Vanishing dragons
Yemris Fointuna
The Jakarta Post
Publication Date : 10-08-2008




The Komodo dragon, or varanus komodoensis, the largest of all known lizards, now only survives in the wild on the western side of Flores Island, having become extinct on Padar Island in 2000.
"The Komodo dragon, which once survived on Padar Island, has become totally extinct," Padar Island Komodo National Park Centre supervision head Ramang Isaka told the Jakarta Post in a telephone conversation recently.
"Their droppings can no longer be found there. There is no clear reason for its extinction, but rampant poaching of deer and wild boar, its main prey, and encroaching habitat due to forest conversion and wild fires are strongly believed to be among the causes."
Padar Island was teeming with Komodo dragons in the 1980s, but bush fires sparked by poachers have gradually restricted their habitat and foraging areas and might have burned dozens of them alive, he said.
Poachers utilising forest fires have seriously threatened the existence of the species over the last few years, he added.
"The number of Komodo dragons is estimated at 2,500, scattered on Komodo, Rinca and Gili Motang islands," Ramang said, adding that the animals could only survive in areas of dense foliage that had adequate food and water supplies.
"The populations of wild boars and deer have gradually depleted on Padar Island and most of its forested areas have been damaged by fires," he said.
The demise of the Komodo dragon on Padar Island has prompted park authorities to increase their efforts to protect the animal.
"We are still determining the main cause of its extinction on Padar Island.
"According to our plan, we will conduct a survey to ascertain the natural conditions on Padar Island and at the same time make an inventory of their prey in the area," Ramang said.
The park has recorded a marked increase in the number of domestic and foreign visitors over the past few years. As of the end of this year's first semester, the number of visitors stood at 2,800, of which 1,700 were foreign tourists and 1,100 domestic.
The majority of the visitors said the national park was their main tourist destination. Most of the foreign visitors come from the United States, Australia and European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, France and England.