Behavior of Varanus Komodoensis 
323 
Figure 13. Ambush sites are often located near a concentration of game trails. The large black dot with en- 
closed star shows the ambush location of a large monitor (23W) at Hill 23, Loho Liang, Komodo, May 24, 
1970. Small dots trace the game trails near the base of the hill. The stippled area was frequently used by 
the same adult as a thermoregulatory site. 
struggle a few feet farther 
along the trail, where we found 
more blood and another area 
of crushed grass. The struggle 
then moved farther down the 
trail, where the doe fell or was 
pulled down. Here it certainly 
died, because intestinal con- 
tents were scattered over an 
area of packed-down and torn- 
up grass 1.2 m in diameter; 2 
m from the forest edge there 
was evidence of massive bleed- 
ing. After the intestines were 
eaten the carcass was dragged 
about 15 m into the forest, 
where more of it was eaten. By 
this time, two smaller moni- 
tors, a dog, and a crow had 
arrived, probably attracted by 
the scent of the fresh intestinal 
contents. The remaining part 
of the carcass was later 
dragged another 15 m and 
consumed. 
During the afternoon, most deer herds bed 
down in thickets and adult monitors often 
attempt to find and attack them there. The 
sleeping animal is usually grasped by the 
legs or back. According to the reports of 
local inhabitants, the deer that are killed are 
usually those unable to stand. The path of a 
Komodo dragon hunting for sleeping deer is 
