KOMODO: Dragons, Islands, and Men.
Inspired by the famous blockbuster ‘Jurassic Park’, The Indonesian Government has further pursued the development of an exclusive tourist destination on Komodo, Rinca, and Padar Island. These islands are home to around half of the estimated 6000 komodo dragons left in the wild.
Komodo National Park is an establishment that includes these three major Islands. In 2014, two private corporations were given legal permission to start building on the national park. Locals were then involved in opposing this permit and were reasonably wary with developments.
Development of infrastructures on Komodo Island includes construction on the existing Loh Buaya Dock and pathways that serve as an entrance towards the park area. Other infrastructures are built on Rinca Island, which also holds a large population of komodo dragons. A 2 metre tall elevated deck, to separate the dragons from humans and to serve as an access point towards other facilities such as the information centre and lodgings, is also planned to be built there.
During the process of construction, on 24th of October 2020, a picture of komodo dragons versus a construction truck went viral on instagram. It was shared by Gregorius Afioma, an activist from Sunspirit; For Justice and Peace, who’s been working with the locals regarding conflicts of interest at Komodo Island. The picture gained a lot of attention from local and international media. Many are worried that these developments will threaten the natural habitat of the komodo dragons.
From our interview with Gregorius Afioma, he explained how the locals feel it unfair that the government is giving permission for developments and buildings on most parts of the island yet since 1980 the locals were asked to live based on a zonation ordered by the government.
Afioma said: “It’s the unfair feeling for local people, before (1980) they lived scattered in this island, like in Komodo Island they were not really in a certain zone but side by side with this animal but since 1980 they were forced to relocate into certain areas. We thought it was how we could support this conservation idea but now when we see the central government initiate and give permits to build everywhere, it’s like a big contradiction in how the government treats the local people and how the government treats the investors. They can build everywhere but local people get very limited settlement zone”
In addition to that, Afioma also mentioned that these developments might destroy the landscape. His argument emphasized that the Komodo Island was granted the World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its landscape and other floras and faunas, not just because of the komodo dragons.
Other than aesthetic values, the landscape also holds an ecological value for wildlifes on the island. Afioma and locals are worried that by building this ‘Jurassic Park’ it will disturb and destroy the ecosystem. He said the komodo dragons already have certain areas where they will wait for their prey to approach, if facilities and infrastructures are going to be built there then they fear that it will change the ecosystem interaction. Big chances are prey animals for the komodo dragons would avoid the buildings and infrastructures thus disturbing what was previously the komodo’s hunting grounds.
Afioma explained his prediction on what would happen if these developments continue; “Later, the prey animals will avoid the buildings and infrastructures”
“They (the government) design this buildings in circle, and they plan on creating an empty space as if it’s an entrance for in and out access for animal.That’s not realistic, that doesn’t exist naturally, komodo dragons would not go there because komodo dragons would only move if their prey animals are there”
“Of course there is a contradicting action that would be taken if they change these natural habits, if komodo could not get its prey by itself, they will feed it with meat or other things and it’s contradictory with what the authority told people which are do not feed the animal and let them independently hunt their prey”
Aside from the natural ecosystem, the locals who live there manage to create job opportunities for their livelihood such as naturalist guides, travel agencies, and many more. With the government taking over tourism and entertainment, Afioma is not sure whether or not these developments will create job opportunities for locals.
He noted that the government has not been giving locals a chance to be involved, the small opportunities that existed are given again to people who are already involved in the tourism sector.
Furthermore, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Panjaitan, and the governor of NTT has a plan to charge 1000 US$ as a “membership fee” for access to Rinca Island. Afioma and the locals that have been opposing the plan do not believe that the fee would go to conserving and preserving the conservation, he mentioned that the government already gave permits for corporations to manage the system so the locals do not know what would happen to the fee.
On whether or not these developments will help the local economy, Afioma stated that he assumes the developments would not help.
“They even close many opportunities that local people have now and it really frightens the local tourists stakeholder, and that’s why we have had this kind of mass mobilization since 2018. There have been 4 mass mobilization that includes local tourism stakeholder, they protest this plan because the visitors might be decreasing and it will really impact their livelihood”
The Minister of Public Works and Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono releases a response towards the viral picture of komodo dragons versus a construction truck. He assures the public that the development at Komodo National Park, Rinca Island, will still pay attention to the komodo dragon’s habitat.
Since 2013, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed komodo dragons as vulnerable.
Written by Madeleine Nathania
Translation by Madeleine Nathania
Under the supervision and mentorship of Leslie James Steed, Real Press Agency UK
