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t least 10 police officers have been deployed to Komodo and Rinca Islands in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, after a report of a Komodo dragon being stolen from the Surabaya Zoo.

The officers from the East Nusa Tenggara Mobile Brigade unit have abilities equal to rangers, East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. Yory Yance Worang said in Kupang on Friday.

The move is hoped to prevent possible further smuggling of Komodo dragons from the two islands, which are major parts of Komodo National Park.

“Komodo [National Park] is a national treasure. We need to deploy reliable officers to secure it,” Yory said, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Earlier reports said three young Komodo dragons at Surabaya Zoo in East Java were likely stolen by a syndicate trading in rare animals.

Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara comprises several islands, including Komodo, Rinca, Padar and Gili Motang, and has been named a World Heritage by UNESCO. — JP