Komodo dragons could become extinct in few decades due to climate change: Study

Mounting on alrey existing issues of climate change, a new international study has derived that world’s largest lizard also kwn as Komodo dragon could be pushed to extinction 'in a matter of deces' due to drastic changes in Earth’s atmosphere until measures are taken to control same. 

As per research led by University of elaide and Deakin University and published on official website and an online journal, impact of global warming threatens mere existence of Komodo dragons that alrey live in restricted habitats. 

researchers have stressed that issue of Komodo dragons must be better incorporated into environmental conversation strategies and climate change would severely reduce ir population in a matter of deces. experts came up with models that predicted that se animals would become extinct in more than 50 per cent of ir habitats kwn to humans. 

“Climate change is likely to cause a sharp decline in availability of habitat for Komodo dragons, severely reducing ir abundance in a matter of deces,” says le author Dr Alice Jones from University of elaide’s School of Biological Sciences. “Our models predict local extinction on three of five island habitats where Komodo dragons are found today.”

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‘Most iconic lizard species’

In study, researchers have elaborated that Komodo dragon or Varanus komodoensis is “world’s most iconic lizard species” and it has been on planet for more than million years. However, only 4,000 of m are estimated to survive in wild. y are endemic to only five islands all in souast Indonesia including Komodo, Rinca, Nusa Kode and Gili Motang which are part of Komodo National Park, and Flores, fifth and largest island which has three nature reserves. Jones also ted that present conservation strategies are t eugh to avoid decline of a species and called for new reserves.

“Current-day conservation strategies are t eugh to avoid species decline in face of climate change. This is because climate change will compound negative effects of alrey small, isolated populations,” said Dr Jones. “Interventions such as establishing new reserves in areas that are predicted to sustain high-quality habitats in future, despite global warming, could work to lessen effects of climate change on Komodo dragons.”

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Im: Achm Ariefiandy, Komodo Survival Program