KOMODO ISLAND INDONESIA

KOMODO ISLAND

INDONESIA

Komodo Island in the Nusa Tenggara group of islands, lodged between Sumbawa and Flores, is famous for its monitor lizard, Komodo Dragon. Well, those lizards are not quite like average monitor lizards. They are huge, some three meter and 100 kg in weight. 




Komodo became a National Park back in 1980 and then a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of those unique lizards.

Komodo has been attracting visitors since then. Visits are regulated by ranges but the visitor numbers have an impact on the environment. There is talk about closure of the Park or increase of entry fees to limit the visitor numbers. Komodo Dragons are smaller and their main staple diet, deer, fewer. Nature obviously does not enjoy being overpowered by tourists.

Komodo has become commercial, tickets to view the dragons through wire fence, rangers on guard, not really a natural environment but necessary to protect visitors trying to take selfies and disappearing under sharp claws and into well teethed mouths that take deer and buffalo.

Just five nautical miles away from horrors of Komodo is Pulau Banta. The island has scarce vegetation but amazing underwater world of coral reefs and fish. Snorkeling is superb.

Banta Island offers relaxation and peace needed after dangers of Komodo.