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Komodo National Park is located in the Nusa Tenggara archipelago of Indonesia, on the border between the provinces of Nusa Tenggara Timur and Nusa Tenggara Barat. The park comprises three large islands—Komodo, Padar, and Rinca—and 26 smaller islands, with a total area of 1,733 km² (603 km² being mainland).
The islands are all of volcanic origin. The terrain is quite rugged, with many hills, and elevations can reach 735 m. The climate here is one of the driest in Indonesia, with annual rainfall ranging from 800 to 1,000 mm. The average temperature during the dry season (May-October) is around 40 °C.
A habitat for prehistoric creatures.
Komodo National Park was established in 1980 with the initial purpose of protecting the Komodo dragon, the world's only surviving species of prehistoric lizard. This land dragon currently lives in the wild on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang, and Nusa Kode. They are closely related to extinct dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago…
First discovered in the world in 1910 on Komodo Island (Indonesia), the Komodo dragon, scientifically known as "Varanus komodoensis," belongs to the monitor lizard family (Varanidae) and is one of the largest lizard species in the world, reaching lengths of up to 3 meters and weighing over 160 kg.
Komodo dragons have an average lifespan of 30 years, but can live up to 50 years. They typically take 3-5 years to mature and reach reproductive maturity at the age of 8-9. The Komodo dragon breeding season is usually in September.
Like other cold-blooded reptiles, Komodo dragons minimize their activity to conserve energy, but when needed, they can unleash their full power, accelerating to speeds of up to 20 km/h when hunting prey or fleeing enemies. Komodo dragons are excellent swimmers, capable of diving 4-5 meters to hunt, and are also quite skilled climbers thanks to their very sharp and strong claws.
They are listed as endangered species and are extremely dangerous predators. Therefore, security is tightened when entering the National Park, both to ensure the habitat for wild animals and to protect the safety of tourists.
The beauty of unspoiled nature
Besides the Komondo dragon, the National Park also protects thousands of rare plant and animal species. It is home to over 260 species of coral, with new reefs still being formed; 70 different species of sponges, crustaceans, and cartilaginous animals including stingrays and sharks; over 1,000 species of bony fish, marine reptiles including sea turtles, and mammals such as dugongs, whales (14 species), dolphins, and porpoises…
Terrestrial animal species are not numerous, including some rare species such as the Timor deer, the endemic Rinca forest rat, the orange-footed pheasant, the long-tailed monkey, fruit bats, civets, wild horses, buffalo, wild boars… along with some dangerous reptiles such as cobras and Russell's vipers… It has been noted that most mammal species originate from Asia, while some reptiles and birds originate from Australia.
Here, visitors can participate in activities such as snorkeling to admire coral reefs, swimming with dolphins and sharks… Other popular diving spots include Batu Bolong and the Tatawa Islands, where you can even find white-tipped sharks and beautiful coral gardens.
Padar Island is also a fascinating destination within Komodo National Park. The island was formed from an extinct volcano located in the middle of the ocean, giving it a mysterious and majestic beauty. The most unique experience is hiking and taking photos on the "dinosaur's spine"—a ridge that runs straight out into the vast blue sea.
Gili Laba is the name of a small island located within Komodo National Park. With its undulating hills and mountains, it's an ideal location for hiking and other mountaineering activities.
