- What is the Komodo national park?
- Komodo national park location
- Flora and fauna of Komodo national park
- World Heritage
- Komodo national park features
We explain what the Komodo National Park is and where it is located. In addition, its flora, fauna and other characteristics.
What is the Komodo national park?
Komodo National Park, located in Indonesia, was founded in 1980 with the objective to protect and conserve the only species of giant lizards. These reptiles are called "Komodo dragons" for their aggressive behavior and appearance (they can measure up to three meters in length and weigh up to 70 kg).
In 1991 the park was declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and Reserve of the Biosphere. In addition, in 2011 it was declared one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Little is known of the early history of the Komodo Islanders. Most of the inhabitants of the park and the surroundings are fishermen from the small nearby islands or even descendants of nomads. There are no pure-blooded people who can pass on some of their old culture or your language.
Komodo national park location
The Komodo National Park is located in Indonesia.The Komodo National Park is located in Southeast Asia, in a volcanic area of Indonesia. The archipelago is made up of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, three important islands that stand out for their size and are part of the so-called "Sunda islands", made up of numerous smaller islands.
Flora and fauna of Komodo national park
Due to the weather hot and dry, the Komodo National Park features typical vegetation from bed sheet, between hills and small woods that appear only in the areas that are above five hundred meters in height and an intense green vegetation that contrasts with the white sand beaches and blue waters.
The great sea current It is rich in nutrients and volcanic elements, which has made it possible for thousands of different species to flourish. An enormous variety of tropical fish, three hundred species of corals and one hundred varieties of sponges live there. You can even see whale sharks, dolphins, stingrays, seahorses, and octopuses.
The terrestrial fauna presents a lower diversity in comparison with the marine fauna. Many of the mammals are of Asian origin, such as Timor deer, wild boar, Water, macaques and crabs. Instead, reptiles and the birds are of Australian origin, such as the Asian bullfrog, the orange-legged bushfowl, the cockatoo and the friar bird.
The most famous of the reptiles is the Komodo dragon, the largest variety of lizard in the world. The population Estimated of these giant reptiles is six thousand inhabitants. In addition, twelve species of land snakes inhabit the area, such as the Javanese spitting cobra, Russell's viper, the white-lipped viper and the Timor python.
World Heritage
The marine area around the islands is also part of the national park.
The archipelago made up of the Sunda Islands is recognized and protected worldwide. In 1938 the island of Padar and part of Rinca were established as nature reserves and in 1965 the island of Komodo was also established. It was not until 1977 that the island of Komodo was recognized as a biosphere reserve under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program.
Later, in 1980, the three islands were declared a “national park”, a title that was later extended to include the surrounding marine area. In 1991 the national park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Despite this, today there are illegal fishermen who continue to exploit part of this world heritage. Thanks to the work of protectionists and entities that work to protect these territories, in the most recent years sixty illegal fishermen have been arrested.
Komodo national park features
The Komodo National Park has almost four thousand people living distributed in four settlements: Komodo, Rinca, Kerora and Papagaran. In 1928 there were only thirty inhabitants but the population grew rapidly from 1999 and currently, in the border areas outside the park, there are about seventeen thousand persons.
It is a very attractive place for tourists from all over the world due to the diving practices that allow you to enjoy an impressive biodiversity Marine. In 2009 the park was visited by thirty-six thousand tourists and in 2010 by forty-five thousand. The tourist activity It is a very important strategy for the park to finance itself and continue with its work.