Category: ranaka mountain

Folk Knowledge and Distribution of the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) on Flores Island, Indonesia

Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) are the largest living lizards on Earth and one of Indonesia’s most iconic species. While these powerful reptiles are best known from Komodo National Park — including Komodo, Rinca, and nearby islands — ethnobiological research shows that they have also existed historically on the larger island of Flores. A study investigating […]

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

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 […]

Economic Valuation of Komodo National Park, Understanding Its Monetary and Development Importance

Komodo National Park, located in West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, is a globally recognized natural treasure — famous for the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its extraordinary ecosystem. Beyond ecological significance, the park also holds substantial economic value, particularly through tourism and its wider contribution to regional development. Why Economic Valuation Matters Economic […]

Distribution, Seasonal Use, and Predation of Incubation Mounds of Orange-Footed Scrubfowl on Komodo Island, Indonesia

Komodo Island, part of the Komodo National Park in eastern Indonesia, is not only famous for its largest lizard species — the Komodo dragon — but also for the unique ecological interactions between wildlife species. A scientific study investigated the distribution, seasonal use, and predation risks of incubation mounds created by the orange-footed scrubfowl (Megapodius […]

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 […]

Culture and Village Development in a Special Area, A Case Study of Pasir Panjang Village on Rinca Island

Komodo National Park — globally renowned for its unique fauna, especially the Komodo dragon — is also home to small coastal communities whose lives are deeply connected to both culture and nature. One such community is Pasir Panjang Village on Rinca Island, located within the park’s special settlement zone. This village represents an important example […]

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

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 […]

Aggregations of Plectropomus areolatus and Epinephelus fuscoguttatus in Komodo National Park, Monitoring and Management Implications

Komodo National Park (KNP), located in Eastern Indonesia, is not only famous for the Komodo dragon but also for its rich marine biodiversity — especially reef fish species like groupers (Serranidae). Among these, two commercially valuable species — Plectropomus areolatus (squaretail coral grouper) and Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (brown-marbled grouper) — are known to form seasonal spawning […]