Why It Sucks to Be Born as a Komodo Dragon

you're born on Komodo Island tucked away in a hole that feels more like a sauna with no exit as you crack open that eggshell you're probably wondering what your mom looks like except there's nothing here no you're on your own from the get-go and that's not even the worst part you see in the kodo dragon world even your siblings could be your worst enemies you might be lucky enough to be the first one to hatch so before you even think about taking your first breath you've got to get the heck out of there fast scramble

up the nearest tree like your life depends on it because it quite literally does you're not just avoiding your siblings you're dodging hungry adults who wouldn't mind a bite-sized snack like you to them you're just a free McNugget so there you are clinging to a tree branch getting your first real look at the worlds for now just focus on Surviving your first few days because the real Adventure is just beginning for the next few months you're on a strict no ground diet because down there it's a jungle in the most literal sense where every step

could be your last imagine living on the 50th floor of a skyscraper because the streets are filled with zombies yeah it's kind of like that only instead of zombies it's your very own kin patrolling the ground all ready to take a bite out of anything that moves you're not completely defenseless though you've got instincts quick reflexes and a strong survival Instinct that kicks in from day one plus you've inherited a handy little trick the art of camouflage with your molted brown and green scales you blend right into the leaves and bark making it that much

harder for anything hungry to spot you think of it as your very own invisibility cloak but instead of dodging Wizards and Hogwarts you're avoiding becoming someone's lunch at this stage your life is all about survival 101 find food stay hidden and whatever you do don't fall out of the tree your diet's about as varied as a college students during finals week whatever you can scavenge or catch from insects and small lizards to the occasional Bird that's too slow for its own good every meal is a victory and every day you avoid becoming a meal is

an even bigger win but don't get too comfortable in that tree because soon you're going to have to face the real world down low and trust me that's when things really start to get interesting you're no longer that helpless hatchling clinging to a branch for dear life now you're ready to start exploring the wild world of kodo Island your first few steps on Solid Ground are like a toddler taking their first wobbly steps except in your case the stakes are a bit higher every rustle in the bushes could be a potential meal or a threat

and your senses are on high alert it's basically Hardcore Minecraft but in real life now in most animal worlds this would be the part where Mom swoops in to show you the ropes but as we've established Komodo moms aren't exactly the nurturing type instead you're left to figure out things on your own and that means a lot of trial and error your days are filled with many missions stalking unsuspecting Critters practicing your stealth moves and trying not to end up on the menu of a bigger Predator it's all part of the learning curve and you're

slowly but surely getting the hang of it at first your hunts are more hide and seek than stealthy Predator you'll spend hours lying in weight trying to blend in with the underbrush your heart pounding like a drum as you watch potential meals Scuttle by or get swept up by a much more experienced dragon show off but when you finally nail that first successful hunt it's like winning the lottery of blizzards and rats as you grow so does your confidence you're exploring further from your original tree pushing boundaries and generally acting like The Reptilian version of

a rebellious teenager each day you become a little more daring a little more skilled and a lot less likely to end up as someone else's dinner but it's not all smooth sailing remember those siblings you escaped from at Birth they're still around and now it's time for some good oldfashioned sibling rivalry and the prize is well not dying as you transition from kodo Teen to adulthood you start to realize that the world is both bigger and smaller than you once thought the island is vast but it's also crowded with other dragons each staking their claim

to the best hunting grounds it's time to find your own territory think of bit like moving out of your parents basement and into your first flat except your parents never had a basement and your family's been trying to eat you this whole time finding territory is like trying to score the last available seat at a soldout concert it takes luck strategy and probably a scuffle or two you'll roam across kodo Island covering miles of rugged terrain scanning for that perfect spot once you find a potential territory the real challenge begins making it yours imagine walking

for hours to find the perfect spot only to discover that it's already already been taken by a dragon twice your size now you've got a choice try to negotiate which let's be honest is going to end in a fight or keep moving and hope for a less crowded patch of land now that you've got your territory and congrats by the way it's time to settle into the daily routine of a full-fledged kodo Dragon your schedule is a mix of hunting patrolling and catching up on sleep lots and lots of sleep you're not one to waste

energy so when you hunt you go big one large meal a week is your style something that'll keep you satisfied for days you're aiming for deer wild boar or even the occasional water buffalo your hunting style is all about patience and precision you lie in weight blending into the landscape until the perfect moment to strike it's a high stakes game of hide-and seek where the prize is dinner and the cost of losing is another day of hunger but when you do succeed it's worth the wait you'll Feast like a king and then slip into a

food coma that'll make a Thanksgiving nap look like a quick power snooze as you reach full maturity at around 7 to 10 years you start taking extra notice of other female Koto roaming around that's your urge to make kicking in meeting Seasons like the ultimate Dating Game you're sizing up potential partners with a mix of curiosity and caution for male dragons the competition's fierce you've got to prove your Worth to ladies and that means showing off your strength size and survival skills if a female finds you impressive she might just let you get close enough

to mate just don't screw up your chance because the competition's tough and your brother might just be waiting in line once you've successfully made it your job isn't quite done if you're a female you lay your eggs in a carefully selected spot burying them deep to protect them from predators after that it's back to a solitary life leaving the Next Generation defend for themselves just like you did you've somehow made it past 10 years and all the way to 15 congratulations in the wild world of kodo dragons that's like reaching your 90s with all your

teeth intact but here's the thing you're not as quick as you used to be and those once impressive muscles aren't quite as strong you've earned every scar every notch on your scales but now survival requires a different kind of strength one that comes from experience and wisdom rather than Brute Force but with age comes new challenges and you knew this day would come another younger Dragon wants your territory and this battle might be your last the young dragon's eager strong and even reminds you of yourself when you first went out to get your own territory

hey it might even be your own son who knows kodo dragons aren't exactly great parents this fight is different from the others you've had although you're older and wiser you're also more vulnerable your opponent's fast Relentless and every blow feels a little harder than the last but you're not about to go down without a fight you dig deep drawing on every ounce of strength and every trick you've learned over the years in the end it's a close call maybe you win driving the Challenger away one last time or maybe you lose forced to retreat to

the fringes of your territory battered but not broken either way this fight marks the beginning of the end you've held your ground for years but now it's clear that the balance of power Shifting the jungle's a harsh place and even the strongest can't rule forever after years of ruling your territory you give one last grow and now as you feel the weight of time pressing down you know that the jungle will continue with or without you as the end approaches you find a quiet spot to rest somewhere safe from the constant struggle for survival you

lie down feeling the warmth of the sun on your scales and close your eyes the world keeps turning the cycle continues and somewhere out there a new Dragon is hatching ready to begin the journey you've just completed