E

nvironmental activists grouped under the Flores People's Solidarity Forum rejected Friday the central government's plan to relocate 10 Komodo dragons from Wae Wu'ul National Park in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara to Bali Safari Park.

The activists urged forestry minister M.S. Kaban to revoke decree No. 384//2009 permitting the move of the endangered species from the national park.

The decree stated the relocation was aimed at breeding the dragons in an effort to prevent their extinction.

The government was concerned about the declining population of the giant lizard, which currently stands at around 2,500, because of their cannibalistic nature.

"There is no better habitat than their original habitat here in Maggarai for the Komodo dragon genetic purification tests," Forum representative Rofino Kant said.

Rofino stated that the relocation would not only damage tourism in Manggarai and Flores in general, but would also speed the extinction of the prehistoric reptile.

"The relocation would damage the image of Komodo National Park which is, at present, trying to garner support to become one of world's new seven wonders," he said.

The group sent a statement to the minister, the governor of the provincial legislative council and to the regents of Flores, Timor, Sumba, Alor, Rote Ndao and Sabu Raijua.

East Nusa Tenggara legislative council deputy speaker Kristo Blasin said the Komodo dragon was the province's tourism icon and, while appreciating the government's good intentions of saving them from extinction, tourism in the province should not be sacrificed in the process.

"If they were moved to Bali, it's possible that local and foreign tourists would just visit the Safari Park, instead of visiting the animal's real habitat in West Manggarai. I also believe that the relocation would cause tourism to suffer here, despite the government's good intentions," Kristo said.

Earlier Governor Frans Leburaya expressed his objections to the plan, urging the central government to conduct the Komodo dragons breeding program within their original habitat, sending a written request for the revocation of the ministerial decree.

As well as activists, dozens of students staged an rally earlier, rejecting the relocation plan.

The students saw the transfer plan as an effort to shift the tourism appeal from Komodo Island to Bali.