The Legend of the Dragon Princess , Legenda Putri Naga Komodo oleh-oleh dari Pulau Komodo

"Do not kill this animal, she is your sister!"

The Legend of the Dragon Princess

Varanus komodoensis

Long, long ago, a mythical princess lived on Komodo whom people called Putri Naga or the Dragon Princess. The Princess married a man named Majo and bore him twins : one was a baby boy and the other a baby dragon. Her son, she named Si Gerong, and raised him amongst men; the dragon, she called Orah and reared her in the forest. Neither knew anything of the other.

Entrance gate of Komodo National Park

Year later, manly Si Gerong shot a deer while hunting in the forest. But as he stepped forward to take his quarry, a large lizard appeared from the thicket and seized it hungrily. Si Gerong tried to chase the beast away,but in vain. It stood firm over the carcass, warning him off with bared teeth.

Male dragon

Si Gerong raised his spear to kill the lizard, when suddenly a radiant woman appeared : the Dragon Princess. Swiftly she parted the foes, telling Si Gerong, "Do not kill this animal; she is your sister, Orah. I bore you together. Consider her your equal because you are twins."

Do not kill this animal!

From the on, the inhabitants of the island treated the Komodos with kindness. The animals roamed freely in the surrounding woods, feeding themselves on wild pigs, deer, and other animals of the forest and old Komodos who could no longer fend for themselves were fed by their human brothers.