<P> Komodo dragons avoid encounters with humans . Juveniles are very shy and will flee quickly into a hideout if a human comes closer than about 100 metres (330 ft). Older animals will also retreat from humans from a shorter distance away . If cornered, they will react aggressively by gaping their mouth, hissing, and swinging their tail . If they are disturbed further, they may start an attack and bite . Although there are anecdotes of unprovoked Komodo dragons attacking or preying on humans, most of these reports are either not reputable or caused by defensive bites . Only a very few cases are truly the result of unprovoked attacks by abnormal individuals, which lost their fear towards humans . </P> <P> Volcanic activity, earthquakes, loss of habitat, fire, loss of prey due to poaching, tourism, and illegal poaching of the dragons themselves have all contributed to the vulnerable status of the Komodo dragon . Under Appendix I of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), commercial trade of skins or specimens is illegal . </P> <P> In 2013, total population in the wild was assessed as 3,222 individuals, declining to 3,092 in 2014 and 3,014 in 2015 . Populations remained relatively stable on the bigger islands (Komodo and Rinca), but decreased on smaller island such as Nusa Kode and Gili Motang, likely due to diminishing prey availability . On Padar, a former population of the Komodo dragon became extinct, of which the last individuals were seen in 1975 . It is widely assumed that the Komodo dragon died out on Padar after a strong decline of the populations of large ungulate prey, for which poaching was most likely responsible . </P> <P> Komodo dragons have long been great zoo attractions, where their size and reputation make them popular exhibits . They are, however, rare in zoos because they are susceptible to infection and parasitic disease if captured from the wild, and do not readily reproduce . As of May 2009, there were 13 European, 2 African, 35 North American, 1 Singaporean, and 2 Australian institutions that kept Komodo dragons . </P>

How many komodo dragons are there in the wild