ID :
72619
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 19:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/72619
The shortlink copeid
MINISTRY: KOMODO DRAGONS MOVE PURELY FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES
Jakarta, July 28 (ANTARA) - A plan to move 10 komodo dragons from Flores Island to Bali is purely for conservation purpose, according to a forestry ministry official.
"The planned transfer from Flores to Bali is aimed at genetic purification, not for other purpose," Darori, the forestry ministry's director general of forest protection and nature conservation, said here on Tuesday.
The plan was in line with the demand of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) which recommends a studbook system of genetic purification for endangered species, he explained.
"IUCN recommends studbook on komodo dragons in Flores because the habitat of komodo dragons is not in Flores, but on Rinca and Komodo Islands, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) which are part of the Komodo National park (TNK). Flores is not part of the TNK," he said.
According to Darori, 17 komodo dragons in Flores have started to enter human resettlement areas and they could threaten local residents and their own survival.
"Komodo dragons are cannibal. If their food chain is cut off, they will eat each others. The forestry ministry is worried that komodo dragons in Flores will disappear naturally. Therefore, we plan to carry out an ex-situ conservation through breeding program at Gianjar Safari park in Bali," he said.
He believed that the participation of the Gianjar Safari Park would help increase the number of komodo dragons within the next five years, which would be quite costly but the forestry ministry did not have to spend any money thanks to the Safari park's involvement.
Meanwhile, some 30 students rallied in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday rejecting the 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. ***
"The planned transfer from Flores to Bali is aimed at genetic purification, not for other purpose," Darori, the forestry ministry's director general of forest protection and nature conservation, said here on Tuesday.
The plan was in line with the demand of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) which recommends a studbook system of genetic purification for endangered species, he explained.
"IUCN recommends studbook on komodo dragons in Flores because the habitat of komodo dragons is not in Flores, but on Rinca and Komodo Islands, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) which are part of the Komodo National park (TNK). Flores is not part of the TNK," he said.
According to Darori, 17 komodo dragons in Flores have started to enter human resettlement areas and they could threaten local residents and their own survival.
"Komodo dragons are cannibal. If their food chain is cut off, they will eat each others. The forestry ministry is worried that komodo dragons in Flores will disappear naturally. Therefore, we plan to carry out an ex-situ conservation through breeding program at Gianjar Safari park in Bali," he said.
He believed that the participation of the Gianjar Safari Park would help increase the number of komodo dragons within the next five years, which would be quite costly but the forestry ministry did not have to spend any money thanks to the Safari park's involvement.
Meanwhile, some 30 students rallied in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday rejecting the 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. ***
