As a young boy, renowned reptile expert and conservationist Romulus (”Rom”) Whitaker dreamed of finding dragons. Years later, the successful herpetologist decided to set out to discover the real-life origins of these mythical monsters.
Rom’s snake park and crocodile bank in India, where he works to conserve and breed reptiles in the wild, were the first of their kind when he created them. Now he travels the world in search of modern day dragons. In the caves of Slovenia, he encounters the peculiar creature known as the olm, a cave-dwelling blind salamander once believed to be a baby dragon. In the rainforests of India’s Western Ghats, Whitaker handles flying lizards, belonging to the species called Draco. When threatened or courting, the males extend the bright yellow flaps on their necks. Whitaker captures one and gently stretches out its amazing wings. Finally, Rom’s quest leads him to Indonesia’s Komodo Island, where he sees a wild Komodo dragon for the first time.
The Dragon Chronicles follows Rom as he journeys around the world, reimagining the lines between fact and fantasy, in search of the fabled beasts’ contemporary counterparts.
The Dragon Chronicles premieres Sunday, January 11 on PBS (check local listings).
To order a copy of The Dragon Chronicles, please visit the NATURE Shop.
Photo © WNET.ORG/Icon Films
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I am very excited to watch this episode! I myself love to read literature, folk tales, and legends to make sense of all the creatures that are talked about in them. In fact, I even did a paper on it this past semester.
I’m sure this episode will be exciting, enlightening, and one to watch over and over again.
The Museum of Science (Boston) has an exhibit right now on mythological creatures. I’m going in January, and this episode sounds like the perfect companion piece!
Mythological creatures? I encourage you to go to Answers in Genesis,click on the Get Answers link, then click on Dinosaurs and you will find info. about dragons.
From the Museum of Science Web site: How did the Vikings “prove” the existence of the unicorn? How did the legend of the griffin originate? Examine the relationship between real and imaginary creatures, and discover the beliefs, creativity, fear, and fantasy they inspire in cultures around the world.
Dragons, sea serpents, even the dreaded chupacabra populate this exhibit that shows us how myths are created, celebrated — and sometimes debunked. Explore familiar legends like Bigfoot, discover new mysteries, and learn how cultural artifacts reflect the impact of myths on society.
http://www.mos.org/exhibits_shows/current_exhibits&d=2674
I forwarded this site to my granddaughters who are fans of all fantastical critters.
this game site sucks get a life and stop waisting peoples time.
We have a very fine PBS station in Okahoma City. I was associated with this station when Sesame Street first show aired…and this continued for 12 years. Our station is the best, run very professionally. Our family enjoys the Nature, Nova and all of the wonderful programs. America should be very proud of PBS AND OETA.
As a wildlife enthusiast in general, I anticipate that this will be another excellent Nature p[roduction. I hope to some day see the komodo dragons in their native habitat. This program may inspire me to do that very soon!
on Jauray 11th I watch this show and I like it alot. I learned a lot from this show.
this show is great! it was full of lots of new info for me and the narrator was really endearing.
I very much enjoyed this presentation.
I was most surprised to find that what I had thought to be Dinosaur with wings was, on further study, not. Pterosaur it seems where lizards. Hmm, I had romanticized Dragons as warm blooded Bird ancestors. I still believe it is available that some branch of the Ornithopod dinosaurs had reached sentience. I have a gut feeling and vivid dreams of a society of intelligent Bipedal Ornithopod like beings.
Not very scientific I know. There skin is become so thin… Like parchment or rice paper but soft and warm to the touch. Just the dreams of child returning to this old man I suppose.
A wonderful program. The bits of humor made the program one of fun while learning. Having been with the Komodos in the wild, I laughed when watching Rom run from the Komodos, the nervous laugh that comes with knowing you’ve escaped a great danger. Thanks for the great program.