The Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park is situated between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands, at a space of 200 nautical miles to the east of Bali. It has a whole land area of 75,000 hectares and encompasses a number of islands, the biggest of which are Komodo (34,000 hectares), Rinca (20,000 hectares), Padar, Nusa Kode, Motang,  several smaller islands, and the Wae Wuul refuge on Flores. A total of 112,500 hectares of the surrounding waters are also under the authority of the park rangers.

In 1938 Padar and the south and west of Rinca were affirmed a Wildlife Sanctuary, but it was only in 1965 that the island of Komodo was officially included in the sanctuary. Komodo National Park was recognized by administration announcement in 1980 followed by the designation of Komodo National Park as a World Heritage Site in 1991.

Komodo National Park has the lowest annual rainfall in all of Indonesia, with a shortened rainy season in the month of January. For most of the year Komodo is dry and hot, scorched by arid winds from the Australian wasteland that blow from April through October. Maximum temperatures reach 43 C, with minimums of 17 C in August.

The Park encompasses most of the documented habitat of the largest known lizard, the world famous Komodo Dragon . The Park is also home to Sunda deer , wild buffalo , wild boar , the macaque monkey , and wild horse . All the large mammals have been introduced by man, but native frogs, snakes and lizards abound on the island. The only widespread species found on Komodo is the aptly named Komodo rat. Over 150 species of birds have been recognized in Komodo National Park, many of which are migratory and more representative of Australasian than Asiatic species. Distinctive species include sculpture-crested cockatoos, imperial pigeons, white-breasted sea eagles and males. The seas surrounding the park teem with over 1000 species of fish and marine mammals. It is nominated as one of the natural wonders.