The internet search company Google celebrated the 37th anniversary of Indonesia’s Komodo National Park with its latest ‘Google Doodle.’
‘Google Doodles’ are special, short-term changes of the Google homepage that mark special events, holidays, or people.
On Monday, Google’s homepage featured an animated drawing of the komodo dragon, the world’s largest living lizard species.
Komodo dragons are two to three meters long, and can weigh over 100 kilograms.
The Google Doodle included a true-or-false quiz about the huge and scaly creatures. For example, users learn that komodo dragons eat more than half of their own body weight in just one meal. And they can smell a possible “meal” from as many as 10 kilometers away.
Google users can click the Doodle to read more about the species as well as the Indonesian park that protects them.
Komodo National Park is within Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands. It was formed in March of 1980, and is home to more than 5,000 komodo dragons.
They have lived in this harsh part of Indonesia for millions of years. Today, Indonesia is the only place in the world where komodo dragons exist in the wild.
Along with the huge lizard species, Komodo National Park is also home to more than 70 kinds of birds, Google reports. Its waters are filled with sea turtles, dolphins and thousands of kinds of fish. And, many Timor deer also live within the park. They are a main source of food for the komodo dragons.
Words in This Story
doodle - n. a kind of drawing
homepage - n. the part of a Web site that is seen first and that usually contains links to other parts of the site
animated - adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another
lizard - n. a type of reptile that has four legs and a long body and tail
species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants
harsh - adj. unpleasant and difficult to accept or experience