Stephen Algar has several hobbies and many interests too. We decided to call him by phone at his home in Torquay and talk to him to learn about one of his favorite things… Komodo Dragons.
In a really enthusiastic interview over the phone, one Wednesday morning, Stephen said: “I have always been interested in reptiles and find them fascinating. I am not afraid of snakes or lizards. I actually like them a lot.
“Komodo Dragons come from Indonesia. This is a very hot tropical country. They can be found on four or five islands there and one of the islands is named ‘Komodo’. This is how the lizards got their name. They are the largest lizard species in the World and can grow up to nearly 3 metres long (ten feet).
“They are a brown colour and have rough skin, very strong legs and claws. They lay eggs when they want to breed and they are good swimmers too. They feed on larger animals such as wild cattle and goats and because of this as they can be a danger to humans when they are hungry.
“People used to think that they carried bacteria in their mouths and used this to kill their prey by infecting them after biting them but in around 2005 it was discovered that they have venom that comes out of a groove in their jaw and through their teeth when they bite their prey. Only two other types of lizard in the whole World can do this.
“If you want to see a Komodo Dragon in real life here you can go to Paignton Zoo, Devon, like I did with Co-ordin8. It is very interesting there and there are lots of other animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians to see and learn about as well.”
Qualified Teacher and Assessor.
Former tutor at St.Loyes College for the disabled.
- One of My Favorite Things: Komodo Dragons - April 24, 2020
- Co-ordin8 and the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - February 2, 2020
- Co-ordinArt Visiting Artist: Colin Brandi - November 12, 2019
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