Indonesian Komodo Dragon Habitat Transformed into 'Jurassic Park'

The World's Largest Reptile 'Komodo'... 4,000 Individuals Living in Groups in National Park
Indonesian Government Invests 7.5 Billion Won to Protect Komodo Population
Establishment of Geopark and Visitor Center

[Asia Economy Jakarta Correspondent Sujin Choi] The habitat of the world's largest reptile, the Komodo dragon, is being transformed into Indonesia's version of 'Jurassic Park.'

According to local media including The Jakarta Post on the 6th, the Indonesian government plans to invest $6.5 million (approximately 7.5 billion KRW) in the Komodo National Park, centered on Komodo Island, to establish a geopark and an information center. Pania Hapila, the architect responsible for the design of Komodo Jurassic Park, recently posted a virtual park video on her social media featuring scenes from the movie 'Jurassic Park.'

Indonesia's Komodo National Park is a natural park covering 2,200 km² of surrounding coral reef waters, including Komodo Island, Padar Island, and Rinca Island. It was designated as a national park in 1980 and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. The Komodo dragons in this park are the largest reptiles in the world, measuring 3 meters in length and weighing 70 kg. They run on land at speeds of 20 km/h, swim in water, and can swallow prey weighing up to 80% of their body weight in one bite. It is reported that about 4,000 Komodo dragons inhabit the park.

The reason the plan to create a 'Jurassic Park' at Komodo National Park was proposed is to provide an open viewing experience rather than confining the animals in enclosures. Visitors will be able to drive their own cars around the park to see the Komodo dragons up close.

The Indonesian government will operate a membership system starting this month, charging $1,000 (approximately 1.16 million KRW) annually to secure funding for Komodo Island protection policies and the construction of Jurassic Park. Until now, visitors paid a $10 daily entrance fee to visit Komodo National Park, but this has been changed to an annual membership system. Victor Bungtili, governor of the Nusa Tenggara region, recently explained that 41 Komodo dragons were illegally sold through social media platforms such as Facebook, and this measure is to protect the Komodo population. This approach was inspired by the Gal?pagos National Park, which raised entrance fees to limit the number of tourists. Currently, Komodo National Park only allows entry to visitors who have made reservations through travel agencies.

Local environmental groups oppose the Indonesian government's development of a large-scale commercial tourist site. However, the relevant ministries have stated that discussions regarding the development have already been concluded.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.