Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (AntaraNews NTT) - Visitors to the Komodo National Park (KNP) in Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province, are prohibited from disposing cigarette butts anywhere around the park.
The Komodo National Park Office (KNPO) has issued a letter of appeal to visitors to not discard cigarette butts that are feared to trigger forest fires.
"We have issued a letter of appeal that prohibits everyone from discarding cigarette butts anywhere in the Komodo National Park," KNPO Chief Budi Kurniawan remarked on Monday (2/7).
KNP is home to the unique and rare Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Owing to the unique and rare nature of this animal, KNP was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in 1986.
The park includes three major islands -- Komodo, Rinca, and Padar -- along with numerous smaller islands, together totaling 603 square kilometers of land. At least 2,500 komodo dragons live in this area.
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Large dragons are usually three meters long and weigh up to 90 kilograms. Their habitat has beautiful panoramic views of the savannas, rain forests, white beaches, beautiful corals, and clean blue seas.
In this area, visitors can also catch a glimpse of horses, wild buffaloes, deer, wild boars, snakes, monkeys, and various species of birds. On Rinca Island, visitors can spot komodo dragons outside the homes of national park rangers or "parking" near the officials` homes.
Visitors can also engage in other activities, such as diving and snorkeling, or take a cruise ship or fisherman`s boat in pursuit of such activities. Several diving points that are highly recommended include Merah Beach and Batu Bolong and Tatawa islands.
Hence, the KNPO chief has urged all visitors to jointly preserve the KNP area as the only habitat of the ancient giant lizards.
Kurniawan noted that forest fires that ravaged areas, such as in Loh Namu or Loh Pede, Komodo Island, some time ago, are important reminders to step up early awareness to avoid recurrence of similar incidents in future.
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