INDONESIA: Indonesian national park fights to save the dwindling Komodo Dragon population

Record ID: 737603

  • Title: INDONESIA: Indonesian national park fights to save the dwindling Komodo Dragon population
  • Date: 5th December 2008
  • Summary: KOMODO DRAGON EMERGES FROM SMALL POND
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Nature / Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVAEENPXN0TLF394JT032P5B3JH9
  • Story Text: The habitat of Komodo Dragons, the largest living species of lizards and possibly the closest relative to the dinosaurs, is confined to four small islands off the coast of the larger island of Flores about 1,100 kilometres east of Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.
    Eight years ago, there were about 5,000 of these giant lizards recorded lurking around the bush -- mainly in the Komodo National Park set up especially to protect this vulnerable species.
    But, despite the reserve's best intentions and as human activity continues to encroach on the wild reserves, the Komodo population in the park has dwindled down now to 2,700.
    Officials are also concerned that the breeding females are outnumbered by the males by one to three.
    The Komodo National Park, established in 1980 and designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1991, is trying everything to reverse this trend.
    And while since 1984 the reserve has been accepting groups of tourists -- mostly foreigners and accompanied by park rangers -- they are also trying to balance the demands of eco-tourism with the need to preserve the lizards' natural homes.
    For the tourists trekking through the dry bush of this dry volcanic island, capturing these elusive lizards is not easy even on camera.
    "Did you see any Komodo?," is a common greeting when the two groups pass each other.
    Komodo (it's scientific name: Varanus Komodoensis) are largely though not exclusively solitary creatures that are active mostly during the late afternoon. With their well-camouflaged skin that means sightings can be rare.
    "There are times when tourists can't see the Komodo Dragon. Many tourists are disappointed but we have to tell them that you can't see the Komodos if you are only around for a few hours. You have to stay for several days. Then I guarantee, you will be able to see them," said park ranger Jusuf Jenata, 45, who has 26 years experience as ranger in the park.
    However when a visitor does get to see one, the reaction is generally that of joy.
    "I've seen more lizards before and Komodo are quite a bit bigger, so, it was nice to see them," said Pico, 25 year-old tourist from Canada, sweaty from a five-kilometre trek through the dry volcanic island with steep slopes.
    But getting too close to the reptile is not recommended.
    These lizards are carnivorous, feeding on wild horses, deer, long-tailed monkeys, water buffalo and sometimes their own young. And while seemingly docile, they are territorial and can become unpredictably aggressive.
    Furthermore, their saliva contains an anticoagulant, a substance that prevents blood from clotting. That means even if its prey survives an attack it will probably die of infection later.
    At three metres (10 feet) and weighing up to 100 kg (220 pounds), Komodo rarely but are still known to have, on occasion, attacked humans. An eight-year old boy died of massive bleeding after he was attacked by a Komodo lizard in June of 2007 - the first such attack in at least 30 years.
    One of the park authority's missions, along with its American partner The Nature Conservancy, is to educate the locals living there the on co-existence with the giant lizard.
    "We believe if all the people living in this area benefit from the national park and preserve its natural resources, they themselves will become better park rangers for this reserve," said Tamen Sitorus, head of Komodo National Park.
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