If you hear any strange noises
while visiting Komodo Island,
don't go to check them out.
Because you might find yourself
face-to-face
with the world's largest,
most dangerous lizard.
And it looks hungry.
As it starts charging towards you,
you realize,
you've never seen a creature
move that fast before.
If you thought dragons
only exist in fairytales,
we have a surprise for you.
This is a Komodo dragon.
They have shark-like teeth,
strong muscles,
and more than enough power
to kill a human being.
Komodo dragons are the heavyweights
of the lizard world.
They weigh more than 136 kg (300 lb),
and grow up to 3 m (10 ft) long.
They're only found
on several islands in Indonesia,
and estimates say there are
about 5,700 of them.
You're allowed to travel
across the park by yourself,
but you'll need to be careful.
If a hungry dragon comes looking for you,
what could you do to survive?
Dragons in Komodo National Park
have attacked 31 people since 1974.
Five of those people died.
Here's how you can visit
Komodo Island and get out alive.
When a Komodo dragon
goes hunting for a meal,
it prefers a target that is alone.
So, always stay around other people.
And don't be cheap.
Paying for a guide or a ranger's services
is the safest way to walk through the park.
It's very important to stay
on the park's official trekking paths.
If you leave these paths,
you run the risk of coming
too close to a Komodo dragon.
They're really good at hiding in bushes
and the shade below stilt houses.
If you get too close,
Komodo dragons will feel threatened
and are more likely to attack.
Even if you're observing
the Komodo dragons from a safe distance,
making sudden movements
can scare them and ignite an attack.
Komodo dragons have
an incredible sense of smell,
so it's a good idea not to use
any strong fragrance.
Leave your cologne at home.
Women who are menstruating
are not allowed near the dragons
since they can smell
the slightest bit of blood.
When the dragons smell blood,
they think it comes from their prey.
And If you make a lot of noise,
it can invite a hungry lizard
or disturb the lizards.
They may attack because
they feel threatened.
You couldn't resist being noisy.
Now an angry Komodo dragon
is charging at you.
The good news is
that you might be able to outrun it.
The dragons can speed up to 21 km/h,
but not for long.
So give it all you’ve got,
and you might escape.
If you're not a fast runner,
you're tired,
or the dragon is close enough
to lunge at you,
this tip could save your life.
Komodo dragons can
only run straight ahead.
So run in a zigzag pattern,
and the dragon will stop chasing you.
If you see a wooden house on stilts,
climb up the stairs right away.
Large komodo dragons cannot climb stairs.
But young dragons live in trees,
so don't take a chance on climbing a tree.
If a komodo dragon bites you,
it's bad news.
If you try to run,
the big lizard can follow you for miles,
waiting for its venom to take effect.
So, force the Komodo dragon to let you go.
The dragon's scales are like armor,
so you won't hurt a Komodo dragon
by hitting or punching it.
Instead, use a tree branch
or a rock and hit its nostrils,
eyes, or the inside of its mouth.
If the dragon is not too big,
and it grabs ahold of you,
you can try and open its mouth
with your hands.
Actress Sharon Stone arranged
a special birthday gift for her husband,
a visit to the Komodo dragon
at Los Angeles Zoo.
As he tried to take a photo,
the dragon grabbed his foot.
He forced the dragon’s jaws open,
threw it aside,
and dragged himself out of the cage.
Call for help,
and get medical care as soon as possible.
Don't waste any time because the venom
could make you bleed to death.
Getting medical attention is your
number one priority.
And remember,
the blood could attract other dragons.
If you can move, get back on the trail
and ask a guide for help.
They have forked-sticks
to keep the dragons away.
They only attack if they feel threatened,
are provoked, or smell blood,
and humans are not their usual prey.
But the dragons are losing their
natural habitat and their food sources.
You survived the Komodo dragon attack.
But what if the lizard
had been much bigger?
Could you survive in the Jurassic period?
Find out how.