Komodo dragon seriously wounds worker at 'Jurassic Park' resort being built in Indonesia, tearing 'several parts of his body'
A Komodo dragon has seriously wounded a worker at a controversial 'Jurassic Park' resort being built in Indonesia.
Elias Agas, 46, was whisked off Rinca Island by speedboat after the colossal lizard 'tore several parts of his body,' last Wednesday.
'Upon receiving this information, fellow rangers … were at the location immediately managed to evacuate the victim,' the park's head of security Julius Buki said.
The £4.8 million resort which is being marketed as a real-life version of Stephen Spielberg's fictional dinosaur park has sparked concern among conservationists.
A widely-shared photo earlier this month showed a Komodo dragon facing off with a truck in a muddy clearing of the jungle on Rinca Island
Rinca Island is home to around a thousand of the world's 3,000 remaining komodo dragons, which are spread across the neighbouring islands of Komodo
Rinca Island is home to around a thousand of the world's 3,000 remaining Komodo dragons.
The endangered species, the world's largest lizard, has been walking the planet for 4 million years.
It has already been predicted that climate change will force them into extinction by 2050 and hacking down their habitat to make way for a tourist attraction has infuriated activists.
A widely-shared photo earlier this month showed a Komodo dragon facing off with a truck in a muddy clearing of the jungle.
Conservationists said it showed the reptiles had already been disturbed by the destruction and noise of the huge vehicles.
Gregorius Afioma, an local activist commented on the image: 'This is probably the first truck to enter the Komodo dragon conservation area since the Komodo dragon came to the world's attention in 1912.'
'The idea to build a Jurassic Park is honestly embarrassing,' he added.
'People come here to see Komodos in their natural habitat ... these people are selling a concept where can walk around indoors to see Komodo dragons, which to me is no different than a zoo.'
Two Komodo dragons fighting on Rinca Island, Indonesia
The fearsome beasts can grow to ten feet long, weigh up to 200lbs and are known for preying on much larger animals such as water buffalo.
They have venomous bites and use their trunk-like necks to slash at their prey until they fall weak enough to go for the jugular.
As well as Rinca, another roughly 2,000 Komodos live on the islands of Komodo, Flores and Gili Motang.
Authorities last month unveiled their plans for Rinca with a promotional video of the project set to the theme music from Jurassic Park.
Following the leak of the picture of the Komodo dragon facing off with the construction workers' truck, the government denied it was linked to the tourist development.
Giant Komodo dragons fighting with each other on Rinca Island
An official from the environment ministry said in October: 'If we control it well and minimise contact with wildlife, the current tourism development will not endanger the Komodo population.'
Conservationists have long feared that mass tourism, trafficking and a lack of natural prey threaten the survival of Komodo dragons.
Last year, Indonesia scrapped plans to ban tourists from the conservation area and said it would instead limit visitor numbers and raise entry prices to create a 'premium destination.'