Komodo
The Komodo National Park is a national park in Indonesia located within the Lesser Sunda Island in the border region between the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. The park includes the three larger island Komodo, Padar and Rincah, and 26 smaller ones, with a total area of 173.700 hectares (603 sq km of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 in order to protect the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the world's largest lizard. Later it was dedicated to protecting other species, including marine species. In 1991 the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park comprises a coastal section of western Flores, the three larger islands of Komodo, Padar, and Rinca, 26 smaller islands and the surrounding waters of the Sape Straights. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin. The terrain is generally rugged, characterized by rounded hills, with altitudes up to 735 m asl. The climate is one of the driest of Indonesia, with annual rainfall between 800 mm and 1000 mm. Temperature generally range from 17oC to 34oC. Located at the geographic location is 8o24' - 8o50' S, 119o21' - 119o49' E.
About 4,000 people live within the park. Scuba diving is popular because of the park's high marine biodiversity. The development of, largely marine based, ecotourism is the main strategy to make the park self-financing and generate sufficient revenue through entrance fees and tourism licences to cover operational and managerial costs. To this end, a joint venture between TNC and a tourism operator were granted a tourism concession, that also entails extensive park management rights. This concession has generated an ongoing controversy. The joint venture has been accused of making decision behind closed doors, and many people in and around Komodo claim that they haven't been consulted regarding decision that ultimately affect their lives.
The majority of the people in and around the park are fishermen originally form Bima (Sumbawa), Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau or Bugis ethnic groups. The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and moved from location to location in the region of Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku, to make their livelihoods. Descendents of the original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left and their culture and language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants.
These volcanic islands are inhabited by a population of around 5,700 giant lizards, whose appearance and aggressive behaviour have led to them being called 'Komodo dragons'. They exist nowhere else in the world and are of great interest to scientist studying the theory of evolution. The rugged hillsides of dry savanna and pockets of thorny green vegetation contrast starkly with the brilliant white sandy beaches and the blue waters surging over coral.
The park is best known for the Komodo monitor, the world's largest living lizard. The population is distributed across the island of Komodo, Rinca, and Gili Motong, and in certain coastal regions of western and northern Flores. Favoured habitat is tropical deciduous forest and, to a lesser extent, open savanna .
The mammalian fauna is characteristic of the Wallacean zoogeographical zone, with terrestrial species recorded including the endemic rat. Other mammal include primates such as crap-eating macaque. Introduced species, such as Rusa Deer and Wild Boar, as well as feral domestic animal including Horses and Water Bufallo, form important prey species for the Komodo Monitor. Some 72 species of bird have noisy friar bird and common scrubhen.
Declared by Minister of Forestry No. 306/Kpts-II/1992, February 29, 1992.
The Komodo National Park is a national park in Indonesia located within the Lesser Sunda Island in the border region between the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. The park includes the three larger island Komodo, Padar and Rincah, and 26 smaller ones, with a total area of 173.700 hectares (603 sq km of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 in order to protect the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the world's largest lizard. Later it was dedicated to protecting other species, including marine species. In 1991 the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park comprises a coastal section of western Flores, the three larger islands of Komodo, Padar, and Rinca, 26 smaller islands and the surrounding waters of the Sape Straights. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin. The terrain is generally rugged, characterized by rounded hills, with altitudes up to 735 m asl. The climate is one of the driest of Indonesia, with annual rainfall between 800 mm and 1000 mm. Temperature generally range from 17oC to 34oC. Located at the geographic location is 8o24' - 8o50' S, 119o21' - 119o49' E.
