First record of Komodo dragon nesting activity and hatchling emergence from North Flores, Eastern Indonesia

For wild varanid populations, basic measures of reproductive ecology, such as distribution and selection of nest sites, are difficult to obtain. To date, nest distributions and nesting behavior for Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) have only been reported from Komodo National Park. Here we report the first record of V. komodoensis nesting activity and hatchling emergence on Ontoloe Island, off the north coast of Flores. This is a significant finding for it suggests that this relatively small but well protected island supports a viable population of V. komodoensis.