Komodo Island closes to tourists due to dragon thefts

The decision comes after the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry cracked down on a smuggling ring trafficking 41 Komodo dragons.

Komodo Island closes to tourists due to dragon thefts

The Indonesian government will temporarily suspend tourist visits to the famous Komodo Island from January 2020 to reassess the food sources and habitat of Komodo dragons – the world's largest lizard species closely related to dinosaurs living on the island. The reopening date is yet to be determined.

The decision to close the island was announced after the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry dismantled a smuggling ring trafficking 41 Komodo dragons at $35,000 each (approximately 770 million Vietnamese dong) per dragon. Additionally, the environmental impact of tourists has been gradually shrinking the wilderness here, leading to a declining trend in the dragon population. The World Wildlife Fund estimates only 6,000 dragons remain in the wild, all concentrated in Komodo National Park. Therefore, they hope that by closing and restoring the island, the dragon population will increase.

However, you can still see this species at Komodo National Park. This is Indonesia's national park located in the Sunda Islands consisting of three large islands: Komodo, Padar, Rinca, and 26 smaller islands. Authorities are only closing Komodo Island, where over 1,800 dragons reside. Currently, the entrance fee to this park is $10 per person (approximately 230,000 dong), and there are plans to increase prices in the future. Komodo Island is not just a place for sightseeing but also a beautiful diving spot.

This isn't the first time an island has been closed due to the repercussions of tourism development. Previously, Thailand's Maya Bay closed indefinitely due to pollution, and the Philippines' Boracay Island closed for 6 months to conserve the natural environment...

By Vi Yen/ Ngôi Sao

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour