The recent plan to resettle 10 Komodo dragons from their endemic habitat of East Nusa Tenggara to the resort island of Bali has been met with some opposition of late. However, Bali Marine and Safari Park management continues to insist that the plan is part of an ongoing movement to protect and preserve the rare reptile, whose population has been dwindling in recent years.
The numbers of Komodo dragons in Wae Wuul, West Manggarai regency have been shrinking at alarming rates due to environmental and human influences. "Forest fires have often decimated part of the reptiles' natural habitat, and climate change has altered it further, depriving the dragons of their regular food sources. Hunting activities have caused the threat to further escalate," explains Hans Manangsang, head of the park.
"Our main objective here is to protect Komodo dragons, an endangered population, from natural and human threats that could push them to the brink of extinction," Hans commented from the sidelines of Thursday's Chili festival.
When asked if the resettlement program sought only to boost the commercial interests of the park and Bali's tourism industry as a whole, Hans responded in the negative. He vehemently denied claims that the move had anything but the animals' best interests in mind.
However, this has done little to quell the controversy and opposition fueled by environmentalists, provincial and central governments. Taking to the streets, protesters are now voicing demands that the forestry minister revoke his decision to relocate the reptiles.
In response, Hans pointed out that the park was merely "executing the policy implemented by top government".
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