Komodo dragons, the largest extant lizard species, are native to several islands in the province.
Ira Santika, a relative of the victim, identified as Hamra, said the attack occurred on Thursday at around 2 p.m.
Hamra's wife screamed hysterically upon witnessing the attack, alerting nearby residents. The Komodo dragon bit Hamra's left foot after losing sight of the cat it was initially chasing.
"Due to his age, the victim could not clearly see the attack coming. Meanwhile, his wife was busy warding off monkeys from the plantation," she added.
Hamra's relatives evacuated him using a motorboat via a dock in Golo Mori village before transporting him to the emergency unit of the Komodo Regional Public Hospital in a vehicle provided by the Komodo National Park management.
Hamra's son, Suhardin, confirmed that his father had received medical treatment, saying, "He got 39 stitches on his left foot."
On a separate occasion, the head of the national park management, Hendrikus Rani Siga, urged people to exercise greater caution in their daily activities due to the presence of the large-sized lizards.
"Residents have no choice but to remain alert to Komodo dragons, as they share the same area," he said.
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Translator: Gecio Viana, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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