Destinations known | The closure of Komodo National Park could be more damaging to environment than keeping it open
- Indonesian authorities will decide the future of the popular tourist destination in August
- Environmentalists fear that closing the park could encourage those who rely on tourism to turn to destructive fishing methods
The Washington Post reported on April 2 that nine suspected members of a trafficking ring that was found in possession of five baby Komodo dragons, as well as bearcats, cockatoos and cassowaries, had been arrested. The group was understood to have sold at least 41 Komodo dragons for as much as 500 million rupiah (US$35,300) each to domestic and international buyers over the past three years, with sales facilitated by social media.
The large lizard – which can reach three metres in length and has, on rare occasions, been known to attack humans, including a Singaporean tourist in 2017 – is found only on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang and Flores. According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, genetic tests performed on the Komodos seized from the smugglers showed they had come from Flores, which is not part of the national park.
Why, then, are NTT authorities so set on shuttering Komodo Island?
“We want Komodo Island to be like the Galapagos islands … so we need to rehabilitate the flora and fauna,” Jelamu told AFP on April 4. “Mass tourism is already happening on Komodo Island and it’s really disturbing.”
