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Komodo National Park
Indonesia
Komodo National Park is located
between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores at the border of the
Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTP)
provinces. It includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and
Padar, and numerous smaller islands together totaling 603 km2
of land. The total size of Komodo National Park is presently
1,817 km2. Proposed extensions of 25 km2 of land (Banta
Island) and 479 km2 of marine waters would bring the total
surface area up to 2,321 km2.
History
Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was
declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere
Reserve by UNESCO in 1986. The park was initially
established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus
komodoensis), first discovered by the scientific world
in 1911 by J.K.H. Van Steyn. Since then conservation
goals have expanded to protecting its entire
biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.
The majority of the people in and around the Park are
fishermen originally from Bima (Sumbawa), Manggarai,
South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South
Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau or Bugis ethnic
groups. The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and
moved from location to location in the region of
Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, to make their
livelihoods. Descendents of the original people of
Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there
are no pure blood people left and their culture and
language is slowly being integrated with the recent
migrants.
Little is known of the early history of the Komodo
islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima,
although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its
affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate
other than by occasional demand for tribute.
Demographics :
There are presently almost 4,000 inhabitants living
within the park spread out over four settlements
(Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, and Papagaran). All villages
existed prior to 1980 before the area was declared a
national park. In 1928 there were only 30 people
living in Komodo Village, and approximately 250 people
on Rinca Island in 1930. The population increased
rapidly, and by 1999, there were 281 families
numbering 1,169 people on Komodo, meaning that the
local population had increased exponentially. Komodo
Village has had the highest population increase of the
villages within the Park, mostly due to migration by
people from Sape, Manggarai, Madura, and South
Sulawesi. The number of buildings in Kampung Komodo
has increased rapidly from 30 houses in 1958, to 194
houses in 1994, and 270 houses in 2000. Papagaran
village is similar in size, with 258 families totaling
1,078 people. As of 1999, Rinca’s population was 835,
and Kerora's population was 185 people. The total
population currently living in the Park is 3,267
people, while 16,816 people live in the area
immediately surrounding the Park.
Education :
The average level of education in the villages of
Komodo National Park is grade four of elementary
school. There is an elementary school located in each
of the villages, but new students are not recruited
each year. On average, each village has four classes
and four teachers. Most of the children from the small
islands in the Kecamatan Komodo (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora,
Papagaran, Mesa) do not finish elementary school. Less
than 10% of those which do graduate from elementary
school will continue to high school since the major
economic opportunity (fishing) does not require
further education. Children must be sent to Labuan
Bajo to attend high school, but this is rarely done in
fishermen’s families.
Health :
Most of the villages located in and around the Park
have few fresh water facilities available, if any,
particularly during the dry season. Water quality
declines during this time period and many people
become ill. Malaria and diarrhea are rampant in the
area. On Mesa island, with a population of around
1,500 people, there is no fresh water available. Fresh
water is brought by boat in jerrycans from Labuan Bajo.
Each family needs an average of Rp 100,000.- per month
to buy fresh water (2000). Almost every village has a
local medical facility with staff, and at least a
paramedic. The quality of medical care facilities is
low.
Socio - Cultural and Anthropologic
Conditions
Traditional Customs:
Traditional communities in
Komodo, Flores and Sumbawa have been subjected to
outside influences and the influence of traditional
customs is dwindling. Television, radio, and increased
mobility have all played a part in accelerating the
rate of change. There has been a steady influx of
migrants into the area. At the moment nearly all
villages consist of more than one ethnic group.
Religion:
The majority of fishermen living in the
villages in the vicinity of the Park are Muslims.
Hajis have a strong influence in the dynamics of
community development. Fishermen hailing from South
Sulawesi (Bajau, Bugis) and Bima are mostly Moslems.
The community from Manggarai are mostly Christians.
Anthropology and Language:
There are several cultural
sites within the Park, particularly on Komodo Island.
These sites are not well documented, however, and
there are many questions concerning the history of
human inhabitance on the island. Outside the Park, in
Warloka village on Flores, there is a Chinese trading
post remnant of some interest. Archeological finds
from this site have been looted in the recent past.
Most communities in and around the Park can speak
Bahasa Indonesia. Bajo language is the language used
for daily communication in most communities.
Marine Flora
The three major coastal marine plants are algae, sea
grasses and mangrove trees. Algae are primitive
plants, which do not have true roots, leaves or stems.
An important reef-building algae is the red coralline
algae, which actually secretes a hard limestone
skeleton that can encrust and cement dead coral
together. Sea grasses are modern plants that produce
flowers, fruits and seeds for reproduction. As their
name suggests, they generally look like large blades
of grass growing underwater in sand near the shore.
Thallasia sp. and Zastera spp. are the common species
found in the Park. Mangroves trees can live in salty
soil or water, and are found throughout the Park. An
assessment of mangrove resources identified at least
19 species of true mangroves and several more species
of mangrove associates within the Park's borders.
Marine Fauna
Komodo National Park includes one of the world's
richest marine environments. It consists of forams,
cnidaria (includes over 260 species of reef building
coral), sponges (70 species), ascidians, marine worms,
mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, cartilaginous and
bony fishes (over 1,000 species), marine reptiles, and
marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and dugongs). Some
notable species with high commercial value include sea
cucumbers (Holothuria), Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus
undulatus), and groupers.
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