Komodo National Park, World Heritage Site in Indonesia

The world’s largest reptile, the Komodo dragon, lives in Komodo National Park in Indonesia.It is also called the “Komodo dragon” because it looks like a dinosaur. There are about 5,700 of them living on these volcanic islands, which are of great interest to scientists studying the theory of evolution. And this is also known as a group of islands with a rich natural environment.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why Komodo National Park is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Komodo National Park!

What is Komodo National Park?

Komodo National Park is located in the heart of Indonesia, between the larger islands of Sumbawa and Flores. The park consists of three main islands (Komodo, Rinca, and Padar) and smaller islands. These are volcanic islands located between the two plates of the Australian and Eurasian continents.

The island is surrounded by coral reefs and is a protected area for marine life. Thus, the area registered as a World Heritage Site is as vast as 2,200 square kilometers. In the protected area, not only Komodo dragons, but also sea turtles, dolphins, and many other marine creatures can be seen.

What kind of creature is the Komodo dragon? Can it attack humans?

Komodo lizards are the largest and heaviest lizards in the world, growing to an average size of 2 to 3 meters.It is believed to be the last of the large lizards that once inhabited Indonesia and Australia. The reason why it is called “Komodo dragon” is that it looked like a dinosaur when it was discovered by Westerners in 1911.

It hunts with this because it produces a poison between its teeth that interferes with the coagulation of blood in its prey, causing it to lose blood. Although usually docile, they are widely known for their ferocity in preying on large animals.To the surprise of many, an ordinary man was attacked in 1974.Nevertheless, there have been only about 30 cases of Komodo monitor bites in the park since 1974, and only five of them resulted in death.

Although called the Komodo monitor, its habitat is widely distributed in Komodo Island, Rinca Island, Gilimotong Island, and some coastal areas of western and northern Flores Island. However, their numbers have been declining due to overhunting of deer for food on the islands and poaching for their skins.

For what reason is Komodo National Park on the World Heritage List?

Komodo National Park was recognized for

Registration Criteria (vii)
The area surrounding Komodo National Park is considered to be a highly nourished sea, leaving a protected area of beautiful coral reefs and brilliant white sand beaches.That it is considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Indonesia.

Registration Criteria (x)
that the Komodo monitor, the world’s largest reptile, is threatened with extinction.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments

Since its name is Komodo National Park, people tend to think that only Komodo dragons are registered there, but in fact, it is one of the rarest natural areas in Indonesia and home to many creatures.

Nevertheless, the face of this heritage, the Komodo monitor, is also decreasing in numbers due to deforestation and poaching. Of course, they are dangerous creatures when approached, but humans should be well aware that more komodo goannas are “attacked by humans” than the number of attacks on humans.

*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the medium.