A highlight of this cruise,  for sure,  was a visit to the Komodo National Park on Rinca Island in Indonesia,  one of 5 islands where these animals are found.   This is a unique port of Call,  where we moored in the larger bay and tenders brought us into the 1 dock on the island.  

A raised platform,  walkway,  allow you to observe the wildlife below.  We saw the pretty of the komodos first,  deer and monkey, before we saw any of the giant lizards 🦎

There are about 50 Komodos on this small island,  and the number is stable since there is adequate pretty for them.   they eat only every 2-4 weeks and 1 large kill like a water buffalo, can feed several animals.   Their bite dispenses an anticoagulant, so the would causes the animal to bleed to death.   they simply follow the scent and go eat the prey after it is weakened.

tracks in the muddy landscape.  The white spot is actually Komodo feces,  white from the bones of its pretty that it can digest easily.

There were actually 5, 3 males and 2 smaller females resting in this grassy area

Since the day had cooled a bit after a short rain,  they actually got a bit of energy and walked around for us!