The presence of Komodo island which became one of the popular vote competition nominees “New 7 Wonder” is currently quite inviting appeal. The controversy that accompanied the event certainly has absolutely no effect on our intensive efforts to continue to preserve the park in 1986 by UNESCO as world heritage site.
Komodo National Park is located between the Province of West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara includes three large islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar island and several small islands with a land area covering 603 km ² and the total area is 1817 km ². Administratively the area is located within the District of Komodo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. National Parks are designated as a conservation area by the Minister of Forestry forest with an area of ??132,572 ha is initially formed with the purpose of preserving the dragons or giant lizard species unique and rare.
Komodo dragons are known by the scientific name Varanus komodoensis is the world’s largest lizard species that live on the island of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Gili Dasami in Nusa Tenggara. By local people, dragons are often called Ora.
Including family members Varanidae monitor lizards, and Toxicofera klad, dragons are the largest lizards in the world, with an average length of 2-3 m. Large size is associated with symptoms of island gigantism, the tendency for body meraksasanya certain animals that live on a small island linked to the absence of mammalian carnivores on the island where dragons live, and the metabolic rate of small dragons. Because of her size, these lizards occupy the position of a top predator that dominate the ecosystems in which they live.
Komodo dragons are found in 1910. He was a great and terrible reputation makes them popular in zoos. Dragons in the wild habitat has shrunk and therefore IUCN include dragons as a species vulnerable to extinction. This large lizard is now protected under Indonesian law and a national park established to protect them.
Actually charm of the Komodo National Park is not solely by the mere presence of dragons. As I quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Forestry who manages the site Komodo National Park, the panorama of savannah and the underwater scenery is an attraction to potential supporters. Such as marine tourism, fishing, snorkeling, diving, canoeing, boating. While on the mainland, the potential of nature tourism that can be done is observing animals, hiking, and camping. Visiting Komodo National Park and enjoy the natural scenery is very charming experience that will never be forgotten.
Some interesting sites to visit include:
1. Loh Liang: a tourism concession area managed by PT. Putri Naga Komodo (PNK PT.). Activities that can be done include observation of the Komodo dragon, deer, boar, bird watching, canoeing etc..
2. Red Beach: a beautiful beach with shallow coral reef charming. Usual activities undertaken by tourists who visit are snorkeling or sunbathing.
3. Loh Sebita: Loh Sebita the mangrove areas and activities that are interesting enough to do is bird watching and trekking.
4. Loh Buaya: a tourism concession areas which dielola by PT. Putri Naga Komodo (PNK PT.). Activities that can be done include observation of the Komodo dragon, deer, buffalo, birds, long-tailed monkeys, wild horses, bird watching, canoeing, etc..
5. Kalong Island: Activities that can be visited include the observation of the colony of bats in large enough quantities. The most interesting observation made during the afternoon where the bats started out to find food.
6. Golo Code: From the top of the hill known as Golo Code, visitors can see panoramic landscapes and fantastic enough for representation of various types of ecosystems can be seen from this place.
7. Molo Strait: Strait which has a heavy flow like river water flowing at high tide.
There are 36 dive sites in the area of ??TN. Komodo. Frequented by foreign tourists for diving and snorkeling namely: Tatawa Island, Red Beach, Gililawa Sea, Loh Dasami, Pillar Steen, Batu Bolong and Taka Napier.
To reach this place can be done by way Through the land through Bali – Mataram (Lombok P.) – Bima – Sape (Sumbawa P.), then continued with a trip using the ferry every day to Labuan Bajo. From Labuan Bajo visitors can visit the Komodo National Park use the boat or speedboat. Another alternative is through the air, visitors can use air transportation from Bali (Denpasar) to Labuan Bajo every day with the existing penerpangan airlines including; Indonesian Air Transport (IAT), Merpati and Air Trigana.
