Will Indonesia close its iconic Komodo National Park? Too soon to tell, says conservation chief

Home to an estimated 5,700 Komodo dragons, the park received nearly 160,000 visitors last year

But a recent wildlife trafficking case involving Facebook spurred reports that it might close to restore the ‘natural habitat’

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A Komodo dragon walking on the beach in Komodo National Park. Photo: EPA

Published: 5:15pm, 2 Apr 2019Updated: 10:04pm, 2 Apr 2019

Indonesia’s government has dismissed speculation that the popular Komodo National Park, home to the world’s largest species of lizards, will soon be closed to tourists.

Last week, local news magazine Tempo reported that the park would be shut from January following the trafficking of 41 juvenile Komodo dragons that had been sold to buyers in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam via Facebook.

One of the juvenile Komodo dragons seized from smugglers by the police. Photo: EPA

Marius Ardu Jelamu, head of tourism for East Nusa Tenggara Province that encompasses the park, was quoted as saying the closure was necessary to restore the natural habitat. The park, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is home to an estimated 5,700 giant lizards and received nearly 160,000 visitors last year.

But on Tuesday, Wiratno, director general of conservation at the Environment and Forestry Ministry which oversees the park, said no decision had yet been made.

“We have a team that [is] now working to collect data and make an assessment. We need to wait for their results before making any decision. We expect the team to submit their report in July,” he said.