- UNESCO stated that the development of tourism in Indonesia may further threaten the fragile Komodo dragon.
- But a local official said that tourism projects will continue because they “have been proven to have no impact.”
- The project was called “Jurassic Park” because a picture of a Komodo dragon blocking a truck circulated on the Internet.
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Activists and UNESCO are concerned that Indonesia’s tourism ambitions are endangering the Komodo dragon — the deadly monitor — but the authorities say they have not stopped construction work.
The Ministry of Environment of Indonesia said on Thursday that it will continue to develop multiple tourism projects in Komodo National Park. Despite UNESCO’s concerns, Reuters reported.
The tourism project is called “Jurassic Park” In 2020, this happened on social media after a photo of a Komodo dragon blocking a large truck in a park began to circulate on the Internet. Activists compared it with the Dinosaur Island in the movie Ended in disaster.
In June, UNESCO requested that the tourism project started last year be stopped and the environmental impact on the Komodo dragon should be reassessed.
But a senior official from the Ministry of Environment told Reuters that these projects will continue because they “have proven to have no impact.” The official also stated that the work of the tourism project mainly involves the renovation of existing structures.
Indonesia has been trying to replicate the tourism success of Bali resorts 10 sites nationwide, Including Komodo National Park. In 2020, the authorities set 50,000 visitors To the dragon colony.
Komodo National Park is composed of three main islands and several smaller islands. UNESCO World Heritage Home to more than 5,700 Komodo dragons. The 700 square mile park was built in 1980 to protect reptiles, But also began to focus on protecting the biodiversity on the island.
According to “National Geographic”, Komodo dragon is 10 feet long and weighs 330 pounds, They can eat almost any type of animal. Their jagged teeth are venomous, which can aggravate bleeding and prevent blood clotting.
Dragon is about to extinct and Threatened by climate change and human activities Such as slash and burn agriculture.
The Indonesian Ministry of Environment did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
