ID :
72618
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 19:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/72618
The shortlink copeid
STUDENTS OPPOSE PLAN TO REMOVE KOMODO DRAGONS
Mataram, Indonesia, July 28 (ANTARA) - Some 30 students rallied here on Tuesday rejecting a plan to remove five Komodo dragons from their habitat in East Nusa Tenggara province to the Denpasar safari park for genetic purification purposes.
The rally took place at the heart of Mataram city with chief of the East Nusa Tenggara chapter of the Indonesian Muslim Students Association (HIPMI) Yusuf Tamri as the rally's coordinator.
In the rally, the demonstrators delivered their orations in turn, expressing their regret over decree of the forestry minister dated May 13, 2009 on the licencing of genetic purification efforts.
Under the decree, 10 Komodo dragons which are protected by the law could be taken from their habitat under the jurisdiction of the East Nusa Tenggara Nature Conservation Board (BKSDA) for the purpose.
The decree refers to a recommendation from the biological research center at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) suggesting that the genetic purification be conducted at the Denpasar safari park.
The students said they regretted the recommendation.
Quoting the results of a research conducted by the BKSD, they said the population of Komodo dragons at the Komodo national park had dwindled to 17, a condition that the species believed to be the remnants of animals living in Jurassic period was on the verge of extinction.
They questioned why the location for the breeding of Komodo dragons was moved from their habitat to the Denpasar safari park.
"Why must the location be moved to Bali? Why aren't they bred at their habitat. As a rare animal, the Komodo dragons can only live at their habitat," Syaiful said.
The students urged the forestry minister to lift the decree and rejected the recommendation.
The Komodo national park which covers Komodo, Rinca and Padar islands in West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara, is home to the Komodo dragon.
The 1,817 sq km park which was set up in 1980 is among the five finalists in a contest for inclusion in the "New Seven Wonders of Nature."
"The Komodo National Park ranked fourth on Friday (July 24) after successfully brushing aside Malaysia's Sipadan Island and Germany's Black Forest," head of the East Nusa Tenggara tourism, arts and culture office Ansgerius Takalapeta quoted director general of marketing at the Arts and Tourism Ministry Sapta Nirwandar as saying last Saturday.
The park became one of the finalists in the contest next to the Amazone Forest in Brazil, Bu Tinah Island in the United Arab emirates, Galapagos Island in Ecuador and Iguanzu Falls River in Brazil.***
The rally took place at the heart of Mataram city with chief of the East Nusa Tenggara chapter of the Indonesian Muslim Students Association (HIPMI) Yusuf Tamri as the rally's coordinator.
In the rally, the demonstrators delivered their orations in turn, expressing their regret over decree of the forestry minister dated May 13, 2009 on the licencing of genetic purification efforts.
Under the decree, 10 Komodo dragons which are protected by the law could be taken from their habitat under the jurisdiction of the East Nusa Tenggara Nature Conservation Board (BKSDA) for the purpose.
The decree refers to a recommendation from the biological research center at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) suggesting that the genetic purification be conducted at the Denpasar safari park.
The students said they regretted the recommendation.
Quoting the results of a research conducted by the BKSD, they said the population of Komodo dragons at the Komodo national park had dwindled to 17, a condition that the species believed to be the remnants of animals living in Jurassic period was on the verge of extinction.
They questioned why the location for the breeding of Komodo dragons was moved from their habitat to the Denpasar safari park.
"Why must the location be moved to Bali? Why aren't they bred at their habitat. As a rare animal, the Komodo dragons can only live at their habitat," Syaiful said.
The students urged the forestry minister to lift the decree and rejected the recommendation.
The Komodo national park which covers Komodo, Rinca and Padar islands in West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara, is home to the Komodo dragon.
The 1,817 sq km park which was set up in 1980 is among the five finalists in a contest for inclusion in the "New Seven Wonders of Nature."
"The Komodo National Park ranked fourth on Friday (July 24) after successfully brushing aside Malaysia's Sipadan Island and Germany's Black Forest," head of the East Nusa Tenggara tourism, arts and culture office Ansgerius Takalapeta quoted director general of marketing at the Arts and Tourism Ministry Sapta Nirwandar as saying last Saturday.
The park became one of the finalists in the contest next to the Amazone Forest in Brazil, Bu Tinah Island in the United Arab emirates, Galapagos Island in Ecuador and Iguanzu Falls River in Brazil.***
