Achmad Ariefiandy: Can you survive a Komodo dragon bite?

Can you survive a Komodo dragon bite?

Clambering through the bush on one of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands, suddenly you spy a Komodo dragon in the clearing ahead. Forked tongue flickering; sharp, saw-like teeth glimmering; and strong, scaly body stretching up to 3 meters, Komodo dragons are formidable. So, what should you do? Are you doomed? Achmad Ariefiandy shares what we know about the world's largest lizards. [Directed by Denys Spolitak, narrated Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu].

Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizards, can weigh over 80 kilograms and swallow 80% of their body weight at once. Their serrated, iron-tipped teeth and bursts of speed make them formidable hunters, yet the true secret behind their deadly bite is still debated. Despite feasting on decaying corpses, they rarely fall ill thanks to potent antimicrobial peptides in their blood. Human encounters can be survived with calm, caution, and respect for these powerful creatures’ boundaries.