An 83-year-old Indonesian woman told Thursday how she faced a "fight for survival" when a Komodo dragon pounced and sunk its teeth into her, in the latest attack this year by one of the giant lizards.
Haisah was sitting on the ground outside her house on Rinca island, one of several Komodo-inhabited islands frequently visited by tourists, making a broom from a coconut tree, when the two-metre (6.6-foot) reptile sprang at her.
"All of a sudden, a Komodo bit my right hand," she told AFP from her bed in hospital where she has been receiving treatment since the attack. "I have no idea which direction it came from."
"A knife fell from my right hand as the Komodo sunk its teeth into my wrist. There was nobody else around and I knew that I faced a fight for survival."
But the elderly lady managed to repel the attack: "I kicked the Komodo on one its front legs with all my strength, it was only one kick but it made the Komodo let go of my hand, then I screamed for help."
Haisah, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, spoke to AFP through her son who translated the locally spoken language into Indonesian.
Her wrist was seriously wounded during Tuesday's attack in her small village and she needed a total of 35 stitches at the hospital in the nearby town of Labuan Bajo, said her son.
"I'm doing fine now. I hope my hand will return to normal so that I can make brooms again," she said, adding limited movement had returned to her hand after it was initially paralysed.
In February, one of the reptiles bit a tour guide's leg when he passed its lair while trekking on Rinca island.
Earlier the same month, one attacked two employees of the Komodo National Park, inflicting serious injuries which needed hospital treatment.
Until recently, Komodos were believed to hunt with a "bite and wait" strategy -- using toxic bacteria in their saliva to weaken or kill their prey before descending in numbers to feast.
But recent research found that the dragons' jaws have highly sophisticated poison glands that can cause paralysis, spasms and shock through haemorrhaging.
They are native to several Indonesian islands, where their habitat is protected, and are considered a vulnerable species, with only a few thousand left in the world.
The world's largest monitor lizards, they can grow up to three metres and weigh up to 70 kilograms (154 pounds).
AFP
Thu Apr 11 2013
Tanda retak politik Filipina? Naib Presiden Sara Duterte dakwa Marcos tidak cekap
Sara Duterte mendakwa, Ferdinand Marcos Jr menjalankan pentadbirannya tanpa perancangan jelas.
AWANI Ringkas: Pembentangan Belanjawan 2025
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
#AWANIRingkas 18 Oktober 2024 | 9 PM
Berikut merupakan rangkuman berita setakat 9 malam, 18 Oktober 2024
1️⃣ Pembentangan Belanjawan 2025
2️⃣ Sektor pendidikan
3️⃣ Sektor kesihatan
#awaniringkas
1️⃣ Pembentangan Belanjawan 2025
2️⃣ Sektor pendidikan
3️⃣ Sektor kesihatan
#awaniringkas
Belanjawan 2025: Peruntukan AI dinaikkan sebanyak RM50 juta
Kerajaan komited memperluaskan pendidikan berkaitan Kecerdasan Buatan (AI) ke semua universiti penyelidikan dengan peruntukan RM50 juta, berbanding RM20 juta tahun ini.
Latihan regata bertukar tragedi, lima peserta dikhuatiri lemas
Insiden melibatkan 15 peserta menggunakan satu bot untuk latihan regata. 10 individu berjaya selamatkan diri manakala lima yang lain masih hilang.
UAE hantar tiga lagi pesawat bersama 120 tan bantuan untuk Lubnan
UAE setakat ini telah menghantar 12 pesawat yang membawa 515 tan bekalan bantuan.
Belanjawan 2025: Nak masuk Universiti? Ini cara kerajaan bantu anda
Belanjawan MADANI memperlihatkan komitmen Kerajaan dalam meningkatkan sektor pendidikan tinggi negara.
Belanjawan 2025 sedia platform menyeluruh hadapi cabaran tahun depan - Mohamad Hasan
Langkah-langkah dalam Belanjawan 2025 juga dilihat cuba mengimbangi keperluan rakyat terutama dalam mendepani isu kos sara hidup.
Jumlah kematian di Lubnan terus meningkat
Jumlah kematian akibat serangan udara Israel di Lubnan sejak tercetusnya konflik Israel-Hizbullah pada 8 Oktober 2023 meningkat kepada 2,412.
Lima hilang selepas perahu lumba karam
Wartawan AWANI Borneo, Fadillah Sulaiman bawakan laporan terkini insiden perahu lumba karam dan tenggelam berhampiran kawasan perindustrian Bintawa.