Indonesia-Japan to Breed Komodo Dragons, Strengthening Wildlife Conservation Cooperation
Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry and the Government of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation for the protection and conservation of wildlife, with a focus on the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) breeding loan programme. The MoU was signed by Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, and the Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, Yasutomo Suzuki.
In a statement on Saturday (28/3/2026), the Ministry of Forestry said this cooperation not only strengthens Indonesia’s conservation diplomacy but also promotes enhanced efforts to preserve rare wildlife through a collaborative approach between conservation institutions. The MoU aims to increase the contributions of both parties to the protection and conservation of wildlife and to raise public awareness of biodiversity.
In its implementation, both parties also reaffirmed their commitment to animal welfare principles and compliance with international provisions, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Raja Juli stated that this cooperation is not merely an exchange of animals but part of Green Diplomacy, as a long-term commitment from Indonesia to safeguard the world’s biodiversity heritage. He also emphasised that the breeding loan programme has strategic value in strengthening public education and increasing international awareness of the importance of conservation.
This cooperation will be followed up through an implementation agreement between conservation institutions in Indonesia and Shizuoka Prefecture, namely between iZoo and Surabaya Zoo, including technical arrangements related to animal maintenance, transportation, and supervision.
The Ministry of Forestry emphasised that the entire programme implementation will be carried out carefully, transparently, and in accordance with national legislation as well as international standards.
“Through this partnership, Indonesia once again demonstrates its active role in global leadership in biodiversity conservation, while strengthening environmental diplomacy as part of its contribution to sustainability at the national and global levels,” the Ministry said in its statement.
The signing of this MoU is one of the efforts to strengthen Indonesia-Japan relations as part of President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Japan. During the visit, President Prabowo also held meetings with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.