Letter: Leave Komodo in peace

The islands where the last Jurassic dragon live and roam freely should be off-limits to domestic and international tourists.

Leave these giant lizards in peace. The government should also pay attention to the illegal trade in baby Komodo dragons.

I have visited the island of Flores several times (Maumere, Ende, Bajawa, Labuhan Bajo) and have therefore also visited Komodo and Rinca islands some years ago and while talking to tourist guides as well as the Flores locals including fishermen, it came to light that there is a thriving illegal trade in baby Komodo dragons.

These fishermen are paid by locals as well as foreigners who come in their yachts or fishing boats, to catch baby Komodo dragons and are paid a few million rupiah to do so.

They have continuously earned a good living and many have stopped being fishermen by participating in the capture and sale of these lizards secures a much better income. Fishermen told me that occasionally the dragons fight to free themselves and then swim to other islands.

I have also noted that many of the smaller islands are full of rubbish because domestic as well as foreign tourists rent fishingboats and picnic on these smaller islands leaving an enormous amount of rubbish behind. Shame on you!

Experts have noted the dwindling figures of these giant lizards on Komodo and Rinca islands and are puzzled. Well guys, the illegal trade is one of the main reasons.

Tourist guides in Labuhan Bajo confirmed that this illegal trade has been going on for many years and nobody is doing anything to stop it.

The local authorities are paid off handsomely and also earn extra rupiah, and what’s more they couldn’t care less!

Why continuously strive to have Komodo and Rinca islands recognized as one of the world’s new seven natural wonders? It is more important to fight the illegal trade in these precious and almost extinct giant lizards because if nothing is done soon, there will be no Komodos left to see there.

Tourists will have to visit domestic or international zoos and probably private pens (where the rich keep these lizards) to see the Komodo dragon.

According to a number of international magazines that have published price lists for endangered animal species, the Komodo dragon tops the list and is the most expensive.

Lynna van der Zee-Oehmke
Bogor, West Java