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KOMODO NATIONAL PARK
LOCATION :
Komodo National Park lies
in the Wallacea Region of Indonesia, identified by WWF and
Conservation International as a global conservation priority area.
The Park is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores at the
border of the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTP)
provinces. It includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar,
and numerous smaller islands together totaling 603 km2 of land. The
total size of Komodo National Park is presently 1,817 km2. Proposed
extensions of 25 km2 of land (Banta Island) and 479 km2 of marine
waters would bring the total surface area up to 2,321 km2
HISTORY :
Komodo National Park was
established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man
and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986. The park was initially
established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus
komodoensis), first discovered by the scientific world in 1911 by
J.K.H. Van Steyn. Since then conservation goals have expanded to
protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.
The majority of the people in and around the Park are fishermen originally from Bima (Sumbawa), Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau or Bugis ethnic groups. The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and moved from location to location in the region of Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, to make their livelihoods. Descendents of the original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left and their culture and language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants.
Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.
DEMOGRAPHICS :
There are presently almost
4,000 inhabitants living within the park spread out over four
settlements (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, and Papagaran). All villages
existed prior to 1980 before the area was declared a national park.
In 1928 there were only 30 people living in Komodo Village, and
approximately 250 people on Rinca Island in 1930. The population
increased rapidly, and by 1999, there were 281 families numbering
1,169 people on Komodo, meaning that the local population had
increased exponentially. Komodo Village has had the highest
population increase of the villages within the Park, mostly due to
migration by people from Sape, Manggarai, Madura, and South Sulawesi.
The number of buildings in Kampung Komodo has increased rapidly from
30 houses in 1958, to 194 houses in 1994, and 270 houses in 2000.
Papagaran village is similar in size, with 258 families totaling
1,078 people. As of 1999, Rinca’s population was 835, and Kerora's
population was 185 people. The total population currently living in
the Park is 3,267 people, while 16,816 people live in the area
immediately surrounding the Park.
EDUCATION :
The average level of
education in the villages of Komodo National Park is grade four of
elementary school. There is an elementary school located in each of
the villages, but new students are not recruited each year. On
average, each village has four classes and four teachers. Most of the
children from the small islands in the Kecamatan Komodo (Komodo,
Rinca, Kerora, Papagaran, Mesa) do not finish elementary school. Less
than 10% of those which do graduate from elementary school will
continue to high school since the major economic opportunity
(fishing) does not require further education. Children must be sent
to Labuan Bajo to attend high school, but this is rarely done in
fishermen’s families.
HEALTH :
Most of the villages
located in and around the Park have few fresh water facilities
available, if any, particularly during the dry season. Water quality
declines during this time period and many people become ill. Malaria
and diarrhea are rampant in the area. On Mesa island, with a
population of around 1,500 people, there is no fresh water available.
Fresh water is brought by boat in jerrycans from Labuan Bajo. Each
family needs an average of Rp 100,000.- per month to buy fresh water
(2000). Almost every village has a local medical facility with staff,
and at least a paramedic. The quality of medical care facilities is
low.
SOCIO-CULTURAL AND
ANTHROPOLOGIC CONDITIONS :
Traditional Customs:
Traditional communities in Komodo, Flores and Sumbawa have been
subjected to outside influences and the influence of traditional
customs is dwindling. Television, radio, and increased mobility have
all played a part in accelerating the rate of change. There has been
a steady influx of migrants into the area. At the moment nearly all
villages consist of more than one ethnic group.
Religion: The majority of fishermen living in the villages in the vicinity of the Park are Muslims. Hajis have a strong influence in the dynamics of community development. Fishermen hailing from South Sulawesi (Bajau, Bugis) and Bima are mostly Moslems.
The community from Manggarai are mostly Christians. Anthropology and Language: There are several cultural sites within the Park, particularly on Komodo Island. These sites are not well documented, however, and there are many questions concerning the history of human inhabitance on the island. Outside the Park, in Warloka village on Flores, there is a Chinese trading post remnant of some interest. Archeological finds from this site have been looted in the recent past. Most communities in and around the Park can speak Bahasa Indonesia. Bajo language is the language used for daily communication in most communities.
TERRESTRIAL PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT :
Topography: The topography
is varied, with slopes from 0 – 80%. There is little flat ground,
and that is generally located near the beach. The altitude varies
from sea level to 735 m above sea level. The highest peak is Gunung
Satalibo on Komodo Island.
Geology: The islands in
Komodo National Park are volcanic in origin. The area is at the
juncture of two continental plates: Sahul and Sunda. The friction of
these two plates has led to large volcanic eruptions and caused the
up-thrusting of coral reefs. Although there are no active volcanoes
in the park, tremors from Gili Banta (last eruption 1957) and Gunung
Sangeang Api (last eruption 1996) are common. West Komodo probably
formed during the Jurasic era approximately 130 million years ago.
East Komodo, Rinca, and Padar probably formed approximately 49
million years ago during the Eocene era.
Climate: Komodo National Park has little or no rainfall for approximately 8 months of the year, and is strongly impacted by monsoonal rains. High humidity levels year round are only found in the quasi-cloud forests on mountain tops and ridges. Temperatures generally range from 170C to 340C, with an average humidity level of 36%. From November through March the wind is from the west and causes large waves that hit the entire length of Komodo island’s west beach. From April through October the wind is dry and large waves hit the south beaches of Rinca and Komodo islands.
TERRESTRIAL
ECOSYSTEMS :
The terrestrial ecosystems
are strongly affected by the climate: a lengthy dry season with high
temperatures and low rainfall, and seasonal monsoon rains. The Park
is situated in a transition zone between Australian and Asian flora
and fauna. Terrestrial ecosystems include open grass-woodland
savanna, tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest, and quasi cloud forest.
Due to the dry climate, terrestrial plant species richness is relatively low. The majority of terrestrial species are xerophytic and have specific adaptations to help them obtain and retain water. Past fires have selected for species that are fire-adapted, such as some grass species and shrubs. Terrestrial plants found in Komodo National Park include grasses, shrubs, orchids, and trees. Important food tree species for the local fauna include Jatropha curkas, Zizyphus sp., Opuntia sp., Tamarindus indicus, Borassus flabellifer, Sterculia foetida, Ficus sp., Cicus sp., ‘Kedongdong hutan’ (Saruga floribunda), and ‘Kesambi’ (Schleichera oleosa).
TERRESTRIAL FAUNA :
The terrestrial fauna is
of rather poor diversity in comparison to the marine fauna. The
number of terrestrial animal species found in the Park is not high,
but the area is important from a conservation perspective as some
species are endemic.. Many of the mammals are Asiatic in origin
(e.g., deer, pig, macaques, civet). Several of the reptiles and birds
are Australian in origin. These include the orange-footed scrubfowl,
the lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird.
Reptiles: The most famous of Komodo National Park's reptiles is the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). It is among the world's largest reptiles and can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh over 70kg. Click: the komodo dragon
Other than the Komodo Dragon twelve terrestrial snake species are found on the island. including the cobra (Naja naja sputatrix), Russel’s pit viper (Vipera russeli), and the green tree vipers (Trimeresurus albolabris). Lizards include 9 skink species (Scinidae), geckos (Gekkonidae), limbless lizards (Dibamidae), and, of course, the monitor lizards (Varanidae). Frogs include the Asian Bullfrog (Kaloula baleata), Oreophyne jeffersoniana and Oreophyne darewskyi. They are typically found at higher, moister altitudes.
Mammals: Mammals include the Timor deer (Cervus timorensis), the main prey of the Komodo dragon, horses (Equus sp.), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus), long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus lehmanni), the endemic Rinca rat (Rattus rintjanus), and fruit bats. One can also find goats, dogs and domestic cats.
Birds: One of the main bird species is the orange-footed scrub fowl (Megapodius reinwardti), a ground dwelling bird. In areas of savanna, 27 species were observed. Geopelia striata and Streptopelia chinensis were the most common species. In mixed deciduous habitat, 28 bird species were observed, and Philemon buceroides, Ducula aenea, and Zosterops chloris were the most common.
MARINE PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT :
The marine area
constitutes 67% of the Park. The open waters in the Park are between
100 and 200 m deep. The straits between Rinca and Flores and between
Padar and Rinca, are relatively shallow (30 to 70 m deep), with
strong tidal currents. The combination of strong currents, coral
reefs and islets make navigation around the islands in Komodo
National Park difficult and dangerous. Sheltered deep anchorage is
available at the bay of Loh Liang on Komodo’s east coast, the South
East coast of Padar, and the bays of Loh Kima and Loh Dasami on
Rinca.
In the North of the Park
water temperature ranges between 25 – 29°C. In the middle, the
temperature ranges between 24 and 28°C. The temperatures are
lowest in the South, ranging from 22 – 28°C. Water salinity is
about 34 ppt and the water is quite clear, although the waters closer
to the islands are relatively more turbid.
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS :
Indonesia is the only
equatorial region in the world where there is an exchange of marine
flora and fauna between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Passages in
Nusa Tenggara (formerly the Lesser Sunda Islands) between the Sunda
and Sahul shelves allow movement between the Pacific and Indian
oceans. The three main ecosystems in Komodo National Park are
seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. The Park is
probably a regular cetacean migration route.
MARINE FLORA :
The three major coastal
marine plants are algae, seagrasses and mangrove trees. Algae are
primitive plants, which do not have true roots, leaves or stems. An
important reef-building algae is the red coralline algae, which
actually secretes a hard limestone skeleton that can encrust and
cement dead coral together. Seagrasses are modern plants that produce
flowers, fruits and seeds for reproduction. As their name suggests,
they generally look like large blades of grass growing underwater in
sand near the shore. Thallasia sp. and Zastera spp. are the common
species found in the Park. Mangroves trees can live in salty soil or
water, and are found throughout the Park. An assessment of mangrove
resources identified at least 19 species of true mangroves and
several more species of mangrove associates within the Park's
borders.
MARINE FAUNA :
Komodo National Park includes one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of forams, cnidaria (includes over 260 species of reef building coral), sponges (70 species), ascidians, marine worms, mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, cartilaginous and bony fishes (over 1,000 species), marine reptiles, and marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs). Some notable species with high commercial value include sea cucumbers (Holothuria), Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and groupers.
Jul 01, 2008 » SUMBAWA ISLAND