Diplomat Correspondent
Shopian, (DD): The Wildlife Department in Shopian, under the supervision of Mudasir Ahmad, Incharge Controller Wildlife Department Shopian, has captured a Komodo dragon — a creature rarely, if ever, seen in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to officials, the animal was secured safely after being spotted in the district. “Normally these creatures are found in tropical and subtropical zones. We don’t know how it reached Shopian. It might have arrived in a truck from outside, as Shopian is an apple-producing town,” Ahmad said, adding that an investigation is underway. “Higher authorities will decide what is to be done with this dragon.”
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest living lizard species, native to a few Indonesian islands such as Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. Growing up to 3 metres in length and weighing over 70 kilograms, these reptiles are apex predators in their natural habitat. They possess a powerful bite and secrete venom that can cause shock in prey. Komodo dragons are typically found in hot, dry environments such as tropical savannahs, making their presence in the temperate climate of Shopian highly unusual.
Wildlife experts note that such sightings outside their natural range are almost always linked to illegal wildlife trade or accidental transportation, as these reptiles cannot naturally migrate across continents. Authorities are expected to examine whether the captured Komodo dragon was being transported illegally(DD)