A Real-Life Jurassic Park in Komodo Island: What Do You Think?
Far deep in the remote islands in Indonesia, the last descendant of real-life dragons roams the earth. Hundreds of Komodo dragons, ancient predators that has been existed from around one million years ago, live wildly in Komodo island and Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia, where they can only be found. The beastly carnivores are famously (and mistakenly) dubbed as the descendant of dinosaurs, much for its scaly skin, gigantic size, and deadly bites. For years, the dragons live in their barren lands, untouched and hidden from modern civilisation. However, its popularity quickly rise ever since Komodo National Park was listed as the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the world. However, Komodo’s little sanctuary might would get a bit interrupted as local government plans on building an ambitious Jurassic Park theme park — which sparks controversies among the locals.
The Jurassic Park of Komodo: Could It be Real?
Thanks to its rugged landscape and prehistoric dwellers, the Komodo National Park were often nicknamed as the Jurassic Park. Many made far travels, traversing the sea, and sailing on Indonesian’ heritage-inspired wooden Phinisi ship to the land of the dragons just to meet these magnificent creatures. The natural authenticity of Komodo Island and other small islands around it makes the travel all different. However, that’s soon about to change when the Indonesian government’s plan of massive public facility and resort area in Loh Buaya, Rinca Island, is completed. Rinca, the second biggest island within the Komodo National Park was chosen for the project, while the Komodo Island is left as the original. The ongoing project is envisioned to set up premium facilities on the island, including a Y-shaped deck — resembling Komodo’s forked tongue — and elevated decks in the island for Komodo dragon viewing. This facility also encompass several inns for visitors, islands staffs, researchers, and rangers as well as an information centre.
A Premium Tourist Destination?
The multi-million dollar project is carried on by the environment and forestry ministry of Indonesia, which believes that the Komodo National Park has the potential to become a premium destination.
“We want to go into the premium, world-class tourism category. The Komodo dragon is like the panda — highly respected — and this is the only location in the world that has them’”
Inung Wiratno, Director General of Ministry of Environment and Forestry
The officials leading the projects of the park believed that the construction will change how the Komodo National Park is seen around the world. Government claims that they are not damaging anything in the process, and what they do actually improves the facilities and visitor managements.
“Not even a single tree is cut down during the construction process”, said Kita Awang, Head of Komodo National Park.
It’s killing two birds with one stone solution for the Indonesian government. The Komodo Dragons itself, with fewer than 6,000 left in the wild, is classified as “vulnerable” — and it is preceding to “endangered” status. The surge of tourism and enthusiasm to meet with this gigantic beasts, however, could mean too much contact with the “vulnerable” animal. Rather than carrying out the plan of one-year-closing of Komodo Island that they propose in back 2019, the government decided to make Komodo exclusive for the deep pockets only. With COVID-19 putting global tourism on hold, officials carried on building the sleek facility. The future premium Jurassic Park would target “smaller” tourism market, charging travellers roughly $ 1,000 to enter and see the prehistoric dragons.
Will the Jurassic Park Ruin the Nature?
For decades, Flores and Komodo National Park was left by itself. Almost untouched by the government, islands within the national park blooms at its best within the wild natural surroundings. The ambitious “Jurassic Park” project definitely raise serious concern among environmentalists. Director of Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) in East Nusa Tenggara, Umbu Wulang, fears that constructions will ruin the Komodo’s habitat and eventually endanger the species.”What’s going on now is a destruction of the dragons’ living spaces.”, said Umbu. A leaked photo from the construction site showed a dragon facing a truck loaded with metal bars. The photos went viral and raised concern over the Komodo’s wellbeing in the area.
What do you think? Officials believe that turning the Komodo as premium destination will boost the local economy. However, others fears of what the major changes could mean for the future of the dragons — source of the islands’ attraction in the first place.
