Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores, comprises of three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands, with total area more than 1,800 km2. Komodo National Park, home to the Komodo Dragon, also known as the Komodo Monitor, is identified by WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area. The park also provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments.

Established in 1980, Komodo National Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986, both indications of the Park's biological importance. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo Dragon and its habitat, first discovered world in 1910. Since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.

Komodo National Park houses many Asiatic originated mammals. Several of the reptiles and birds are Australian in origin; these include the orange-footed scrubfowl, the lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird. And of course the signature animal of Komodo National Park is the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). It is the world's largest living lizard and can reach 3 metres or more in length and weigh over 70kg. Other animals that can be found in this national park are the Timor deer, the main prey of the Komodo dragon, wild horses, water buffalo, wild boar, long-tailed macaques, palm civets, the endemic Rinca rat, and fruit bats. Several species of snakes are inhabiting the island, including the cobra and Russel’s pit viper, both of which are extremely dangerous.

Under the water, Komodo National Park has one of the world's richest marine environments. It consists of over 260 species of reef building coral, 70 different species of sponges, crustaceans, cartilaginous such as manta ray and sharks and over a 1,000 different species of bony fishes, as well as marine reptiles such as sea turtles, and marine mammals such as dolphins, whales, and dugongs.