Indonesia decides to close its Komodo island, home to the world's largest lizards, to tourists in order to conserve the animals
Indonesia has decided to close its island of Komodo, home to the world's largest living lizard, to tourists, in order to protect the species. Here, a Komodo Dragon suns itself on Komodo island, Indonesia. Photo: Getty Images
The Komodo island, as shown on this map, is located in the east of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. It, along with the nearby island of Rinca as well as a few other islands, is home to the Komodo National Park. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The island is being closed to cut the threat of poaching of the Dragon's prey such as wild buffalo, wild boar and deer like this one, so that their populations can recover. Photo: Getty Images
The Komodo dragon can grow up to three metres or ten feet in length and weigh as much as 70 kilograms like this individual on the island of Rinca. Photo: Getty Images
While the island will close in 2020, already, there have been protests on the neighbouring island of Flores by people who are dependent on the tourist inflows brought about by visitors who come to the island to see the dragons. Photo: Getty Images
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