Why you shouldn't get too close to a Komodo dragon

An Indonesian national park official says a Komodo dragon has bitten an overly inquisitive tourist. Photo / AP

A Komodo dragon has bitten an overly inquisitive tourist in Indonesia who ignored warnings about getting too close to the enormous reptile while it was eating, a national park official said.

The tourist from Singapore was bitten on his leg on Wednesday morning while taking pictures of the Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, said the chief of the Komodo National Park, Sudiyono.

Sudiyono said the man was rescued by locals and rushed to a hospital in Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, near Komodo Island, for treatment.

Endangered Komodo dragons are found in the wild on several eastern Indonesian islands. They can grow to 3m or more long.

View this post on Instagram

There is a place in this world where the last dinosaur like creatures exist. A place where they rule an island with humans travelling across the Indonesian waters to see them live in natural habitat. They hunt the wild animals that live on the island but they've grown to accept humans near them thus rarely ever attack. But the few times in history they have attacked humans they say they eat everything including bones. Their saliva is extremely poisonous that once a human is bitten he/she has 8 hours to get an antivenin injection before death. We met 3 while walking through the Komodo Island and managed to sneak a photo with the most calm one. I may look peaceful here but I can say I've never wanted to get off an island so bad. 😲 #wildbeasts #dragonsofplanetearth #scariestphotobombever

A post shared by Boho Beautiful (@bohobeautifullife) on Apr 29, 2017 at 9:40pm PDT

Attacks on humans are rare but may increase as Indonesia is promoting the Komodo National Park as a tourist destination. In 2013, a guide and a park ranger were attacked in separate incidents.

Experts say the Komodo dragon population in the wild is less than 4000 but stable.

- AAP