Komodo Island to close to tourists because people keep stealing Komodo dragons

Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

An Indonesian island home to the Komodo dragon is expected to close to tourists.

Last month, officials said they caught people stealing over 40 of the deadly reptiles. The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard in the world. The average ones grow up to 10 feet long and weigh in at around 200 pounds. Their saliva is poisonous. Those qualities make them an expensive black market purchase.

The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry said the dragons were selling from $35,000 each. News outlets in Indonesia reports the government plans to stop tourism to the Komodo Island in January 2020. 

They said environmentalists will work to preserve the dragon’s natural habitat and help grow their population.