Living with Komodo Dragons: Wildlife and Tourism in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

This article aims to present the dynamics of sustainable development in Komodo National Park (KNP) using a human ecosystem model. The Human Ecosystem model is a coherent system of biophysical and social factors capable of adaptation and sustainability over time. A rural village in Komodo island, Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia can be considered a human ecosystem because it has identifiable boundaries, essential ecosystem functions, resource flows, social structures, social processes (including adaptive responses to changed conditions), and dynamic continuity over a period. In 2020, the “Jurassic Park” tourism project in Komodo National Park has become a hot topic on social media after a photo of a Komodo dragon blocking a truck popped up. The project’s rejection became the most popular topic on Twitter with the hashtag #savekomodo. Various groups believe that the project will destroy the Komodo dragon’s natural habitat, evict the local population, and be carried out solely for financial gain. As a result, it is critical to understand the current situation there. The HEM helps us identify the critical resources and the social systems, as well as the key flows that contribute to the dynamic of the human ecosystem in KNP. This article yields three important findings that should be considered in the future management of KNP. First and foremost, the Komodo dragon population is still stable, but it has the potential to decline in the long term due to changes in spatial planning, an increase in tourists, a decrease in food, and poaching. Second, expanding large-capital corporations that can replace local businesses such as boat rentals, car rentals, homestay businesses, restaurants, souvenirs, and tour guides/rangers will reduce local people’s income from tourism. Third, kinship relationships between Komodo dragons and the clan of Ota Moda are eroding because of fewer encounters between Komodo dragons and the island’s indigenous tribal communities. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menyajikan dinamika pembangunan berkelanjutan di Taman Nasional Komodo (TNK) dengan menggunakan model human ekosistem. Model human ekosistem adalah system koheren dari faktor biofisik dan sosial yang mampu beradaptasi dan berkelanjutan dari waktu ke waktu. Sebuah desa di pulau Komodo, Labuan Bajo, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia dapat dianggap sebagai human ekosistem karena memiliki batas-batas yang dapat diidentifikasi, fungsi ekosistem esensial, aliran sumber daya, struktur sosial, proses sosial (termasuk respons adaptif terhadap kondisi yang berubah), dan kontinuitas dinamis selama suatu periode. Pada tahun 2020, proyek wisata “Jurassic Park” di Taman Nasional Komodo menjadi topik hangat di media sosial setelah muncul foto Komodo yang menghalangi truk. Penolakan proyek tersebut menjadi topik paling populer di Twitter dengan tagar #savekomodo. Berbagai kalangan percaya bahwa proyek tersebut akan menghancurkan habitat alami komodo, menggusur penduduk setempat, dan dilakukan semata-mata untuk keuntungan finansial. Akibatnya, sangat penting untuk memahami situasi saat ini di sana. HEM membantu untuk mengidentifikasi sumber daya penting dan sistem sosial, serta arus utama yang berkontribusi pada dinamika human ekosistem di TNK. Artikel ini menghasilkan tiga temuan penting yang harus dipertimbangkan dalam pengelolaan TNK di masa mendatang. Pertama dan terpenting, populasi komodo masih stabil, tetapi berpotensi menurun dalam jangka panjang karena perubahan tata ruang, peningkatan wisatawan, penurunan makanan, dan perburuan liar. Kedua, ekspansi perusahaan modal besar yang dapat menggantikan usaha lokal seperti persewaan kapal, persewaan mobil, usaha homestay, restoran, cinderamata, dan pemandu wisata/ranger akan mengurangi pendapatan masyarakat lokal dari pariwisata. Ketiga, hubungan kekerabatan antara komodo dan klan Ota Moda terkikis karena lebih sedikit pertemuan antara komodo dan komunitas suku asli pulau itu.

Since Komodo National Park became the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2012, Labuan Bajo has become a popular tourist attraction and experienced tourists’ visits, especially with the Government’s decision to make West Manggarai Regency a world-class destination in 2020. The increase has adversely affected the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) habitat on Flores Island, particularly Labuan Bajo and surroundings. This study aimed to assess the use and change of land cover (LULC) of Labuan Bajo’s Komodo habitat and its surroundings, using MLC in ArcGIS 10.3 and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt). Of the total 40,275 ha, 9,109 ha are highly suitable for Komodo habitat while 31,161 ha are low-suitable; most situated at 0-300 m above sea level. The tourism development area encompasses 11,225 ha, with an overlap of 7,104.67 ha with the dragon’s habitat. The 2016-2020 land cover analysis showed the conversion of 114,875.40 ha secondary dry forest to agriculture and settlements, reducing the area to 111,739.97 ha. Komodo’s habitat is intersected by Golo Mori tourism area and a 7.5-km road to Golo Mori as the established infrastructure developments. The conservation of Komodo, corridors, and buffer zones requires that tourism development in Labuan Bajo and surroundings aligned with Komodo conservation efforts.

Abstract. Hidyarko AIF, Gayatri AC, Rifa VA, Astuti A, Kusumaningrum L, Mau YS, Rudiharto H, Setyawan AD. 2021. Komodo National Park as a conservation area for the komodo species (Varanus komodoensis) and sustainable ecotourism. Intl J Trop Drylands 5: 27-40. Komodo National Park (East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia) is a biodiversity conservation area with the main aim to protect the original habitat and remaining population of Komodo dragon species (Varanus komodoensis Ouwens, 1912). Nonetheless, the area also has great potential as one of the objects of tourist attraction. The purpose of this study is to see the sustainable function of conservation and tourism in Komodo National Park. Komodo National Park covers land area of more than 603 square kilometers and 1214 square kilometers of marine habitat. The land habitats have 277 species of animals while the marine habitats have 253 species of corals, more than 1,000 species of fish, and 25 species of whales and dolphins. One of the main attractions of the Komodo National Park area is the ancient giant reptile of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). The tourism management of Komodo National Park (KNP) is currently done through an ecotourism approach. The tourism zone is determined based on part of the Komodo National Park which has the potential for land and marine tourism with a diversity of flora and fauna. The participation of communities living around KNP in the ecotourism business can increase local economics and conservation awareness; as well as their participation in conservation. Meanwhile, the factors that hinder community participation in tourism development are limited budget, apathy and low public awareness, fluctuations in tourist visits, and difficulties in marketing ecotourism products.

The islands of Komodo National Park in the Wallacea region are the habitats of Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Although the Wallacea islands have lower species richness compared to the other large islands in Indonesia, they are rich in endemics, and the occurrence of invasive species would therefore threatened the ecological, economic and social balance of the regions. Several papers have hinted at the possibility of the invasion of Komodo National Parks by Asian toads, a situation which would potentially affect the survival of the Komodo dragon. To detect the presence of the invansive toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus in Komodo National Park and its surroundings areas we carried out an amphibian survey using a Visual Encounter Survey method during February to April 2018. The surveyed location consisted of two main islands within Komodo National Park (Rinca island and Komodo island), Flores island (Labuan Bajo and Cumbi village) and Sumbawa island (Sape). Two species of amphibians were found in Komodo National Park (Rinca island and Komodo island), while seven species of amphibians were found across all four locations. No D. melanostictus toads were found in Flores (including in Komodo National Park), however the toad was found to be abundant in Sape (Sumbawa island).

Famous for its distinctive Komodo dragons (Varanus Komodoensis) and features home to underwater ecosystems, the Komodo National Park (KNP) has become a prominent and favorite destination of visitors locally and globally in recent years. Situated in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, KNP has three prime islands: Rinca, Komodo, and Padar. The infrastructure development in KNP formulated in 2020 by the central government of Indonesia, including establishing offices, photograph areas, clinics, warehouses, public spaces, and tour guides' offices, raises controversy about this decision. While the government of Indonesia persuaded citizens that this erection was a conservation effort for protection, preservation, and utilization, UNESCO refused this plan by enacting a refusal document and assessing whether the development could affect the property's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) before the review of the relevant environmental impact analysis by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Additionally, the local people argue this plan will threaten the giant lizard's habitat regarding the entry of heavy equipment and disadvantage local tourism actors. Using a systematic literature review method, this piece collects and discovers a different concept in the issue of infrastructure development in KNP instead of another scholar's perspective. Walpole and Goodwin (2000) find that economics and facilities are the prominent aspects of tourism, while UNESCO considers the environment in development. In contrast to popular belief, this paper indicates a significant role of local people, known as Ata Modo, in the KNP establishment. This paper's findings propose that Ata Modo, as local people/tribes in KNP, should not be relocated from their area and instead be involved in the decision-making process. The bottom-up approach can be executed as a practice in a democratic process. From the fiscal approach, this development will positively impact local people's economy through collaboration and stakeholder participation.

The Komodo National Park in the Wallacea region is the komodo dragon’s primary habitats. Published report on the herpetofauna of this national park is mostly concentrated in Komodo island. To increase our knowledge of amphibian and reptile communities in Komodo National Park, we conducted a herpetofauna survey in Komodo and Rinca Island and the nearby coastal area to assess diversity and community similarity and developed a complete checklist of the herpetofauna of Komodo National Park. We conducted a Visual Encounter Survey and put glue traps from February-April 2018 at six locations on Komodo Island (Loh Liang, Loh Wau dan Komodo Village) and Rinca Island (Loh Buaya, Loh Baru, and Rinca Village); and three locations on coastal areas of Flores (Labuan Bajo and Cumbi Village) and coastal area of Sumbawa (Sape) adjacent to Komodo National Park. We found seven species of amphibians and 22 species of reptiles and, however, only two species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles were found in Komodo and Rinca Island. The highest diversity (H’ = 2.14) is in Loh Buaya (Rinca Island), and the highest evenness (E=0.58) is in Loh Baru (Rinca Island). The highest similarity occurs between Komodo Island and Rinca Island (IS = 0.8). Using data from other research, we have compiled a list of four species of amphibians and 39 species of reptiles occurring at three main islands of Komodo National Park: Komodo island, Rinca Island and Padar Island.
 
 Keywords: Herpetofauna diversity, Komodo National Park, Lesser Sunda Islands

Summary Tourism is a central driver of economic growth and prosperity in Indonesia with Bali as arguably its best known and most successful destination. To replicate the success of Bali, disperse visitors and deliver economic outcomes to other regions in Indonesia, the Indonesian Government has identified five super-priority destinations to be the future ‘New Balis’. Labuan Bajo is identified as one such destination. It is the gateway to the Komodo National Park which is famous for its Komodo Dragons. It is also popular among scuba divers due to its high marine biodiversity, including over 1000 fish species and 260 coral species. Labuan Bajo also hosted the G20 side event and ASEAN Summit in 2023, attracting further global attention to the region. In many ways, Labuan Bajo is seen as another tourism success story. Information © The Authors 2024

Understanding how threatened wildlife can coexist with humans over the long term is a central issue in conservation and wildlife management. Komodo National Park in Eastern Indonesia, harbors the largest extant populations of the endemic Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Consistent with global trends, this species is expected to be increasingly exposed to human activities and in particular growing ecotourism activities. Here we comprehensively evaluated how human activities affected individual and population level attributes of Komodo dragons. We compared Komodo dragons phenotypic (behaviour, body size, and body condition) and demographic (age structure, sex ratio, survival, and density) responses to variation in human activities across national park. Komodo dragons were found to exhibit pronounced responses to high human activity level relative to sites with low and negligible human activities. Komodo dragons exposed to ecotourism exhibited significantly less wariness, larger body mass, better body condition, and higher survival. These results are entirely consistent with ecotourism activities that provided Komodo dragons with long-term and substantial nutritional subsidies as a consequence of feeding and human food refuse. However, we also noted the potential negative consequences of altered behaviour and adult-biased populations in ecotourism areas which may influence demographic processes through intraspecific competition or predation. To address this issue, we recommend that three management strategies to be implemented in future include: (1) removal of human-mediated nutritional subsidies, (2) alternative ecotourism, and (3) spatial regulation of ecotourism. Furthermore, we advocate the development of approaches to achieve a socio–ecological sustainability that benefits both people and wildlife conservation.

Introduction: The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is a protected reptilian species found in the Komodo National Park (KNP). The Komodo National Park and its surrounding areas are among the National Strategic Areas (NSAs) listed in Government Regulation No. 13 of 2017 concerning the National Spatial Planning Plan. The KNP is currently planned by the government to become a super premium tourist Geopark. This research aims to understand the local community's perceptions of the development plan and whether there are impacts on natural capital in the Komodo National Park area as a result of this development. Result and Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it is found that this development has not fully involved the local community in its formulation. There are concerns among the local community regarding economic competition due to the planned development of premium tourism and concerns about environmental degradation and the threat of Komodo dragon extinction.

The surge in tourism within Komodo National Park and Labuan Bajo, located in the Manggarai Barat Regency of Indonesia, presents both opportunities and challenges for the local community and the environment. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the significant increase in tourist arrivals and its implications on the ecological and social dynamics of the region. The allure of Komodo National Park's unique biodiversity and Labuan Bajo's picturesque landscapes has led to an unprecedented influx of tourists, emphasizing the critical need for sustainable tourism practices. This research examines the multifaceted impact of this growth on local communities, focusing on shifts in traditional livelihoods, the emergence of environmental pressures, and the strategies implemented to harmonize tourism development with ecological conservation. The study also explores various initiatives undertaken to mitigate the adverse effects of tourism, including community-based tourism projects and sustainable tourism policies. By offering a detailed assessment of these dynamics, the study provides valuable insights into effectively managing the challenges of tourism expansion in ecologically sensitive areas, ensuring the well-being of local communities, and preserving the region's natural heritage.

Varanus komodoensis: The Imperiled Dragon

This study aims to analyze how gender inequality is against women in the tourism work of the Komodo National Park. The results of this study are expected to be used to evaluate or encourage the implementation of gender-oriented development in order to create more equitable welfare. This research uses a qualitative approach and is conducted on women in Komodo Village, Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara. The selection of informants uses purposive sampling technique. Data analysis techniques using the model of Miles and Huberman, namely data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study: 1) women in having limited access to tourism in Komodo National Park, 2) the level of women's participation in tourism work is very low, namely as food sellers at stalls, 3) women's involvement in decision making related to tourism management is still low , 4) men benefit more from the existence of the Komodo National Park compared to women, 5) the forms of gender injustice experienced by women are marginalization and subordination.

Sustainable tourism development plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation areas that also function as tourist attractions, such as Komodo National Park. The use of these areas for tourism must continue to provide benefits to local communities while preserving ecological balance. However, increasing tourist numbers have begun to impact the ecosystem negatively. This study aims to examine tourism activities in Komodo National Park and assess how well sustainable tourism policies are implemented by stakeholders. It also offers recommendations for managing the park as both a conservation area and a sustainable tourism destination. Using an exploratory qualitative approach and the Miles and Huberman analysis technique, data were collected through interviews, field observations, and literature reviews. The study presents a development model for sustainable tourism in Komodo National Park, focusing on four key aspects of terrestrial ecosystem conservation: (1) protection of sensitive environments, (2) visitor management at natural sites, (3) interaction with wildlife, and (4) exploitation of species and animal welfare. The findings emphasize the need for integrated policy implementation and responsible tourism practices to maintain the park’s dual function as a conservation area and a source of local economic benefit.AbstrakPembangunan pariwisata berkelanjutan menjadi elemen penting dalam kawasan konservasi keanekaragaman hayati yang juga berfungsi sebagai atraksi wisata, seperti Taman Nasional Komodo. Kawasan ini memiliki potensi sumber daya alam yang dapat memberikan manfaat ekonomi bagi masyarakat lokal. Namun, meningkatnya kunjungan wisatawan mulai menimbulkan gangguan terhadap keseimbangan ekosistem. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji aktivitas pariwisata di Taman Nasional Komodo, Labuan Bajo, serta menilai penerapan kebijakan wisata berkelanjutan oleh pengelola dan pelaku wisata. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga memberikan rekomendasi model pengelolaan atraksi wisata berkelanjutan yang ideal bagi kawasan tersebut. Metode yang digunakan adalah kualitatif eksploratif dengan teknik analisis Miles dan Huberman. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara, observasi langsung di lapangan, dan studi literatur. Hasil penelitian menghasilkan model pengembangan pengelolaan wisata berkelanjutan untuk Taman Nasional Komodo yang mempertimbangkan empat aspek utama konservasi ekosistem darat: (1) perlindungan terhadap lingkungan sensitif, (2) pengelolaan pengunjung di situs alam, (3) interaksi yang bertanggung jawab dengan satwa liar, dan (4) pengendalian eksploitasi spesies serta peningkatan kesejahteraan satwa.

Komodo National Park (KNP), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, faces significant environmental challenges due to increasing tourism, climate change, and resource management issues. This preliminary study employs the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) to estimate visitors' willingness to pay (WTP) for adaptive management initiatives aimed at preserving the park's unique biodiversity and ecological health. Conducted in Labuan Bajo, the main gateway to KNP, the study involved 50 respondents who were surveyed on their WTP for improved environmental quality and management. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that higher income levels and gender significantly influence WTP, with higher income individuals and males being more likely to contribute financially. Marital status showed a negative association with WTP, suggesting that married individuals may have financial constraints. The study highlights the importance of understanding sociodemographic factors to design effective funding strategies for conservation. The findings underscore the need for targeted communication and engagement strategies to increase financial support for adaptive management. These insights will inform policy and management strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of KNP.

Komodo (Varanus komodoensis) with its wildlife is the only one in the world that lives in the Komodo National Park (KNP), East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The conservation efforts are carried out by considering the carrying capacity to remain in line with the principles of sustainable tourism management. This study aims to analyze the carrying capacity of the visits carrying capacity on Komodo Island and Padar Island. The method used in this research is system dynamics analysis. The number of Komodo dragons in 2045 is estimated to increase to 4000-4500 Komodo dragons in KNP or around 2500 Komodo dragons in Komodo Island and Padar Island since the number of preys is still quite available in their habitat. However, without the implementation of low carbon development, there will be pressure on its population, which can drop to 800-900 Komodo dragons both on Komodo Island and Padar Island. Meanwhile, the temperature increase occurs until the year 2045 which reaches 0.8°C. In terms of the ideal number of visits on Komodo Island based on the carrying capacity calculation of 219,000 visits/year, on Padar Island the ideal number of visits is 39,420 visits/year and it can be still increased up to 2-2.5 times