Beatrix in MS Weddings.

So thrilled to see my Beatrix dress featured in the Winter 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

komodo dragon is wonders of the world

komodo dragon is wonders of the world

NEW Komodo Dragon Videos

Komodo Dragon Babies Video
Rare Komodo dragons hatch at our zoo
(see Honolulu Advertiser news story)
Komodo Dragon young adults move to new exhibit

Scientific name: Varanus komodoensis
Common name: Ora, Komodo dragon, buaja darat (land crocodile)

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Komodo dragons  are the world's heaviest living lizards. They can grow to a length of 10 feet (over 3 meters), with an average length of 8 feet (2.5 meters) and weight of 200 lbs (91 kg.). Females are usually under 8 feet and weigh about 150 lbs. (68 kg.).
The Komodo dragon's keen sense of smell, if aided by favorable wind, enables it to seek out carrion. up to 5 miles (8.5 kilometers) away.  Despite its size, the Komodo is fast moving and agile. They can climb trees and like all monitor lizards they are good swimmers.

Doc

Their teeth are laterally compressed with serrated edges, resembling those of flesh-eating sharks. They have about 60 teeth that they replace frequently and are positioned to cut out chunks of its prey.  The highly flexible skull allows it to swallow large pieces of its food. The Komodos mouth is full of virulent bacteria and even if its prey survives the original attack, it will die of infection later. In addition, recent research^3,4 suggests that the Komodos have a venom gland which is more important in disabling their prey.
Young dragons up to 29 inches (.75 meters) live in trees and eat insects, birds, eggs, small mammals and other reptiles.  They will descend from the tree for carrion.

DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:

The distribution of Komodo dragons is restricted to the Lesser Sunda Islands of Rinca, Komodo, Flores and the smaller islands of Gili, Montang and Padar.  Padar does not have a permanent population.  The total range is less than 1,000 sq. km.  Komodo National Park makes up all islands except Flores.
The natural habitat of Komodo dragons is extremely harsh by human standards.   These arid volcanic islands have steep slopes and little available water most of the year.  A short monsoon season often produces local flooding. The average annual temperature at sea level on Komodo island is 80F. degrees. Dragons are most abundant in the lower arid forest and savanna.
Outsiders  found out about the Komodo dragons after WW1 when a report came from a downed aircraft and the surviving pilot swam to Komodo Island.

Juvenile at 19 months

BEHAVIOR:

komodo dragon is wonders of the worldIn the wild, Komodo dragons are generally solitary animals, except during the breeding season. Males maintain and defend a territory and patrol up to 1.2 miles (2 km.) per day.  Territories are dependent on the size of the dragon.  Feeding ranges extend further and may be shared with other males. A dragon will allow other dragons to cross its territory when they are on a food run. 
Dragons maintain burrows within their core ranges and occasionally males will swim from island to island over long distances. They regulate their body temperature (thermoregulation) by using a burrow.

DIET:

The Komodo is carnivorous and cannibalistic and it has a prodigious appetite. They regularly kill prey as large as pigs and small deer, and have been known to bring down an adult water buffalo. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything they can overpower including small dragons and small or injured humans (dragons make up to 10% of their diet).
An eyewitness account revealed that a 101 lb (46 kg.) dragon  ate a 90 lb. (41 kg.) pig in 20 minutes.  As a comparison, a 100 lb. person would have to eat 320 quarter pound hamburgers in less than 20 minutes to keep up with the dragon.
In the zoo, the Komodo dragons are fed previously frozen rats.

T.W.

REPRODUCTION and GROWTH:

The life expectancy of a Komodo is between 20 to 40 years.  As noted above, Komodo dragons are generally solitary animals, except during the breeding season.
The male Komodo dragon presses his snout to the female's body, and flicks her with his long, forked tongue to obtain chemical information about her receptivity. He then scratches her back with his long claws, making a ratchet-like noise. If unreceptive, she raises and inflates her neck and hisses loudly.
The female wild dragons will utilize the nest mound of a brush turkey in which she will lay a clutch of up to 30 eggs. Hatchlings are about 15 inches (40 centimeters) and weigh 3.5 ounces (100 g.).
Juveniles are multi-hued, (yellow, green, brown and gray); with a speckled and banded skin.  Adult colors vary from earthen red to slate gray and black.
komodo dragon is wonders of the world

STATUS:

Endangered: The largest threat is volcanic activity, fire and subsequent loss of its prey base.  Currently habitat alteration , poaching of prey species and tourism may have the most pronounced effect.   Commercial trade in specimens or skins is illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Wild Population: 3,000 to 5,000.
Honolulu Zoo: Doc (M) and T.W. (F), arrived at the Honolulu Zoo in 1993. Our dragons were from the first group hatched by the breeding program at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
komodo dragon is wonders of the world

Suggested Reading:

1. Behavioral Ecology of the Komodo Monitor, by Walter Affenberg.
2. Komodo Dragons: Giant Lizards of Indonesia, by James Martin. For ages 4 - 8.
3. Komodo dragons have venomous bite, BBC News, 2009
4. A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon), Bryan G. Fry, et. al., PNAS, May 15, 2009.

komodo islands is the new 7 wonders of the world

Komodo islands is the new 7 wonders of the worldKomodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, although amazingly, their existence was unknown to humans until about 100 years ago.
Reaching 10 feet (3 meters) in length and more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails.
As the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey.Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding.
komodo islands is the new 7 wonders of the worldThere is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo, Gila Motang, Rinca, and Flores. However, a dearth of egg-laying females, poaching, human encroachment, and natural disasters has driven the species to endangered status.

   Komodo dragons are the world's largest lizards. They live on the islands of Komodo, Rinca and other tiny surrounding islands, and on the westernmost part of Flores Island in Indonesia. Komodo is west of Flores, east of Sumbawa, and north of Sumba.
    If you are an ordinary person, you can only reach Komodo by boat. If you are a wealthy celebrity, you might be able to get permission to fly there in a helicopter and use the helicopter pad that was constructed especially for President Suharto.

 
Komodo and Rinca are odd islands. They are dry, hot, and relatively barren compared to the lush and jungly islands to the east and west of them in the Nusa Tenggara island chain.  As you approach from a distance, you see Komodo as a low, hilly island.

KOMODO ISLAND IS THE NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD. VOTE TO INDONESIA COUNTRY. There is a stable population of about 3000 to 5000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo.
A small island of 280 square km, Komodo is located between Sumbawa and Flores islands. It is famous for its giant lizard

Happy New Year.

Photo: Cully Wright

Here's to a smashing new year made sweeter by love, friends and a bit of the bubbly. Bonne année, everyone. Onward to Spring! xoElizabeth

A Happy New Year!

As we welcome in 2011 I would like to wish all our followers, clients, work colleagues and suppliers a Happy New Year.

We are hugely excited about 2011, with many lovely weddings already being designed and planned in some fabulous venues here in Southern Spain. We will also be launching and promoting some wonderful new venues here in Southern Spain that have never opened their doors before to weddings.

We have many projects under wraps which will be revealed as we move into 2011 including expanding into other locations across Marbella and beyond, a stylish new Reviva range of event and wedding decorations being set up online in the next few months, so even if you are not getting married here in Spain we can provide you with our stylish accessories for your wedding day and a fabulous new website under construction.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year, mine was spent with my family here in Marbella hosting lots of lovely dinner parties, going out for wonderful long lunches and just spending some quality time with my youngest daughter.

A Marshmallow Inspired Wedding

How gorgeous is this divine Marshmallow inspired photo shoot featured on Style me Pretty

created by Jill La Fleur and Simply Bloom.

I do think creating a beautiful table is a bit like applying makeup, you need a good base/foundation before you can add the details.

This photo shoot emphasises this so well, using this gorgeously ruffled table cover complimented with the chocolate napkins is a beautiful base with which to add these glorious details and these beautifully romantic dreamy floral arrangements.

I also love the grouping here of the details on the tables, it is not formally set but random groups of gold votives, the table flowers not centre stage but arranged carefully again in groups on this table.

Lastly but not least, the heavenly scented roses set in the bowls and white china cups filled with marshmallows are the all important and wonderful details I am obsessed with when it comes to really dressing tables and making them not just beautiful but a delightful experience when you are seated at an occasion such as a wedding.

It is evocative of what more to expect when you are presented with such a beautifully dressed table such as this one and one you will not forget.

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