Komodo Island

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Komodo island is located at Komodo district, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Since 1980, this area was used as an National Park by the Government of Indonesia, then recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986. Komodo Island is known as a habitat for native animals 'Komodo dragon'. This island is also the Komodo National Park which is managed by the Central Government.

Komodo dragons live and breed well in the Komodo island. Until August 2009, there are about 1,300 Komodo dragons in this island. Coupled with the other islands, such as Rinca and Gili Motang, there are about 2500 Komodoes.



Local residents called the animal with latin name Varanus komodoensis as "Ora". This giant lizards were first published in 1912 in the national newspaper. Peter A. Ouwens, director of the Zoological Museum in Bogor is one who has been introduced to the world of dragons through his paper. To protect the Komodoes, in 1915 the Dutch government issued Komodoess hunting and killing prohibition.