Invasive Toads Are Close to but Absent from Komodo National Park — A Conservation Concern

Invasive Toads Are Close to but Absent from Komodo National Park — A Conservation Concern

Komodo National Park — famed for its Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and unique wildlife — lies in the Wallacea region of Indonesia, an area rich in endemic species but vulnerable to biological invasions. Recent research has investigated the potential threat posed by an invasive amphibian species, the Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), and whether it […]

Feeding Dragons in Komodo National Park, Tourism Attraction vs Conservation Challenge

Feeding Dragons in Komodo National Park, Tourism Attraction vs Conservation Challenge

Komodo National Park — home to the world’s largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) — has long attracted visitors from around the globe. These apex carnivores are a major draw for tourists eager to see them in the wild, but this popularity has also led to controversial wildlife-feeding practices with complex implications for […]

Exit the Dragon, The Collapse of Co-Management at Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Exit the Dragon, The Collapse of Co-Management at Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Komodo National Park in eastern Indonesia is one of the most iconic protected areas in the world. Famous for its Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) — the planet’s largest lizard — and its rich marine biodiversity, the park has also been the site of important experiments in conservation governance. From 2005 to 2010, managers attempted a […]

Community Participation and a Sustainable Tourism Development Model in Komodo National Park

Community Participation and a Sustainable Tourism Development Model in Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park (KNP), one of Indonesia’s most iconic conservation and tourism destinations, has experienced rapid growth in visitor numbers over recent years. While tourism brings economic opportunities, its long-term success depends on how well local communities are involved in planning and benefit sharing. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Environmental Management and […]

Critical Discourse Analysis of News Coverage on the Arrangement of Komodo National Park

Critical Discourse Analysis of News Coverage on the Arrangement of Komodo National Park

The proposed arrangement of Komodo National Park — intended to transform it into a premium tourist destination — generated public controversy and wide media attention in Indonesia. Critics argued that the plan could disrupt the natural habitat and ecosystem of the Komodo dragon and complicate conservation efforts, while supporters emphasized economic and tourism benefits. The […]

Stakeholder Acceptance of Adaptive Ecotourism Development, A Case Study of Komodo National Park

Stakeholder Acceptance of Adaptive Ecotourism Development, A Case Study of Komodo National Park

Adaptive ecotourism has emerged as an innovative strategy to address tourism challenges — especially those intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic — by emphasizing flexibility, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. In the context of Komodo National Park (KNP) — a globally recognized conservation and tourism destination — understanding stakeholder acceptance of adaptive ecotourism is key to crafting […]