapy" being shipped from zoo to zoo and be touted "MAN EATING DRAGON...COME ONE!!,COME ya de da"...this would no doubt raise gate/ticket sales. This money will go to the victim's family and to the their (komodo dragon's) national park. Simple and everyone wins.

Typical human ignorance and hubris. Rather than removing 'problem animals', maybe the problem people should be removed instead. In my book people are certainly more expendable than Komodos. Realistically the locals will simply cope with the danger and go on with their lives, and perhaps kids will be a little more wary when defecating behind bushes.

It is clear you are talking about things which you have zero knowledge of. If you have not been to Indonesia, your blathering is based on your imagination only. It seems your only concept of other nations is the propaganda that the boobtube feeds you. Maybe you should hop on plane sometime and expand your limited perspective on life. And yes, I've traveled to Indonesia a few times myself. If people facing starvation and oppressive governments concern you, look no further than the US.

Yes, this is exactly what I was talking about.

"If people facing starvation and oppressive governments concern you, look no further than the US."

HAHAHAHA that's so true.

No, that's what the people in biology wants you to believe....that people in those countries are evil. I'm live and grew up in Thailand, and back then they had raw sewage, so the people bathe, wash dishes and cloths all in the same water way they use to go the bathroom. If you never have to live like they do, you don't know! That's why biologists are looked down upon because some of the earlier ones, that tried spread those propaganda. The people are trying to survive, also, not just animals. I don't know if you know, but even the poors in the U.S. have cellphone...something that other countries don't have.

I think you're talking a lot of nonsense. I haven't been to Thailand, but I find it difficult to believe it is as quite as terrible as you describe.

Cellphones are very common in all but the more remote areas of Indonesia. Lack of network coverage is obviously an issue in those areas. The locals that live around wild Komodos may not have many material possessions by your standards, but that doesn't mean it's accurate to say they are starving and oppressed.