Indonesia

Download Subtitles

Transcript

0:00:02 > 0:00:04My name is Steve Backshall.

0:00:04 > 0:00:05Ooh!

0:00:07 > 0:00:09It's Deadly 60.

0:00:09 > 0:00:11That's not just animals that are deadly to me,

0:00:11 > 0:00:15but animals that are deadly in their own world.

0:00:17 > 0:00:19'My crew and I are travelling the planet.'

0:00:19 > 0:00:21And you're coming with me

0:00:21 > 0:00:23every step of the way.

0:00:29 > 0:00:32This time on Deadly 60, we're in Indonesia.

0:00:32 > 0:00:35It's an archipelago, which means a whole bunch of islands.

0:00:35 > 0:00:38There's lots of them, very spread out and there aren't many roads,

0:00:38 > 0:00:41so the best way of getting around is by boat.

0:00:41 > 0:00:42I've spent many months here,

0:00:42 > 0:00:45speak the language and know the country well.

0:00:45 > 0:00:47It's home to an animal I've been dying to put on my list.

0:00:47 > 0:00:49A living, breathing dragon.

0:00:53 > 0:00:58That's right. Dragons aren't just the stuff of myths and legends.

0:00:58 > 0:01:01Indonesia hides a real-life, flesh-tearing,

0:01:01 > 0:01:04bone-crunching monster from a lost world.

0:01:04 > 0:01:07The mighty Komodo dragon.

0:01:08 > 0:01:12My crew and I are leaving civilisation behind

0:01:12 > 0:01:16and heading to a place where dinosaurs still rule.

0:01:16 > 0:01:17Go, go, go, go!

0:01:17 > 0:01:20The only place this leviathan lizard still lives is

0:01:20 > 0:01:23on a few parched forbidding islands.

0:01:23 > 0:01:24Back up! Back up!

0:01:24 > 0:01:27No, no, no. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa, whoa!

0:01:32 > 0:01:35The early explorers that came to this part of the world

0:01:35 > 0:01:37were so frightened by the wild, rugged islands

0:01:37 > 0:01:40and the treacherous seas in between them that they, actually,

0:01:40 > 0:01:43on their maps, just simply wrote, "Here be dragons."

0:01:43 > 0:01:48It seems kind of crazy now, but actually they were totally spot on.

0:01:48 > 0:01:50The islands that we are heading to are the only place on Earth

0:01:50 > 0:01:54where there are still real, living dragons.

0:01:57 > 0:02:00'Isolated for around a million years on this small group of islands

0:02:00 > 0:02:02'that now make up the Komodo National Park,

0:02:02 > 0:02:07'these giant monitor lizards are not only the largest lizards on Earth,

0:02:07 > 0:02:09'but are truly venomous.'

0:02:16 > 0:02:18Hello!

0:02:18 > 0:02:20'So, as soon as I arrive, I'm immediately issued

0:02:20 > 0:02:23'with the very latest, state-of-the-art

0:02:23 > 0:02:25'dragon defence equipment.'

0:02:25 > 0:02:26- Right.- Ha-ha-ha!

0:02:26 > 0:02:30OK, so as this is a national park, no-one is obviously allowed

0:02:30 > 0:02:32to carry any guns or anything that could harm the dragons,

0:02:32 > 0:02:36but you do need a little protection, so I've got a stick.

0:02:37 > 0:02:41What use that's going to be against a three-metre monster

0:02:41 > 0:02:44I have no idea, but it's better than nothing.

0:02:48 > 0:02:53'With no roads on the island, it's all foot power from here on in.

0:02:53 > 0:02:56'There are an estimated 5,000 dragons hiding in the mountains,

0:02:56 > 0:02:59'forests and caves on these islands.

0:02:59 > 0:03:02'So the team and I are heading for a system of waterholes,

0:03:02 > 0:03:04'where the dragons are known to hang around.'

0:03:09 > 0:03:11'It's not long before we get our first whiff

0:03:11 > 0:03:14'that there might be dragons nearby.'

0:03:16 > 0:03:19There's a terrible smell in the air.

0:03:19 > 0:03:21It smells a bit like death.

0:03:23 > 0:03:29There might well be the remains of a carcass around here somewhere.

0:03:29 > 0:03:32'With senses now on high alert, we move on.

0:03:32 > 0:03:34'But it's not a dragon waiting for us.

0:03:34 > 0:03:36'It's a different giant resident.

0:03:36 > 0:03:38'A water buffalo.

0:03:38 > 0:03:41'And, astonishingly, this enormous animal

0:03:41 > 0:03:44'actually falls prey to dragons.'

0:03:44 > 0:03:46It seems remarkable that a lizard

0:03:46 > 0:03:48would take on and kill an animal this size,

0:03:48 > 0:03:50like this buffalo.

0:03:50 > 0:03:53I mean, look at it. It is massive.

0:03:53 > 0:03:55But Komodos don't try and completely overpower it,

0:03:55 > 0:03:58like perhaps a pride of lions would.

0:03:58 > 0:04:00Instead, they have a very nifty trick

0:04:00 > 0:04:03that allows them to bite the animal

0:04:03 > 0:04:06and release it and just wait for it to die.

0:04:06 > 0:04:09Dragons have 60 teeth that are as sharp as scalpels.

0:04:09 > 0:04:12And secrete toxic venom from large glands

0:04:12 > 0:04:15at the front of their lower jaw.

0:04:15 > 0:04:19The dragon may bite repeatedly over several hours or even days

0:04:19 > 0:04:21breaking down the prey's defences.

0:04:21 > 0:04:24Then all they have to do is wait.

0:04:24 > 0:04:25However, like all monitor lizards,

0:04:25 > 0:04:29'dragons are also opportunists and scavengers

0:04:29 > 0:04:32'and they will take an easy meal, if possible.

0:04:32 > 0:04:35'So, they've taken to hanging out by the local ranger station,

0:04:35 > 0:04:37'hoping for tasty leftovers.

0:04:37 > 0:04:42'Around the guide's quarters is a regular dragons' den.'

0:04:42 > 0:04:45Ei! My goodness, right there. Look! Yeah!

0:04:45 > 0:04:48Our first dragon is right in front of us.

0:04:49 > 0:04:51'And it wasn't alone.'

0:04:51 > 0:04:54Over there. Look.

0:04:54 > 0:04:55Such an awe-inspiring animal.

0:04:55 > 0:04:58'Suddenly, there were dragons everywhere.'

0:04:58 > 0:05:02We're just surrounded by dinosaurs. Ooh, yeah.

0:05:02 > 0:05:05They can really motor when they need to.

0:05:06 > 0:05:08I think you might want to back up a little bit there, Greg.

0:05:08 > 0:05:11'As opportunists, these lizards would try and eat

0:05:11 > 0:05:14'anything they think they can get away with.

0:05:14 > 0:05:18'Even, occasionally, people.

0:05:18 > 0:05:22'It seems that pickings around the guides' huts must be pretty good,

0:05:22 > 0:05:27'cos there are lots of dragons here, and they are big!'

0:05:31 > 0:05:36So, these are Komodo dragons.

0:05:36 > 0:05:38The largest lizards on Earth.

0:05:38 > 0:05:44And just extraordinarily broad, powerful.

0:05:44 > 0:05:49OK, big fella, it's all right. It's OK.

0:05:50 > 0:05:56Don't want to move quickly, cos that could trigger a predatory response.

0:05:56 > 0:06:00Much safer just staying calm and still.

0:06:03 > 0:06:08It looks like he's trying to regurgitate something.

0:06:08 > 0:06:12'Seeing the dragons on the islands of Komodo might not be hard,

0:06:12 > 0:06:14'but they are so efficient that they can go

0:06:14 > 0:06:16'a very long time without hunting.

0:06:16 > 0:06:20'So it could be tricky to see them at their deadly best.

0:06:22 > 0:06:24'I do have a few ideas though.'

0:06:24 > 0:06:27There's one bit of science I'd really like to try

0:06:27 > 0:06:28with the Komodo dragons here.

0:06:28 > 0:06:30This is a bite test gauge.

0:06:30 > 0:06:33It measures the force of the bite of an animal.

0:06:33 > 0:06:36So if I bite on this here...

0:06:38 > 0:06:41It should register

0:06:41 > 0:06:44about 120 pounds per square inch.

0:06:44 > 0:06:46'To get the dragons to bite,

0:06:46 > 0:06:49'we're going to need a little bit of encouragement

0:06:49 > 0:06:52'in the form of some honking meat.'

0:06:52 > 0:06:55We have a bite test gauge with stinking rotten meat on it.

0:06:55 > 0:07:00Let's see what damage our Komodo dragons can do.

0:07:00 > 0:07:03'Lizards aren't generally known for the force of their bite.

0:07:03 > 0:07:08'So, I'd like to find out what this super-sized specimen can do.'

0:07:11 > 0:07:14Is it going to actually bite down, though?

0:07:18 > 0:07:20OK, that felt like more of a bite.

0:07:24 > 0:07:26'With the smell of blood in the air,

0:07:26 > 0:07:30'I'm suddenly surrounded by ravenous, drooling jaws.'

0:07:30 > 0:07:34OK, guys. It's all right, we'll let it, we'll let it take it.

0:07:34 > 0:07:37Back off, back off. That's fine.

0:07:42 > 0:07:45So they're just chomping away at it now.

0:07:45 > 0:07:47Hopefully... Wow!

0:07:47 > 0:07:50They'll get the meat off there and I'll be able to recover

0:07:50 > 0:07:54the bite test gauge and see what we registered.

0:07:56 > 0:08:00So, you can really see how that tail can be used as a defensive weapon.

0:08:00 > 0:08:02It's like it's been hit by a baseball bat.

0:08:08 > 0:08:11I'm just going to wait a couple of minutes before I go in

0:08:11 > 0:08:13and get my gauge back.

0:08:16 > 0:08:18'With the meat gone,

0:08:18 > 0:08:23'I carefully go in to see how much power the dragons are packing.'

0:08:23 > 0:08:25Wow!

0:08:25 > 0:08:28Well, that is much more than I was expecting.

0:08:28 > 0:08:32We've got nearly 600 pounds per square inch,

0:08:32 > 0:08:35which is five times a human bite force.

0:08:35 > 0:08:37And much more than I expect from a monitor lizard.

0:08:37 > 0:08:39I mean, these animals have really light-weight skulls.

0:08:39 > 0:08:42They actually rely far more

0:08:42 > 0:08:45on their very sharp, backwards-facing teeth

0:08:45 > 0:08:48to deliver a killing bite than they do on the force of their bite.

0:08:48 > 0:08:51So to have a bite that strong is incredible.

0:08:51 > 0:08:54Look at that! That's amazing.

0:08:54 > 0:08:58'So far, so utterly terrifying.

0:08:58 > 0:09:01'But I'd like to see Komodo dragons in full hunting mode

0:09:01 > 0:09:03'before I put them on my list.

0:09:03 > 0:09:05'So I'll be back for more dragon action later!'

0:09:08 > 0:09:11'Now, though, I'm heading for one of the other islands

0:09:11 > 0:09:15'of the national park, where there's another lethal lizard on the loose

0:09:15 > 0:09:17'that could be a candidate for my Deadly 60.

0:09:17 > 0:09:22'And this one is small enough to fit in my hand.

0:09:22 > 0:09:27'Which means it's going to be pretty tricky to catch.'

0:09:27 > 0:09:28Where, where, where...

0:09:28 > 0:09:30Ooh!

0:09:30 > 0:09:32Ah! I missed it!

0:09:34 > 0:09:35Oh, rats!

0:09:37 > 0:09:38Oh!

0:09:38 > 0:09:40Ah!

0:09:40 > 0:09:44Beautiful! It was absolutely beautiful.

0:09:46 > 0:09:49'This might take a while.

0:09:49 > 0:09:51'So, what are we hunting?

0:09:51 > 0:09:56'Well, this is the draco lizard, often called

0:09:56 > 0:09:59'the flying lizard.

0:09:59 > 0:10:03'And as well as being a pretty formidable pocket-size predator,

0:10:03 > 0:10:07'it also has a very special way of getting around.

0:10:07 > 0:10:11'Luckily, the local islanders have decided to give me a hand

0:10:11 > 0:10:14'with much more success.'

0:10:14 > 0:10:15No way!

0:10:15 > 0:10:16HE SPEAKS INDONESIAN

0:10:16 > 0:10:18It seems a little bit odd,

0:10:18 > 0:10:21in an island filled with the world's largest lizards,

0:10:21 > 0:10:26to be getting so excited about one tiny little one,

0:10:26 > 0:10:28but this really is one of the most remarkable lizards

0:10:28 > 0:10:31found in the whole world.

0:10:31 > 0:10:34The scientific name is the draco.

0:10:34 > 0:10:37The common name though is rather more illustrative.

0:10:37 > 0:10:39These are called flying lizards.

0:10:39 > 0:10:42And I'll show you why.

0:10:42 > 0:10:46The ribs expand

0:10:46 > 0:10:48and the flap of skin between them

0:10:48 > 0:10:52actually creates a kind of parachute.

0:10:52 > 0:10:55And these lizards don't truly fly, they glide.

0:10:58 > 0:11:01So, when it's out hunting for bugs and insects up in the treetops

0:11:01 > 0:11:04or escaping from a predator itself, it can simple launch itself,

0:11:04 > 0:11:07it can simple launch itself into the air

0:11:07 > 0:11:12and parachute down to another tree or even to the ground.

0:11:12 > 0:11:15They've been known to glide enormous distances,

0:11:15 > 0:11:18up to 60 metres.

0:11:18 > 0:11:21That's as long as six double-decker buses.

0:11:22 > 0:11:26Not bad for an animal that's only the length of a pencil.

0:11:26 > 0:11:29Well, I'd really like to show you them at work.

0:11:29 > 0:11:31So what we need to do is to get as high as possible

0:11:31 > 0:11:33and then allow the draco to escape.

0:11:33 > 0:11:36And it should parachute down beautifully towards earth

0:11:36 > 0:11:39or towards another tree.

0:11:39 > 0:11:41Let's give it a go.

0:11:41 > 0:11:44OK, if I just stand up on this tree,

0:11:44 > 0:11:46and aim it over there.

0:11:46 > 0:11:48Let's see.

0:11:48 > 0:11:51OK, so... You're free.

0:11:52 > 0:11:56That was just beautiful!

0:11:57 > 0:11:59With the camera slowed right down,

0:11:59 > 0:12:02you can see just how controlled and elegant

0:12:02 > 0:12:04the glide of this lizard really is.

0:12:08 > 0:12:09But at the same time,

0:12:09 > 0:12:12though it is very good at evading predators,

0:12:12 > 0:12:15it is also a fabulous tree-top muncher itself,

0:12:15 > 0:12:17so it will scamper around in the canopy

0:12:17 > 0:12:19looking for little bugs which it will munch down

0:12:19 > 0:12:23and all the time it has that wonderful defence on its side.

0:12:23 > 0:12:27They are absolutely awesome.

0:12:27 > 0:12:31The death-defying, gravity denying draco lizard.

0:12:31 > 0:12:35They are absolutely spectacular and I think definitely deadly.

0:12:38 > 0:12:42With grip and balance, ideal for a life in the trees,

0:12:42 > 0:12:45a lean, bug chasing body

0:12:45 > 0:12:50and an built in parachute for death-defying tree-to-tree leaps.

0:12:50 > 0:12:54This little lizard glides neatly onto the Deadly 60.

0:12:59 > 0:13:01Indonesia is a true paradise for reptiles.

0:13:01 > 0:13:06Not just lizards but also around 350 species of snakes.

0:13:06 > 0:13:08Further to the west in Bali,

0:13:08 > 0:13:10my crew is on a night-time snake search.

0:13:10 > 0:13:14Many of the local serpents are arboreal, or tree climbing,

0:13:14 > 0:13:18and it's up in the canopy where we see our first find.

0:13:18 > 0:13:21Oh, well spotted.

0:13:21 > 0:13:24That's our first snake. It is way high up,

0:13:24 > 0:13:27but at least it proves they're here, which is a start.

0:13:27 > 0:13:32OK, now I need to find one that is more this kind of level.

0:13:33 > 0:13:36After three hours of hot and sweaty searching,

0:13:36 > 0:13:38I've found spiders,

0:13:38 > 0:13:42frogs, scorpions,

0:13:42 > 0:13:45and an old friend, the Tokay Gecko.

0:13:45 > 0:13:50All of which could make a tasty snake snack.

0:13:50 > 0:13:53But then, just as we're about to call it a night...

0:13:53 > 0:13:55We've found one!

0:13:55 > 0:13:59Well done!

0:13:59 > 0:14:01I wish I could say that I'd found it

0:14:01 > 0:14:04but it wasn't actually me, it was one of the crew.

0:14:07 > 0:14:10It's a Green Pit Viper.

0:14:10 > 0:14:13It's arboreal, that means it chooses to spend

0:14:13 > 0:14:16the vast majority of its time in the trees.

0:14:16 > 0:14:19You can see from just hanging there, perfectly on my snake hook,

0:14:19 > 0:14:21how well balanced it is and already,

0:14:21 > 0:14:27how the end of the tail has curled around this piece of bamboo.

0:14:27 > 0:14:29It has taken a grip.

0:14:32 > 0:14:37This is an absolute master at hunting up in the canopy.

0:14:37 > 0:14:42'It uses that tail to anchor itself in its striking position

0:14:42 > 0:14:44'and waits, motionless.

0:14:44 > 0:14:46'The dazzling emerald green colour

0:14:46 > 0:14:49'camouflages it perfectly amongst the leaves.

0:14:49 > 0:14:52'Tree-dwelling lizards, frogs,

0:14:52 > 0:14:56'birds and rodents are all on its hit list.

0:14:56 > 0:14:59'The snake strikes at phenomenal velocity.

0:14:59 > 0:15:02'The needle-like fangs deliver a squirt of venom

0:15:02 > 0:15:04'into the animal's bloodstream.

0:15:05 > 0:15:10It has the classic arrow shaped head of a viper.

0:15:10 > 0:15:13Bright, bright red eye and at the moment,

0:15:13 > 0:15:18its tongue flickering out crazily on the air.

0:15:18 > 0:15:20Just gathering in sensory information.

0:15:20 > 0:15:22And look at the colours.

0:15:22 > 0:15:27It is the most glorious, spectacular emerald-green,

0:15:27 > 0:15:29with hints of blue in there as well.

0:15:31 > 0:15:36Obviously, the reason it's called a Green Pit Viper is the colour,

0:15:36 > 0:15:40but the pits themselves, those are the really cunning bits.

0:15:40 > 0:15:43These are called loreal pits,

0:15:43 > 0:15:45they're in between the eye and the nostril.

0:15:47 > 0:15:52That pit is sensitive to changes in temperature.

0:15:52 > 0:15:59It's absolutely superb at picking up the moving muscles in its prey.

0:15:59 > 0:16:03It really is a snake super sense.

0:16:03 > 0:16:05They do get quite a bit bigger than this,

0:16:05 > 0:16:08this is still quite a small one, but even so,

0:16:08 > 0:16:11it still has plenty potent enough venom

0:16:11 > 0:16:13to even give me a very nasty day.

0:16:16 > 0:16:20Looking down the barrel of one of the prettiest snakes I've ever seen,

0:16:20 > 0:16:26I'm in no doubt that the Green Pit Viper is on the Deadly 60.

0:16:27 > 0:16:31'Wearing emerald green, the perfect camo colour,

0:16:31 > 0:16:35'with a heat sensitive targeting system to locate its prey,

0:16:35 > 0:16:38'and fangs injecting a potent venom.

0:16:38 > 0:16:44'It may be beautiful but it's also very deadly.

0:16:47 > 0:16:50'So that's two Indonesian reptiles added to my list.

0:16:52 > 0:16:54'But we're not done with dragons yet.

0:16:54 > 0:16:58'I'm back on the hunt for living dinosaurs.

0:16:58 > 0:17:01'There's tell of a cave system on Rinca island

0:17:01 > 0:17:05'which could be a good spot for lounging lizards.'

0:17:05 > 0:17:08Wow, look at this. Quiet, everyone, just a sec.

0:17:11 > 0:17:15I can hear the sounds of lots of chattering voices

0:17:15 > 0:17:18and lots of fluttering wings.

0:17:18 > 0:17:22There's a big bat colony inside here.

0:17:22 > 0:17:24Which unfortunately means from here on in,

0:17:24 > 0:17:26things are going to get a bit stinky.

0:17:26 > 0:17:29Right, let's find our way down.

0:17:29 > 0:17:31Oh, that honks!

0:17:33 > 0:17:35I don't know what we'll find inside here.

0:17:35 > 0:17:39Komodo dragons like to hang out in caves at this time of the day.

0:17:39 > 0:17:43So, everyone very much keep your eyes on everyone else's backs.

0:17:50 > 0:17:54Oh, come here, Greg, quick, quick, quick.

0:17:54 > 0:17:58Look at that! There are thousands of them!

0:18:00 > 0:18:03They're giant flying foxes, fruit bats

0:18:03 > 0:18:07and they don't feed on insects,

0:18:07 > 0:18:09they purely head out to try and find fruit

0:18:09 > 0:18:13and there are thousands of them in here, absolutely thousands.

0:18:18 > 0:18:22OK, guys, I've found out what one of the bad smells is from.

0:18:22 > 0:18:26There's a dead deer in here.

0:18:30 > 0:18:35And in all likelihood, that has been finished off by a Komodo dragon.

0:18:35 > 0:18:39So we really need to watch our backs here.

0:18:39 > 0:18:43It's a gruesome discovery and a great sign for our search.

0:18:43 > 0:18:46But I'm starting to go off the idea

0:18:46 > 0:18:50of finding a three-metre monster in such a small space.

0:18:50 > 0:18:53There's a chamber off this way.

0:18:53 > 0:18:56Oh, we've got a nice big whip spider here.

0:18:58 > 0:19:01There he is. Look at that, that's a biggie.

0:19:07 > 0:19:11Oh, look, it's gone into threat posture.

0:19:11 > 0:19:13'Who knows what other creepy creatures

0:19:13 > 0:19:15'might be lurking off in the darkness?

0:19:19 > 0:19:21'We push further into the caves,

0:19:21 > 0:19:24'every shadow seeming to harbour hidden monsters.'

0:19:28 > 0:19:31Wow, this is incredible.

0:19:31 > 0:19:35Every single square centimetre of ceiling

0:19:35 > 0:19:37is covered in these beautiful bats.

0:19:37 > 0:19:42Look at their faces, very, very different to the micro bats,

0:19:42 > 0:19:45the bats that feed on insects.

0:19:45 > 0:19:49They have this incredibly, I guess, fox-like face.

0:19:49 > 0:19:55They are very furry, they have long noses and big eyes as well.

0:19:55 > 0:20:02Perfect for seeking out fruit and nectar at night time.

0:20:07 > 0:20:09The cave's getting pretty narrow back here,

0:20:09 > 0:20:12and space is starting to run out.

0:20:16 > 0:20:18Look at that!

0:20:22 > 0:20:25This is just crazy!

0:20:25 > 0:20:27Whoa!

0:20:31 > 0:20:34'Fruit bats, or flying foxes, are the biggest bats

0:20:34 > 0:20:36'found anywhere in the world.

0:20:39 > 0:20:42'Some species can have a 1.5 metre wing span

0:20:42 > 0:20:45'and weigh the same as a bag of sugar.

0:20:47 > 0:20:49'It's getting close to sunset outside,

0:20:49 > 0:20:52'which is the time these bats wake up to go out foraging.

0:20:52 > 0:20:56'So it's time for us to get out of here.'

0:21:17 > 0:21:19OK, let's go. That way.

0:21:19 > 0:21:21'Emerging from the cave,

0:21:21 > 0:21:24'I was almost glad not to have come face to face

0:21:24 > 0:21:26'with a dragon in the dark.

0:21:31 > 0:21:34'With our time in Indonesia running out,

0:21:34 > 0:21:36'I'm heading back to the rangers' station

0:21:36 > 0:21:40'to try out another deadly experiment.'

0:21:40 > 0:21:42The simple truth about Komodo dragons

0:21:42 > 0:21:44is they're so good at conserving energy,

0:21:44 > 0:21:47they can go for many days without hunting.

0:21:47 > 0:21:50So, we have got a short cut to see them at their dangerous best.

0:21:50 > 0:21:54I have here what remains of a chunk of meat.

0:21:54 > 0:21:57'I'm hoping that by hanging the meat in a tree,

0:21:57 > 0:22:00'just away from the rangers' offices

0:22:00 > 0:22:02'I can encourage some predatory behaviour

0:22:02 > 0:22:05'in the local dragons.'

0:22:05 > 0:22:10Now all we need to do is entice in some dragons.

0:22:10 > 0:22:13And I have just the idea.

0:22:13 > 0:22:16'I'm planning to lure them from where they're lounging in the shade

0:22:16 > 0:22:18'to feed on the meat in the tree,

0:22:18 > 0:22:20'using a small chunk as bait.'

0:22:23 > 0:22:27This is the special dead goat tying knot that I learned in Scouts!

0:22:31 > 0:22:33OK, we've already got interest, guys.

0:22:33 > 0:22:35So...yeah.

0:22:37 > 0:22:41Right, OK, let's move, guys. Let's get going.

0:22:41 > 0:22:43Oh. Oopsy!

0:22:43 > 0:22:45'One whiff of the meat

0:22:45 > 0:22:49'and the dragons' shift in speed is remarkable.'

0:22:52 > 0:22:55Right, we have got interest.

0:22:55 > 0:22:57I don't think we'll need any food

0:22:57 > 0:22:59because I think they're coming after us.

0:22:59 > 0:23:03OK, so, guys, which direction are we going?

0:23:03 > 0:23:06'The dragons' reaction took us all by surprise.'

0:23:06 > 0:23:09They do move fast, don't they?

0:23:09 > 0:23:11OK, guys, go, go, go.

0:23:11 > 0:23:13HE TALKS IN INDONESIAN

0:23:17 > 0:23:19OK, here they come.

0:23:19 > 0:23:21Greg. Greg. Greg.

0:23:27 > 0:23:30Look at that. It's a completely different animal.

0:23:30 > 0:23:31Back up. Back up.

0:23:35 > 0:23:37OK. Yeah, yeah.

0:23:37 > 0:23:40Now hopefully, it'll start to scent the meat.

0:23:40 > 0:23:43Yeah, it has. It's moving in the right direction.

0:23:43 > 0:23:46HE TALKS IN INDONESIAN

0:23:47 > 0:23:49Wow, it's amazing!

0:23:51 > 0:23:54The total change in demeanour in this animal,

0:23:54 > 0:23:55having scented meat.

0:23:55 > 0:23:58Both of them, as they look for the source of food.

0:23:58 > 0:24:01Look at this! The others are coming in as well.

0:24:01 > 0:24:03Two more behind us. Make sure you watch your backs as well,

0:24:03 > 0:24:05because they're everywhere now.

0:24:05 > 0:24:07Look at the difference in speed and attitude.

0:24:07 > 0:24:10All of a sudden, it's become completely clear

0:24:10 > 0:24:15why this animal has to be on the Deadly 60 list.

0:24:15 > 0:24:18When they're prowling like this, when they're hunting,

0:24:18 > 0:24:23all of a sudden, they become totally formidable.

0:24:23 > 0:24:25My goodness!

0:24:28 > 0:24:31'I've hung the meat in the tree, just metres away,

0:24:31 > 0:24:34'but for the moment that's not what they're interested in.'

0:24:36 > 0:24:40OK, they're coming in.

0:24:40 > 0:24:42Coming in towards me.

0:24:42 > 0:24:45Watch my back, guys. If you see anything, just let me know.

0:24:49 > 0:24:52I cannot believe the total change

0:24:52 > 0:24:54in attitude of this animal.

0:24:54 > 0:24:55No, no, no, no, no.

0:24:55 > 0:24:59As soon as they've got food on the brain,

0:24:59 > 0:25:01they change from a slumbering,

0:25:01 > 0:25:04slow-moving creature,

0:25:04 > 0:25:08into a predatory dinosaur.

0:25:08 > 0:25:12And all of a sudden, they're not just hunting the meat,

0:25:12 > 0:25:14they're hunting us.

0:25:14 > 0:25:18I have to say, I really wasn't expecting this.

0:25:21 > 0:25:24No, whoa, whoa, whoa!

0:25:24 > 0:25:28OK, one of the dragons has the meat.

0:25:28 > 0:25:30Over there, look. Tearing into it.

0:25:30 > 0:25:32Wow!

0:25:34 > 0:25:36I can see into its mouth,

0:25:36 > 0:25:39the curved, backward facing teeth.

0:25:39 > 0:25:42Look at the tail, thrashing around.

0:25:42 > 0:25:45I cannot believe I'm this close to them feeding.

0:25:45 > 0:25:47Wow!

0:25:51 > 0:25:53That's incredible!

0:25:53 > 0:25:55It's climbed up the other male

0:25:55 > 0:25:57to get stuck into the food.

0:25:58 > 0:26:01Komodo dragons are a little bit like crocodiles,

0:26:01 > 0:26:06in that they struggle to chew their food.

0:26:06 > 0:26:09They need to take a bite, then use their body strength

0:26:09 > 0:26:11to rip chunks out of the meat.

0:26:11 > 0:26:15And that's exactly what this animal is doing now.

0:26:22 > 0:26:26These animals are capable of taking in almost their own body weight

0:26:26 > 0:26:28in food in a single sitting,

0:26:28 > 0:26:29and after a meal like that,

0:26:29 > 0:26:34they could go for weeks without having to eat again.

0:26:34 > 0:26:38Initially, this was very, very frightening indeed,

0:26:38 > 0:26:41because it was obvious the animals had become very excited

0:26:41 > 0:26:42by the scent of blood,

0:26:42 > 0:26:45but hadn't yet found something to feed on.

0:26:45 > 0:26:47They were concentrating on us.

0:26:47 > 0:26:50Komodo dragons have very occasionally attacked,

0:26:50 > 0:26:52and even killed human beings,

0:26:52 > 0:26:55but you can see that once an easy source of food is available,

0:26:55 > 0:26:57they're not focusing on us any more,

0:26:57 > 0:26:59they're just centred on the meat.

0:26:59 > 0:27:02'In all my years wildlife watching,

0:27:02 > 0:27:04'this has been one of the very few times

0:27:04 > 0:27:07'I've felt like an animal would attack me if it got the chance.

0:27:07 > 0:27:10'A scary, but remarkable experience.'

0:27:10 > 0:27:16There is no doubt the Komodo dragons have to go on the Deadly 60.

0:27:19 > 0:27:23'From lazy to scary in the blink of an eye.

0:27:23 > 0:27:25'60 scalpel sharp teeth

0:27:25 > 0:27:27'and a surprisingly strong bite,

0:27:27 > 0:27:31'and one of only a few lizards delivering lethal venom,

0:27:31 > 0:27:35'which makes it the largest venomous animal.

0:27:35 > 0:27:36'No doubt, deadly.'

0:27:38 > 0:27:44'Join me next time as I continue my search for the Deadly 60.'

0:27:47 > 0:27:48Whoa!

0:28:02 > 0:28:07Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd