Incredible footage captures the moment a hungry Komodo dragon captures a deer that it chased into the sea.

This striking footage pulls back the curtain on the gritty world of the Komodo dragon. As we watch them hunt a deer, we get a real, unfiltered look at what survival means in the wild.

Full video:

https://youtu.be/YnR6-_T2Vf0

These reptilian predators, native to a handful of islands in Indonesia, are known for their exceptional hunting skills.

Here’s another intense sighting recently caught on camera:

In addition to their formidable size and strength, Komodo dragons employ venom, a less-known aspect of their hunting arsenal, to incapacitate their prey. The venom can potentially debilitate the prey for days before it succumbs, adding a new dimension to our understanding of these unique predators.

Timor deer are one of the main sources of food for big Komodo dragons. In the video below, witness the sheer brutality of the dragons as the predators devour a deer while it is still alive.

The deer in the video above had likely been suffering the effects of Komodo dragon venom for days before finally falling.

This lethal potency is not the only weapon in the Komodo dragon’s arsenal. As the titans of the lizard world, they command attention with their distinctive adaptability and raw power. One look at their locomotion and the viewer is hooked. These beasts carry a heft of up to 150 pounds, but their size belies an impressive agility and speed—an evolutionary marvel.

In the wild, Komodo dragons can spring into a sprint, reaching up to 20 kilometers per hour. This explosive speed owes to their muscular legs, primed to deliver rapid, powerful bursts. Such sprinting prowess often means the difference between a successful hunt and an empty stomach.

But there’s something decidedly ancient about their running. They don’t trot or canter like mammals, with legs tucked under the body. Instead, Komodo dragons have a gait that’s all their own: sprawling and broad, with limbs jutting out sideways. Their strong tail, used for balance, complements this wide stance, ensuring stability during high-speed chases.

To the observer, a running Komodo dragon feels like a slice of prehistory in motion. It’s an enthralling display of strength meeting speed—a unique blend that has enabled these formidable creatures to stand their ground as top predators in their native habitats.