Komodo National Park

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The park comprises a coastal section of western Flores, the three larger islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca, 26 smaller islands and the surrounding waters of the Sape Straights. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin. The terrain is generally rugged, characterized by rounded hills, with altitudes up to 735 m (2,411 ft). The climate is one of the driest of Indonesia with annual rainfall of 800 to 1,000 mm (31 to 39 in). Temperatures in the dry season from May to October are around 40 °C (104 °F). The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) was first discovered by the scientific world in 1912 through Lieutenant J. K. H. van Steyn van Hensbroek, the Civil Administrator in Reo, Flores Island. Their populations are restricted to the islands of Komodo (1,700), Rinca (1,300), Gili Motang (100), Gili Dasami (100), and Flores (c. 2,000), while extinct on Padar. Human settlements within the park spread out over four settlements (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, and Papagaran), all of which existed before 1980 when the area was declared a national park. In 1928 there were only 30 people living in Komodo Village, and approximately 250 people on Rinca Island in 1930. At the 2010 Census, Komodo Village had 1,508 inhabitants and Papagaran Village had 1,262 inhabitants. As of 1999, Rinca's population was 835, and Kerora's population was 185 people. The majority of the people in and around the park are fishermen, originally from Bima (Sumbawa), Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Descendants of the original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there are no full-blooded Ata Modo left. The park also has areas of rainforest, deciduous forest and mangroves. The park's savannah vegetation features lontar palm (Borassus flabellifer) and grass species including Chloris barbata, Heteropogon contortus and Themeda triandra. Cloud forests appear only in few areas above 500 metres but they provide habitat to species, some endemic, including Ficus drupacea, Glycosmis pentaphylla, Podocarpus neriifolius, Terminalia zollingeri and Uvaria rufa.

Reader's Guide

Komodo National Park holds global significance as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (declared in 1991) and a Man and Biosphere Reserve, recognized for its unique terrestrial and marine biodiversity. It is considered one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots and a WWF Global 200 Marine Eco-region, highlighting its importance for conservation. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon, but since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting the entire biodiversity of the region, both marine and terrestrial. The park's designation as an ASEAN Heritage Park (2005) and its selection as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature underscore its international value. However, the park faces challenges: as of 2007, 97% of the people living within the park rely on marine resources as their only source of income. They are pauperised by the restrictions on access to resources coupled with rising costs of living, a growing population and the lack of sustainable livelihood alternatives. Tourism has become a major industry since the late 1980s and the 1990s, but most of the benefits are leaked outside the region to large national or international tourism operators. The average level of education in the villages is grade four of elementary school, and less than 10% of those who graduate from elementary school continue to high school. Malaria and diarrhea are rampant in the area. The park's legacy lies in balancing conservation of its unique species—such as the Komodo dragon—with the needs of its human inhabitants, whose traditional cultures are being influenced by outside forces including television, radio, and increased mobility.

Did You Know?

• The Komodo dragon was first discovered by the scientific world in 1912 through Lieutenant J. K. H. van Steyn van Hensbroek, the Civil Administrator in Reo, Flores Island.
• In 1928 there were only 30 people living in Komodo Village, and approximately 250 people on Rinca Island in 1930.
• The park's climate is one of the driest in Indonesia, with annual rainfall of 800 to 1,000 mm and temperatures in the dry season around 40 °C.
• The Komodo dragon population is restricted to Komodo (1,700), Rinca (1,300), Gili Motang (100), Gili Dasami (100), and Flores (c. 2,000), while extinct on Padar.
• On Messah island, with a population of 1,969 people, there is no fresh water available; it has to be brought in jerrycans by boat from the mainland.