We explain what the Komodo National Park is, where it is located and what its flora and fauna are like. Also, its characteristics and its importance.

What is Komodo National Park?
Komodo National Park is a nature reserve made up of three large volcanic islands of the Indonesian archipelago – Komodo, Rinca and Padar – as well as other smaller islets that accompany them. It was created in 1980 with the aim of protecting the Komodo dragon, a reptile that does not exist anywhere else on the planet.
The entire park covers an area of approximately 2000 square kilometersof which only 603 are terrestrial. In this region there is an important sample of biodiversity, especially underwater, much of which is internationally protected.
The topography of Komodo National Park offers great contrasts: white sand beaches, arid savannas and rugged rocky mountains, coral reefs and abundant thorny vegetation. The park attracts an average of 170,000 visitors per year.
About 4,000 people live on the Komodo Islands. The native inhabitants are the Ata Modo, and they live from fishing and activities linked to the park. Also found on the islands are residents of Sumbawa, Flores and southern Celebes, belonging to the Sku Bajau and Bugis ethnic groups.
Where is Komodo National Park located?

Komodo National Park is located in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian country made up of thousands of volcanic islands, bordering Malaysia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. More specifically, It is located in the Lesser Sunda Islands, on the border of the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, west of the Flores Islands in the Indonesian archipelago..
The most common route to Komodo National Park requires taking a flight to Jakarta, the capital of the Indonesian island of Bali. Then you must take another local flight to Labuan Bajo, the main transportation hub of Flores Island, and from there you can reach the park by plane, boat or vehicle.
Komodo National Park Climate
Komodo National Park has a tropical savanna climate. This type of climate is characterized by having abundant rains in the summer and a mild, dry winter. During the rainy period, storms of different intensity can occur.
In summer, temperatures are high and can exceed 30°C. Furthermore, the highest rainfall occurs during this season, and the monthly accumulations tend to be very high: there are months in which rainfall reaches 800 millimeters. In winter, on the other hand, temperatures drop and precipitation practically disappears, with accumulated amounts barely reaching 2 or 3 millimeters per month.
Fauna and flora of Komodo National Park

In addition to the Komodo dragons, the national park is an important reservoir of endemic specieswhich means that they are only found in this place on the planet. Many of them are species that migrated to the region from Oceania or from neighboring territories, were isolated for centuries and embarked on their own evolutionary paths.
These include land mammals such as the crab-eating macaque. (Macaca fascicularis) or certain endemic types of rat (Rattus rintjanus). There are also local species of birds, and a vast and diverse underwater ecosystem that lives in the coral reefs of the region.
On the other hand, the flora of the park is very varied: you can find forest vegetation and also biomes linked to the seasonal rainfall of tropical climates. Grasslands and thorny vegetation typical of dry climates are also common. In coastal areas, vegetation presents adaptations related to the high salinity of soils and water.
Komodo Dragons

Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world. They can weigh 150 kilos and measure about 2.6 meters in length. They are only found in this region of the planet, where they survive as hunters and scavengers.
They can live up to fifty years, and are characterized by their aggressiveness and cannibalistic habits, which means that they sometimes eat each other. Besides, They have a strong and venomous bite, but they do not usually attack residents or park visitors.. Although their most common form of reproduction is sexual, they are among the few vertebrates capable of laying eggs without coitus and fertilization, through a process known as parthenogenesis.
This species was discovered in 1910, and has been in danger of extinction for decades. It is estimated that there are currently about 5,700 copies left. The authorities consider it important to protect the Komodo dragon because it is unique in the world and is of great scientific interest for the study of evolution. For this reason, it appears on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Biological and geological importance of the park
Komodo National Park is a unique place for both biological and geological reasons.. This island region, located on the border of two ecozones (Indo-Malay and Australian), exhibits a notable diversity of endemic wildlife and plant communities adapted to arid climatic conditions.
From a biological perspective, the park is not only important for the conservation of the Komodo dragon, but also hosts great biodiversity in its terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, especially in the coral reefs that surround the islands.
In the geological field, The park is located in a region of intense tectonic and volcanic activity. In addition, coral reefs in shallow waters contribute to the formation of islands and protect coastlines from erosion.
Thus, Komodo National Park serves as a natural laboratory for the study of ecological and evolutionary interactions and geological processes. Its importance lies in its contribution to the understanding of island ecology, natural evolution, the conservation of threatened species and regional geological dynamics.
History of Komodo National Park

The park was created in 1980 by the Indonesian government, with the aim of protecting the Komodo dragons and the aquatic and marine ecosystems of the region.. In 1991, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Years later, in 2011, the park was proclaimed one of the seven natural wonders of the world, along with Table Mountain (South Africa), Iguazu Falls (Argentina and Brazil), the Amazon rainforest (South America) , Ha-Long Bay (Vietnam), Jeju Island (South Korea) and the Puerto Princesa Underground River (Philippines).
References
- Faunia. (sf). Komodo dragon. https://www.faunia.es/
- National Geographic. (sf). Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world. https://www.nationalgeographic.es/
- UNESCO. (sf). Komodo National Park. https://whc.unesco.org/