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To learn more about Komodo National Park either scroll down or click on one of the topics below.
Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), first discovered by the scientific world in 1911 by J.K.H. Van Steyn. Since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial. The majority of the
people in and around the Park are fishermen originally from Bima (Sumbawa),
Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi.
Those from South Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau or Bugis ethnic groups.
The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and moved from location to
location in the region of Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, to make their
livelihoods. Descendents of the original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still
live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left and their culture and
language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants. Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.
There are presently
almost 4,000 inhabitants living within the park spread out over four settlements
(Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, and Papagaran). All villages existed prior to 1980 before the area was
declared a national park.
In 1928 there were
only 30 people living in Komodo Village, and approximately 250 people on Rinca
Island in 1930. The population increased rapidly, and by 1999, there were 281
families numbering 1,169 people on Komodo, meaning that the local population
had increased exponentially. Komodo
Village has had the highest
population increase of the villages within the Park, mostly due to migration by
people from Sape, Manggarai, Madura, and South Sulawesi. The number of buildings in Kampung
Komodo has
increased rapidly from 30 houses in 1958, to 194 houses in 1994, and 270 houses
in 2000. Papagaran
village
is similar in size, with 258 families totaling 1,078 people. As of 1999,
Rinca’s population was 835, and Kerora's population was 185 people. The total
population currently living in the Park is 3,267 people, while 16,816 people
live in the area immediately surrounding the
Park.
The average level of
education in the villages of Komodo National Park is grade four of elementary school. There is an
elementary school located in each of the villages, but new students are not
recruited each year. On average, each village has four classes and four
teachers. Most of the children from the
small islands in the Kecamatan Komodo (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, Papagaran, Mesa) do not finish elementary school.
Less than 10% of those which do graduate from elementary school will continue to
high school since the major economic opportunity (fishing) does not
require further education. Children must be sent to Labuan Bajo to attend high school, but
this is rarely done in fishermen’s families.
Most
of the villages located in and around the Park have few fresh water facilities
available, if any, particularly during the dry season. Water quality declines
during this time period and many people become ill. Malaria and diarrhea are
rampant in the area. On Mesa island, with a population of around 1,500 people,
there is no fresh water available. Fresh water is brought by boat in jerrycans
from Labuan Bajo. Each family needs an average of Rp 100,000.- per month to buy
fresh water (2000). Almost every village has a local medical facility with
staff, and at least a paramedic. The quality of medical care facilities is low.
SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ANTHROPOLOGIC CONDITIONS :
Traditional Customs Religion: The majority of
fishermen living in the villages in the vicinity of the Park are Muslims. Hajis have a
strong influence in the dynamics of community development.
Fishermen hailing from South Sulawesi (Bajau, Bugis) and Bima
are mostly Moslems.
The community from Manggarai
are
mostly Christians. Anthropology and Language TERRESTRIAL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT :
Topography: The topography is varied, with slopes from 0 – 80%. There is little flat ground, and that is generally located near the beach. The altitude varies from sea level to 735 m above sea level. The highest peak is Gunung Satalibo on Komodo Island. Geology: The
islands in Komodo National Park are volcanic in origin. The area is at the juncture of two
continental plates: Sahul and Sunda. The friction of these two plates has led to
large volcanic eruptions and caused the up-thrusting of coral reefs.
Although there are no active volcanoes in the park, tremors from Gili Banta
(last eruption 1957) and Gunung Sangeang Api (last eruption 1996) are common.
West Komodo probably formed during the Jurasic era approximately 130 million
years ago. East Komodo, Rinca, and Padar probably formed approximately 49
million years ago during the Eocene era. Climate:
Komodo National Park has little or no rainfall for approximately 8
months of the year, and is strongly impacted by monsoonal rains. High humidity
levels year round are only found in the quasi-cloud forests on mountain tops and
ridges. Temperatures generally range from 170C to 340C,
with an average humidity level of 36%. From November through March the wind is
from the west and causes large waves that hit the entire length of Komodo
island’s west beach. From April
through October the wind is dry and large waves hit the south beaches of Rinca
and Komodo islands.
The terrestrial
ecosystems are strongly affected by the climate: a lengthy
dry season with high temperatures and low rainfall, and seasonal monsoon rains.
The Park is situated
in a transition zone between Australian and Asian flora and fauna. Terrestrial ecosystems include open grass-woodland
savanna, tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest, and quasi cloud forest. Due to the dry climate, terrestrial plant species richness is relatively low. The majority of terrestrial species are xerophytic and have specific adaptations to help them obtain and retain water. Past fires have selected for species that are fire-adapted, such as some grass species and shrubs. Terrestrial plants found in Komodo National Park include grasses, shrubs, orchids, and trees. Important food tree species for the local fauna include Jatropha curkas, Zizyphus sp., Opuntia sp., Tamarindus indicus, Borassus flabellifer, Sterculia foetida, Ficus sp., Cicus sp., ‘Kedongdong hutan’ (Saruga floribunda), and ‘Kesambi’ (Schleichera oleosa).
The terrestrial fauna is of rather poor diversity in comparison 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: The most famous of Komodo National Park's reptiles is the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). It is among the world's largest reptiles and can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh over 70kg. To find out more about this fascinating creature click here. Other than the Komodo Dragon twelve terrestrial snake species are found on the island. including the cobra (Naja naja sputatrix), Russel’s pit viper (Vipera russeli), and the green tree vipers (Trimeresurus albolabris). Lizards include 9 skink species (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.
The marine area
constitutes 67% of the Park. The
open waters in the Park are between
100 and 200 m deep. In the North of the Park water temperature
ranges between 25 – 29°C. In the middle, the temperature ranges between 24 and
28°C. The temperatures are lowest in the South, ranging from 22 – 28°C. Water
salinity is about 34 ppt and the water is
quite clear, although the waters closer to the islands are relatively more
turbid.
Indonesia is the only equatorial region in the
world where there is an exchange of marine flora and fauna between the Indian
and Pacific oceans.
Passages in Nusa Tenggara (formerly the Lesser Sunda Islands) between the Sunda
and Sahul shelves allow movement between the Pacific and Indian oceans. MARINE FLORA :
The three major coastal marine plants are algae, seagrasses and mangrove
trees. Algae are primitive
plants, which do not have true roots, leaves or stems. An important
reef-building algae is the red coralline algae, which actually secretes a hard
limestone skeleton that can encrust and cement dead coral together.
Komodo National Park includes one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of forams, cnidaria (includes over 260 species of reef building coral), sponges (70 species), ascidians, marine worms, mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, cartilaginous and bony fishes (over 1,000 species), marine reptiles, and marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs). Some notable species with high commercial value include sea cucumbers (Holothuria), Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and groupers. |
