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Showing posts from February 25, 2024

Tolin's 2024 World Cruise blog posts, Day 51 Feb 29, 2024, Komodo National Park, AU, The Rulers of Rinca Island

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The  Komodo dragon  ( Varanus komodoensis ), also known as the  Komodo monitor , is a member of the  monitor lizard  family  Varanidae  that is  endemic  to the Indonesian islands of  Komodo ,  Rinca ,  Flores , and  Gili Motang . It is the  largest extant species of lizard , growing to a maximum length of 9.8 feet, and weighing up to 150 lbs.   Komodo dragons are an endangered species and require conservation efforts to protect their population.  Habitat loss and poaching are the main threats to Komodo dragon survival. Conservation initiatives should focus on preserving their natural habitats and implementing strict anti-poaching measures . As a result of their size, Komodo dragons are  apex predators , and dominate the  ecosystems  in which they live. Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including  invertebrates , birds, and  mammals . Komodo dragons' group behavior i...

Tolin's 2024 World Cruise blog posts, Day 47 Feb 25, 2024, Thursday Island, AU, Thursday Island Intro

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Thursday Island , colloquially known as   TI , or in the Kawrareg   dialect,   Waiben   or   Waibene ,   is an   island   of the   Torres Strait Islands , an   archipelago   of at least 274 small islands in the   Torres Strait . TI is located approximately 24 miles north of   Cape York Peninsula   in   Far North Queensland , Australia. Thursday Island is also the name of the town in the south and west of the island, formerly known as  Port Kennedy , and also the name of the  locality  which contains the island within the  Shire of Torres . The town of  Rose Hill  (known as Abednego until 7 September 1991) is located on the north-eastern tip of the island. In the  2021 census , Thursday Island had a population of 2,805 people. Thursday Island has an area of about 1.4 square miles. The highest point on Thursday Island, standing at 341 feet   above sea level , is Milman H...