Taman Safari Bogor Releases 6 Komodo Dragons into NTT's Wae Wuul Nature Reserve

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Taman Safari Indonesia in Bogor of West Java released six Komodo dragons into the Wae Wuul Nature Reserve in West Nusa Tenggara. The release was aimed at maintaining the population of the endemic animal in the country.  

“We affirm our commitment with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to continue to conserve the Komodo dragon population in Indonesia,” Taman Safari Indonesia founder Jansen Manansang said in Bogor, on Monday, August 13, 2023.

The Komodo dragon is considered at a high risk of extinction and is categorized as an endangered species included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. There are now around 4,000-5,000 Komodo dragons living in the wild.

Bongot Huaso Mulia, the head of the park’s science department, said Taman Safari is one of the animal conservation organizations entrusted by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry to increase the population and maintain its sustainability.

He explained that although there are still thousands of Komodo dragons in the wild, there are only 350 productive and breeding females.

The six Komodo dragons sent to NTT, he added, were the result of breeding at the park with the support of PT Smelting Indonesia. These Komodo dragons will be flown from Soekarno Hatta Airport on August 15, 2023, using Garuda Indonesia aircraft.

“The six of them will undergo a habituation process of approximately one month before being released into the wild. During their stay at Taman Safari Bogor, the six have also been trained to live in the wild," said Bongot.

The six Komodo dragons would also be fitted with a Global Positioning System (GPS) to monitor their movements and conditions in the Wae Wuul Nature Reserve before being released into their natural habitat.

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