Komodo Island is shutting down because people keep smuggling the dang dragons
Source: Washington Post
Komodo Island is shutting down because people keep smuggling the dang dragons
By Michael Brice-Saddler April 2 at 9:46 PM
Tourists to Indonesia will likely be barred from the popular Komodo Island in January 2020 — a decision seemingly impelled by recent reports of Komodo dragons being stolen and smuggled overseas, potentially for dubious medicinal purposes, according to local media.
The temporary shutdown, announced Friday, is expected to give officials in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia’s southernmost province, an opportunity to increase the Komodo dragon population and preserve their habitats, according to Tempo newspaper. Discussions about closing the island date back to at least January, when officials said it could close for a full year.
Komodo Island is one of the three larger land masses that make up Komodo National Park. The other two islands, one of which also features the animals, are expected to remain open.
The decision to close the island came just days after nine men were arrested on suspicion of selling more than 40 Komodo dragons for about $35,000 each, local police told Tempo. Officials said the reptiles, which are the largest known species of lizard in existence and only found in the wild in East Indonesia, are “usually” sold to Asian buyers.
Authorities also seized other animals originating from eastern Indonesia, including wildcats, cockatoos and other birds, according to Tempo. Those purchasing the dragons, however, may seek to use them to create an antibiotic, police said.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/04/03/komodo-island-closing-dragon-smugglers/