Dragons in Bali? No way, says Komodo
JAKARTA – Plans by the Indonesian Department of Forestry to capture and move 10 rare Komodo “dragons” from their natural habitat at the Komodo National Park to the Bali Safari Park are coming under attack.
A report carried by Bali Update (www.balidiscovery.com) said several groups had slammed the idea and were calling for the Ministerial decree authorising the capture and removal of the 10 dragons to be revoked.
The government is defending its decision to move 10 dragons from Komodo to Bali Safari Park as part of efforts to preserve the endangered reptiles by means of genetic diversification.
Cyprianus Aoer, a West Flores legislator, described the Forestry Minister’s decision as a move to further impoverish the people of Flores by sending the iconic dragons to new areas, detracting from West Flores as a unique nature tourism destination.
Agung Wardhana, the director of the Bali branch of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, told the Jakarta Post that the ecosystems of Komodo and Bali were markedly different, and to try to create a micro-environment suitable for the rare reptiles in Bali could damage Bali’s fragile eco-system.
“Before this, eight elephants were transported from Bogor (to Bali), now the dragons. What will come next?” Agung asked.
Ian Jarrett
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