Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2019/04/02/komodo-island-is-closing-becau.html
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Worst. Pet. Ever!
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This is why we can’t have nice things.
Or in this case, dangerous monster lizard things
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This.
I mean, they’re wild animals and mildly venomous, but pretty harmless to humans who aren’t dumb enough to try to wrangle them or their eggs.
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Dracarys!
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Komodo dragons are about 8 feet long and weigh as much as an adult human. Would not someone notice the enormous tail sticking out of your tote bag as you were leaving the island?
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People are going to be bitterly disappointed when they realize these dragons only give you an infection from their bite rather than destroy your enemies and free enslaved people with fire…
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Looking forward to reading of rich idiot in extended hospital stay after being bitten by his ill gotten pet.
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They used to think that but they also have recently found venom glands.
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Yes, I’m aware there have been attacks on humans. As I said, they’re wild animals. They mostly avoid full-grown humans unless provoked by imprudent behavior. I would not call them particularly dangerous as long as they’re treated with respect and caution and given distance by humans who aren’t trained to interact with them.
I just don’t agree with calling wild animals dangerous because they’ve attacked a few humans over several decades. YMMV.
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I respect large predatory animals enough not to mess with them and appreciate maintaining their habitats as far from people as we can (for their safety).
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I agree, and I didn’t mean to sound as though I was chastising you; I apologize if that’s how I came across due to my general irritation at humankind’s behavior (not at you).
It’s just sad that some humans seem incapable of respecting nature so we have to close a natural wonder to everyone. As you said, this is why we can’t have nice things. And yes, protecting their habitats must and should come first.
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No worries. I took it the right way. 
I agree completely.
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Get 'em while you can! It’s gong to be a seller’s market until at least 2021! /s
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I just hope they are ending up as edgy rich guys’ poorly considered pets, and not old rich guys’ alternative erectile dysfunction medicine. Every rare animal is thought to be some kind of viagra…
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One could use Komodo dragon-shaped baggage for the theft, but that could raise suspicion.
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Ah! Still… this isn’t likely to happen with a Komodo dragon:
(I do love this scene and set of interactions in this episode…)
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SCIENTIST: Wait, why are these glands full of lighter fluid?
DRAGON: Secret’s out! Gotta immolate these mofos!
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