Polina
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🚨🚨🚨TOURIST TRAP ALERT!!!🚨🚨🚨
The main purpose of the trip to the islands was to see the fascinating Komodo dragon in real life. Unfortunately, it was THE WORST PART OF THE TRIP.
Nothing new here, we were also promised an exciting hike which would take one hour. We arrived in the morning and we were told that this was the time when dragons were the most active hunting.
In reality, it was a TEN MINUTE WALK where the rangers brought us to two trees under which there were dragons. We thought one of them was dead, the poor thing didn't move at all, his paw was twisted in a funky way. It was a sad sad thing to see... The rangers claimed that the dragons had just had their meal and were digesting and resting. The dragon laying under the second tree looked more alive... Yet, so strange that we could get so close to one of the most dangerous animals out there, isn't it?
We were so lucky to spot one real female dragon truly hunting right at the very beginning of the 'track'. I wish they had let us observe her for longer, but they didn't, because most likely it was indeed unsafe for obvious reasons.
In total, two drugged dragons and one real dragon, the track of 15 minutes, posing for pictures and being sold souvenirs.
It is a shame that they charge such a huge cost for something so fake...
I feel so bad for having taken part in this circus, but I really hoped for the best since it was my dream of many many years to see these fascinating creatures in real life...
I understand that locals need to make their living and survive, but there are many more ethical ways to make a living...
I am not sure if you have the option to skip it when going on a boat tour, but save that money and spend it elsewhere on a good cause.