Komodo National Park – Find The Miracles of Komodo

Komodo National Park is located in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Covering an area of 173.300 hectares, one of most famous Indonesia National Park is an ancient endemic wildlife habitat for Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodonensis). This National Park was established since 1980. Eleven years later UNESCO accepted KNP as world heritage sites and biosphere reserves. The Komodo National Park was the only representative of Indonesia among 28 finalists in the new seven wonders of the world.

A few days ago, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism provided an opportunity to dozens of Indonesian and foreign journalists to explore the beauty of the Komodo National Park.  It took about 90 minutes to go to the park from Jakarta via Denpasar, Bali, continued from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, using a smaller plane for about 60 minutes. From Labuan Bajo, the trip then continued by a boat. You can rent a boat from a local residents in Labuan Bajo Port with the price range from Rp 800,000 to Rp 3 million per day depending on the type of boat and how long the lease. It will take about 90 minutes from Labuan Bajo to Komodo island.

There are about 1.300 komodos in this 336 square kilometers island. This giant reptile has only once mating season in a year. It is in July to August. In the mating season, males will fight against other males to get the attention of female komodo. One month after the mating season the female will find a hole in the ground to lay eggs. It will then lay about 15-30 eggs. 8-9 months later, you can see those baby dragon. These young komodos will live in the trees to avoid predators and other adult komodo.

The total Komodo’s population in the Komodo National Park is approximately 2500. 1300 komodos live on Komodo Island, while the other 1,100 live in the island of Rinca (211 km2), the remaining 100 komodos live in Gilimotang Island, and Nusa Kode. Komodo island is a habitat of deer (Cervus timorensis floresiensis), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and dozens of species of birds, 12 species of snakes and other wildlife animals. While the typical plants such as palm trees (Borassus Flabellifer), tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Kepuh (Streculia Foetida), Bidara (Ziziphus Jujuba), and the Jarak  Tintir (Jatropha Multifida).

From the top of the "Sulphurea Hill", you can enjoy the Komodo National Park’s landscape clearly. This location is also often used for bird watching, especially the yellow-crested cockatoo bird (Cacatua Sulphurea). This is the reason why this top of the hill is called Sulphurea.

The Komodo National Park at least has 18 diving and snorkeling spots. They are spread on Komodo and Rinca island. There are at least 18 species of water animals such as sharks, dolphins, stingrays, and turtles.

image credit: kompas.com