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Komodo dragon population in Indonesia decreases significantly
JAKARTA, Aug 02, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) --
Komodo dragon population in the
preservation forest of Wae Wuul in West Manggarai regency of East
Nusa Tenggara province on Indonesia's Flores Island has been
decreasing significantly in the last 18 years, the Kompas daily
quoted an official as saying on Monday.
The head of Komodo Dragon Survival Program Jeri Imansyah said
that the decrease also occurred in the animal's food of timor deer
(Cervus timorensis), due to hunting and land clearance by burning
forests in the preservation area and its surroundings.
"The condition requires better habitat management," said Jeri.
Previously, the agency released a statement that in its survey
on June 22 to July 19, there were only 17 komodo dragons, sharply
lower than 66 in 1991 at the same location.
The condition, he said, showed small attention from related
parties, both in scientific review and management that consists of
monitoring, security and habitat development.
"That's why the Forestry Ministry's plan to relocate five pairs
of komodo dragon for genetic purification from Wae Wuul to Bali
Safari Park will threaten the animals," he said.
People of Flores Island also rejected the plan. The coordinator
of Flores Komodo Dragon Preservation Rofino Kant said that the
agency was collecting people's signature to be submitted to
Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and parliament.
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