Taking Care of the Remaining ‘Dragons’

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Visitors take pictures with Komodo dragons in Komodo Island National Park, East Nusa Tenggara.

Tourism has changed the face of Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara. The protection of the "dragons" remaining in the province must be a top priority.

Rahman walked slowly while looking around him. From a distance of 15 meters, the tourist guide spotted a Komodo dragon that was hiding behind a brownish bush. Holding a forked wooden stick, he approached the “dragon”.

While staring at the animal, the mouth of the middle-aged man was mumbling, as if saying something. The wild animal that took steps to get away looked fascinated.

"We consider Komodo dragons to be our ancestors. We live side-by-side with the Komodo dragon," said Rahman on Komodo Island, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday evening (24/6/2022).

Also read:

> Indonesia Must Protect World Heritage Sites

> Delinquent Visitors Threatening World Heritage Sites

Rahman immediately gave tourists the opportunity to take pictures of the Komodo dragon. Some asked to be photographed with a Komodo dragon in the background, and some others asked to take a selfie with a Komodo dragon.

They did not waste this rare opportunity, seeing ancient animals that still live on earth. "It's a real 'dragon'. Not in a movie,” said Susan, a tourist from Singapore.

That evening, it was rare to see a Komodo dragon roaming near the usual tourist path. There are as many as 1,728 Komodo dragons on the island, but the group of tourists accompanied by Kompas only encountered three. "They are becoming fewer because it is now the mating season of the Komodo dragons," said Rahman.

There is a total of 3,303 Komodo dragons in these islands, an increase from 2,340 in 2016.

Komodo Island is one of five islands in the region that are inhabited by Komodo dragons. As many as 1,385 Komodo dragons are found in Rinca island, 19 in Padar Island, 81 in Gili Motang Island and 90 in Nusa Kode island. There is a total of 3,303 Komodo dragons in these islands, an increase from 2,340 in 2016.

DOKUMEN TNK

One of the areas of the Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara.

Rahman, who is also a resident of Komodo Island, said that local residents and Komodo dragons lived side-by-side. They did not hurt each other. On this 33,037-hectare island, there is one settlement, namely Komodo Village, with a population of 1,869 people in 2020. “There was once a case of a person being bitten by a Komodo dragon. It happened because the Komodo dragon was hurt," he said.

Doni Parera, a tour guide in Labuan Bajo, had a memorable experience. Doni, who is not a resident of Komodo Island, once accompanied a group of foreign tourists who came on a cruise ship. The group arrived during the Komodo dragon's mating season. A few days before arrival, the Komodo dragon did not appear.

Doni and the team threw pieces of mutton at several points to lure the animals. But no Komodo dragons appeared.

"I was so stressed. I was afraid to be suspected of spreading false information because tourists could not see Komodo dragons here,” he recalled.

Foreign tourists were satisfied. A few hours after the tourists returned home, the Komodo dragons disappeared again.

Doni then asked the local residents for help to make a ritual. Local residents led by traditional leaders came and mourned there, like mourning someone who had died. After that, the Komodo dragons appeared. Foreign tourists were satisfied. A few hours after the tourists returned home, the Komodo dragons disappeared again.

“So, there is a kind of relationship between the people on Komodo Island and the Komodo dragons. Therefore, we reject the plan to vacate Komodo Island by relocating residents," said Doni

Don't disturb

According to him, one of the ways to protect Komodo dragons is not to disturb their habitat. Unfortunately, the government’s development policy has already disturbed the ecosystem in the region.

On Rinca Island, for example, the construction of infrastructure facilities has blocked the Komodo dragon's path. The local government has also issued permits to three companies to operate in the area.

KOMPAS/DAHLIA IRAWATI (DIA) 19-09-2018

Tourists pose with dragons in one corner of Komodo National Park Loh Buaya-Rinca Island, in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.

This controversial policy attracted the attention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO asked the construction project on the natural world heritage site to be stopped because it interfered with the Komodo dragon. Even though UNESCO representatives came to Rinca, the construction continued.

Dwi Putro Sugiarto, the head of the Komodo National Park Administration Subdivision, said on Thursday (23/6) that the park was committed to maintaining the survival of the Komodo dragon. Conservation remains a priority in the midst of growing tourism in the area.

This visit quota is almost the same as the number of visitors in 2019 or before the Covid-19 pandemic era which amounted to 221,000 people.

The form of protection, among others, is carried out by limiting the number of visitors to about 219,000 people per year. This visit quota is almost the same as the number of visitors in 2019 or before the Covid-19 pandemic era which amounted to 221,000 people.

Another step is to increase security in the national park area. The location is still prone to hunting for deer and wild boar which are the sources of feed for the Komodo dragons.

Fire prevention is also intensified. According to the records of the National Park, during the last nine years, there have been 13 fires that have scorched an area of 42.4 hectares.

KOMPAS/SAMUEL OKTORA

Rahali, a resident of Komodo Village, on Komodo Island, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) makes dragon carvings from wood, Tuesday (2/10/2017).

The deputy regent of West Manggarai, Yulianus Weng, insisted that the protection of Komodo dragons remained a priority. “If there is damag, what else can we be proud of? Protecting the habitat is a priority. It's non-negotiable," he said.

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)