14 DAY TRIAL // Quite a while ago, several researchers from various parts of the world got together and took it to themselves to investigate the demographics of the Komodo dragons population.
Now that their study has come to an end, they claim that males belonging to this species live twice as long as the females do.
Apparently, this is because the latter are pretty much worn down by the household chores they must perform: building nests and guarding them for about six months, until the young ones hatch.
Thus, whereas some males reach the age of 60 and even more, the average female only lives for about 32 years.
“Males and females start off at the same size until they reach sexual maturity at around seven years of age. From then on females grow slower, shorter and die younger,” explained Dr. Tim Jessop.
Hopefully, this information can be used to up the efficiency of ongoing conservation projects intended to keep this already vulnerable species from becoming extinct.