José Javier Delgado Esteban

Photographer
Komodo Dragons of Rinca Island
Public Project
Komodo Dragons of Rinca Island
Copyright José Javier Delgado Esteban 2024
Updated Nov 2020
Topics Animal trafficking, Animals, Black and White, Endangered species, Environment, Fauna, Photography, Wildlife
The Komodo Monitor Dragon, Varanus komodoensis, is the biggest lizard on the planet reaching put 3 metres in length and a weight of around 70 kilos.

It lives in a small group of Indonesian islands part of the Komodo National Park. Incredible rare in other reptiles the Komodo Dragons will hunt and ambush together much larger prey than themselves such as the water buffalos that inhabit these islands.

In December 2019 while the Indonesian government was considering the permanent closure of the park we were able to spend 10 days in the island of Flores. After several failed attempts to capture the dragons in Komodo island, Komodo dragon unlike the stories of man eating monster are actually incredibly shy and attacks on humans are very rare. 

On the last day of our stay before leaving we were able to document a water buffalo hunt by a group of large dragons in the island of Rinca with the assistance of a knowledgeable local guy.

There are only around 3,000 dragons left in the wild.
2,733

Also by José Javier Delgado Esteban —

Project

Like Fish out of water

José Javier Delgado Esteban / United Kingdom, Norfolk, Hunstanton
Project

Humpback Whales of the South Pacific

José Javier Delgado Esteban / Kingdom of Tonga
Project

Silver Muse Photography Awards 2022

José Javier Delgado Esteban / Rinca Island
Project

Antipodean Fur Seals of Australia and New Zealand

José Javier Delgado Esteban
Project

Whaling Stations of the Iberian Peninsula: Now and then.

José Javier Delgado Esteban / Spain
Project

Song to the Siren

José Javier Delgado Esteban / Crystal River, Florida
Project

Trouble in Paradise

José Javier Delgado Esteban / Kingdom of Tonga
Komodo Dragons of Rinca Island by José Javier Delgado Esteban
Sign-up for
For more access