Indonesia eyes komodo dragon island closure to thwart smuggling

  1. Komodo Island will be closed to tourists starting January 2020.The famous island in Indonesia is home to the Komodo dragon,an ancient lizard.It will be banned to fix problems created by mass tourism and thwart attempts to smuggle the world’s biggest lizard.
  2. Komodo dragons are the largest,heaviest lizards in the world and one of the few with a venomous bite.The lizards prey on dogs,pigs,goats and other animals.
  3. Komodo dragons are limited to a few Indonesian islands of the Lesser Sunda group including Rintja, Padar ,Flores and island of Komodo. According to IUCN,the species is in vulnerable category.
  4. The popular interest in the lizard’s large size and predatory habits has allowed this species to become an ecotourist attraction which has encouraged its protection.