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  Indonesia’s ‘Jurassic Park’: Construction begins despite concerns

  Posted by Unknown Member on 16 November 2020 at 4:23 pm

  In the centre of the vast Indonesian archipelago – hundreds of giant lizards roam Rinca Island. The Komodo dragon – or Komodo monitor – is the world’s largest and heaviest lizard. Fossils indicate they have ancient origins dating back millions of years.

  A recent study found the lizard might have actually evolved in Australia, but today the vulnerable animal can only be found in the wild in Indonesia – a source of pride for the locals who live alongside them.

  The majority of the dragons live in the Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spread across three Indonesian islands that was first established in 1980.

  The islands are mostly undeveloped, but Indonesia’s government has an ambitious plan to transform the area into a tourist destination.

  The proposed park on Rinca Island is closed for now but the early stages of building are under way and local park guides have been called in to keep curious dragons away from the builders.

  About 1,300 Komodo dragons live on Rinca Island.

  They can grow as long as three metres (10 feet) and weigh as much as 166kg (366 pounds), living off a diet of almost anything – from small rodents to water buffalo. The islands’ top predator, the dragons have curved, serrated teeth – like a shark – and venom that incapacitates any prey that might manage to escape their jaws.

  The Komodo National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

  UNESCO has “requested information from the Government of Indonesia concerning these new development plans” and has reminded them “of the need for impact assessments to be submitted before plans are taken forward”, it said.

  Those comments were made in late October, but by that stage, construction was already under way.

  The government denied that it did not give notice prior to construction.

  “We already sent a letter to UNESCO; we told them that we will build. The documents for environmental observation were already fulfilled and we considered the sensitivity of the area,” said Wiranto from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

  “UNESCO in Paris has not given an answer yet – but we did tell them.”

  Rinca Island is part of the government’s plan to create 10 “new” tourist destinations around the country; places across the archipelago that can rival Bali in its popularity and broad appeal.

  The government envisages Rinca Island as an ecotourism destination, but environmental groups have questioned that motivation.

  “We see other national parks around the world – they don’t change the landscape. People who really come for eco-tourism expect to come to a place where the ecosystem hasn’t been changed,” said Wahyu Perdana from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI).

  “We cannot treat all places the same as Bali.”

  By that time the construction is finished, some fear what that could mean for the future of this island – and the unique Komodo dragons.

  Unknown Member replied 4 years, 8 months ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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