Komodo Island
" Home Of Famous Komodo Dragons "

Varanus Komodoensis is endangered reptil. Lets help them!
Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian
archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in
1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique
Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat.
However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to
protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In
1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and
Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park's biological
importance. Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo,
Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total
surface area (marine and land) of 1817km (proposed extensions would
bring the total surface area up to 2,321km2).
As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge
for many other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed
scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. Moreover, the Park
includes one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs,
mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays. These
habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of
reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta
rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also
make Komodo National Park their home.

Boats to Beautiful Komodo Island
Threats to terrestrial biodiversity include the increasing pressure
on forest cover and water resources as the local human population has
increased 800% over the past 60 years. In addition, the Timor deer
population, the preferred prey source for the endangered Komodo dragon,
is still being poached. Destructive fishing practices such as
dynamite-, cyanide, and compressor fishing severely threaten the Park's
marine resources by destroying both the habitat (coral reefs) and the
resource itself (fish and invertebrate stocks).
The present situation in the Park is characterized by reduced but
continuing destructive fishing practices primarily by immigrant
fishers, and high pressure on demersal stocks like lobsters, shellfish,
groupers and napoleon wrasse. Pollution inputs, ranging from raw sewage
to chemicals, are increasing and may pose a major threat in the future.
Today, the PKA Balai Taman Nasional Komodo and The Nature Conservancy
are working together to protect the Park's vast resources.
Our goals are to protect the Park's biodiversity (both marine and
terrestrial) and the breeding stocks of commercial fishes for
replenishment of surrounding fishing grounds. The main challenge is to
reduce both threats to the resources and conflicts between incompatible
activities.
Both parties have a long term commitment to protecting the marine biodiversity of Komodo National Park