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We sailed around KOMODO ISLAND - Dreams became reality

 

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The Komodo Dragon
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Komodo is a hilly and grassy island of 280 square km, located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores . It has trees such as jackfruit, coconut and mango. There is only one human settlement of ca. 1400 people on the island, a small fishing village also named Komodo. The ancestors of the Komodo's were immigrants from Bima (East Sumbawa), Selayar (South Sulawesi) and Manggarai (West Flores). Besides fishing they breed goats.

The Komodo Dragon - a remnant from the past

The Komodo dragon (Varanus Komodoensis) is a giant lizard that is only encountered at Komodo National Park. The species is the last of its kind and it will be of no surprise that because of this they are protected by law. The Komodo Dragon - or ora as the locals call them - can grow up to 3 to 4 meters in length. Its ancestors roamed the earth up to about half a million years ago. Although these lizards are considered to be harmless, it is advisable to keep them at a distance.

HOW TO GET THERE

Komodo is accessible from sea only. Fly to Labuan Bajo on Flores, from where it is about 3 to 4 hours by boat. The island can also be reached by ferry or charter boat from Sape, Sumbawa.

Alternatively, do a four day cruise on an Indonesian yacht, departing from Lombok.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Best time to visit Komodo is between March and June, and between October and December

The Last Kingdom of Dragons #Komodo by Living Zoology film

To see the lizards in the daytime, baits have to be set in the hinterland where local guides are necessary. The sea surrounding the island offers vistas of sea life, crystal clear waters, and white sandy beaches. The only accommodation available is in simple guesthouses in the fishing village. It is advisable to carry food supplies.

Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park forms a part of the Wallacea Region of Indonesia and it has been denoted by WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area.

The Park is situated between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores at the border of the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTP) provinces. It includes three major islands, Komodo, Rincah and Padar, and numerous smaller islands, together totaling 603 km2 of land. The total size of Komodo National Park is presently 1,817 km2. Proposed extensions of 25 km2 of land (Banta Island) and 479 km2 of marine waters would bring the total surface area up to 2,321 km2.

Compared to the marine fauna, the number of terrestrial animal species found in the Park is not high but the area is important from a conservation perspective as some species are endemic. Many of the mammals are Asiatic in origin (e.g., deer, pig, macaques, civet). Several of the reptiles and birds are Australian in origin. These include the orange-footed scrubfowl, the lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird

Reptiles

Besides the famous Komodo Dragon twelve terrestrial snake species can be found on Rinca island including the Cobra (Naja naja sputatrix), the Russel's Pit Viper (Vipera russeli) and the Green Tree Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris).

The Lizard species include skink (Scinidae), geckos (Gekkonidae), limbless lizards (Dibamidae) and, of course, the monitor lizards (Varanidae).

Frogs include the Asian Bullfrog (Kaloula baleata), Oreophyne jeffersoniana and Oreophyne darewskyi. They are typically found at higher, moister altitudes.

Mammals

Mammals include the Timor deer (Cervus timorensis), the main prey of the Komodo dragon, horses (Equus sp.), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus), long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus lehmanni), the endemic Rinca rat (Rattus rintjanus), and fruit bats. One can also find goats, dogs and domestic cats.

Birds

One of the main bird species is the orange-footed scrub fowl (Megapodius reinwardti), a ground dwelling bird. In areas of savanna, 27 species were observed. Geopelia striata and Streptopelia chinensis were the most common species. In mixed deciduous habitat, 28 bird species were observed, and Philemon buceroides, Ducula aenea, and Zosterops chloris were the most common.

Check this out:
Komodo Islands – one of the most beautiful destinations on the planet







Map of Komodo Park

(click to enlarge)

 Map of Komodo National Park
   

Native Komodo Island


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Native Komodo

 

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