‘Endangered’ status puts spotlight on Komodo dragon protection as Indonesia government defends upgrade projects

JAKARTA: Weighing up to 150kg and growing up to 3m long, the Komodo dragons are the world’s largest lizards only found in Indonesia’s Komodo National Park and neighbouring Flores Island.

It is believed the Komodos have existed for millions of years, but they face increasing threats from climate change and infrastructure projects. The government, on the other hand, said the IUCN acknowledged that the lizards in the national park were well-protected. The infrastructure projects there were only meant to upgrade old facilities, a minister added.RISING TEMPERATURE, SEA LEVELS THREATEN KOMODOS’ HABITAT

“This endangered status is a warning that Indonesia does not take its endemic animals seriously,” she said. He claimed that the IUCN had never been to the Komodo National Park and he did not understand how the organisation came to its conclusion.“We have installed chips on about 1,200 Komodo dragons, under their skin.

Some have dubbed the infrastructure project “Jurassic Park” after images of a Komodo believed to be on Rinca Island facing a truck went viral last year. “And it is not like what people have been discussing, as if it is a massive development. We can guarantee it is not like that,” said Mr Uno. However, Mr Cypri Jehan Paju Dale, an anthropologist at Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies who researches on conservation, ecotourism and interspecies co-existence at Komodo, was not convinced.

While the giant lizards only live on several plots in the coastal areas with water sources and forests, the rest of the terrestrial and marine areas are the supporting habitat, he said.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Bees kill dozens of endangered penguins in South AfricaPORT ELIZABETH — A swarm of bees has killed 63 endangered African penguins on a beach outside Cape Town, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds said on Sunday (Sept 19).
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Johnson & Johnson says second shot boosts protection against moderate-severe COVID-19 to 94%CHICAGO: Johnson \u0026 Johnson said Tuesday (Sep 21) a second shot of its COVID-19 vaccine given about two months after the first increased its effectiveness to 94 per cent in the United States against moderate to severe forms of the disease. That compares to 70 per cent protection with a single dose. Of course they do 💰
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

R. Kelly trial nears end as singer's lawyers defend against sex abuse claimsNEW YORK : R. Kelly's sex trafficking trial entered the homestretch on Tuesday, with the presiding judge forecasting that closing arguments could begin the next day and jurors could soon deliberate the R&B star's fate.Kelly, 54, has been on trial in Brooklyn federal court since Aug. 18 on charges he preye
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Endangered South African penguins killed by swarm of bees near Cape TownMore than 60 protected birds were found on the beach with multiple bee-stings but no other injuries.
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »

Indonesia logs fewest daily COVID-19 cases in more than a yearJAKARTA: Indonesia on Monday (Sep 20) reported 1,932 new daily coronavirus infections, the lowest since August 2020, data from country's COVID-19 task force showed, and the government further eased restrictions in Java and on its
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Indonesia logs fewest daily Covid-19 cases in over a year
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »