Indonesia cancels ban on Komodo island close down

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Indonesian authorities have called off their plans to shut down Komodo Island to the public, with the environment ministry of the country explaining that Komodo dragons living there are not in danger from over-tourism.

In July, authorities in East Nusa Tenggara province stated that the island would shut down for one year, starting from January 2020 to stop the over inquisitive nature of the tourists and hampering the natural behavior of the largest species of lizard on earth. On Monday Siti Nurbaya Bakar, environment and forestry minister of Indonesia, said the move was off.

According to government figures about 1,727 Komodo dragons reside on the island, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. “[The number of] Komodo dragons on Komodo island during 2002 to 2019 observations has been relatively stable,” Bakar told Reuters. “There is no threat of a decline.”

The prohibition to this island would not have affected other areas of Komodo National Park. It was declared in the middle of concerns that rising numbers of tourists were impacting mating habits of this animal, with food handouts making them docile. Also, there were concerns about poachers aiming on Komodo dragons and deer.

The cancellation of ban has created confusion regarding the long-term vision of the government for the park. In 2018 over 176,000 tourists visited the area. In 2018, Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat, governor of East Nusa Tenggara, proposed targeting high-end customers with a US $500 entry fee.

“Only people with deep pockets are allowed to [see Komodo dragons],” he said. “Those who don’t have the money shouldn’t visit the park since it specifically caters to extraordinary people.”

The uncertainty created protests among the residents of the island. Some feared being relocated to make way for new tourist infrastructure, or losing income from visitors during the proposed ban.

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