The Komodo dragon(The Daily Post discover challenge – Animal)

Weekly Discover Challenge

Human beings have a common phobia of sorts for reptiles in general . Perhaps it is something to do with their general appearance , that is, to be honest, rather creepy, fear inducing or even repulsive at times, no offence meant (!!). Or may be it is the way they drag their weight around ,  quite literally (!) on their short podgy limbs; or sometimes the lack of it, that makes them less appealing to us humans. The myths and rumors surrounding them and their poisonous fangs, might just add to the nature of this fear or hatred as you may deem acceptable.

The Komodo dragon is one such fear inducing reptile that one only sees in one’s worse nightmares, as that four legged monster chasing you while your body stays paralyzed and incapable to respond.

My opinion on this creature was not very different… well..until I happened to see one for real here in Indonesia. Komodo dragons or Komodo monitor is a large species of lizard native to the islands of Indonesia. And so it does not come as a surprise that on one of our recent visits to a tourist  attraction  called  Taman Mini here in Indonesia,  we had the good fortune of encountering a Komodo Dragon for real.

Well, it was not out in the open, and no I did not touch it . It was within the confines of a large enclosure . One solitary dragon, lazing under the afternoon sun.

As I stood there watching this gigantic lizard with awe, all my repulsion melted away… and I saw it as  beautiful as it really was…

Just as I was about to turn away giving up any hope of making it leave it’s cozy spot, it stirred. And there it was slowly but steadily trudging past the small ravine and making it’s way to me, the glass shield being the only barrier between us. It watched me with the same curiosity with which I gazed at him. And then it seemed I had passed his test, for he decided to lie down  on the grass  besides me as I sat on the other side of the glass barrier,   my fingers trying to reach out…

At that moment I did not see a carnivore that feeds on other birds and animals, or one that is known to attack human beings at times. I just saw a calm, gentle creature that wanted to be loved or perhaps was aching for some company…

Or as most people would say it, it was the glass that made all the difference !

 

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