Komodo National Park and Surrounding Area
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Komodo National Park |
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Komodo National Park
Area |
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Komodo After Rain |
©Denise Nielsen
Tackett & Larry Tackett |
West Nusa Tenggara, with its main islands of Lombok and Sumbawa,
is the area between Bali and Komodo. Komodo and Rinca islands are
in East Nusa Tenggara. This area sits squarely in Wallacea and
as one travels east from Bali the landscape changes from lush Asian
greenery to dry brown hills with sparse vegetation reminiscent
of Australia.
Lombok and Sumbawa
Mt. Renjani dominates Lombok. At 3726m (12100 ft), it's Indonesia's
third-highest volcanic peak. West-Central Lombok is inhabited by
Balinese familiar with its wet, fertile conditions. South and east
Lombok is drier, less fertile and inhabited by Muslim Sasaks, Chinese
and Arab settlers. Sumbawa, the next large island, has volcanic
craters and a convoluted coastline. Inhabitants subsist by fishing
and limited farming.
Mt. Tambora volcano, 2851m (9265 ft), dominates north Sumbawa
with a base diameter of 60km (37mi) and a caldera 6km (4mi) wide.
When it erupted in 1815, it was the largest volcanic eruption ever
recorded - even greater than Krakotoa. Mt. Tambora lost over 1000m
(3250 ft) in height and spewed ash 44km (27mi) high and 1300km
(~800mi) from its center. Over 90,000 people were killed. 1816
was dubbed the "year without a summer" due to low temperatures
caused by volcanic debris in the atmosphere. It last erupted in
1967.
Satonda island, northwest of Mt. Tambora, has impressive views
of the volcano. Every evening at dusk, thousands of fruit bats
leave their Satonda roosts and fly toward Sumbawa in search of
food. Dive charters generally arrange to reach Satonda in time
to view this spectacle.
There is no infrastructure for tourism on Sumbawa. Bima, the main
town in east Sumbawa, is the only one visitors are likely to see.
Its residents have little interaction with outsiders but it's an
interesting place to visit if you have the opportunity. Woven cloth
from Bima has unique patterns. The market is large and busy. Although
flights run from Bali to Bima, most liveaboard trips begin and
end in Bali, with a few going one-way between Bali and Kupang via
Flores.
Further east, Sangiang island leads to the Sape Strait, separating
East and West Nusa Tenggara. Sumbawa is on one side of the strait,
Komodo is on the other.
Attractions
Komodo National Park (750 sq km or ~500 sq mi), a World Heritage
Site, is home to the famous Komodo dragon, the world's largest
lizard. Park rangers on Komodo lead "dragon walks" so visitors
can view the reptiles in their natural habitat. The paths are clear
and an easy walk often turns up local deer, pigs, and a variety
of birds and butterflies. Villagers sell local pearls, shell jewelry,
masks and t-shirts at the park entrance. Like with most vendors
in Indonesia, they can be persistent.
Komodo Dragons
Komodo Dragons are giant monitor lizards found only on the islands
of Komodo, Rinca, Padar and western Flores in Indonesia. As the
world's largest lizards they can reach 3m (10ft) in length and
up to 135kg (300lbs) although 50-70kg (110-150lbs) is more common.
Komodo Dragons have massive jaws, long powerful tails and can
run surprisingly fast for short periods. They're cannibalistic,
often eating younger dragons and occasionally other adults and
they've been known to attack humans. Although they aren't poisonous,
they harbor bacteria between their teeth which are easily transferred
to their next victim. These bacteria lead to infections that kill
the victim if the dragon doesn't.
Dragons ambush their prey by lying in wait and pouncing when the
time is right. Their diet consists of small animals and carrion
which they sense with their long, forked tongues. When not hunting
or mating, the dragons are generally lethargic.
Mating season is May to August which makes it a more difficult
time to observe them. During this time males are known to rise
up on their rear legs and fight one another. In September, females
lay their eggs in deep burrows, tending them until they hatch several
months later. Baby dragons are 45cm (18in) long and live in trees
where they feed on insects, small reptiles and birds.
The park boundary extends underwater . International conservation
organizations and the local government administer the park to preserve
its extraordinary reefs from destructive fishing practices.
By Denise Nielsen Tackett & Larry Tackett
Boats visiting these areas: | Mermaid
1 | Pelagian
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