Komodo population on increase

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The population of Indonesia's protected Komodo dragons has risen to between 325 to 350, the latest surveys say.

The head of the Komodo National Park, Bambang Hartono, said his office had found 183 Komodo dragons in the park in Manggarai regency and 172 on Rinca Island. The surveys were done last year.

"There should be more Komodo dragons here. We have never explored the population of the dragons on other parts of these islands," Bambang said.

He said the park's management planned to carry out another survey in Lamaole village, a hilly East Flores area, because a local said he had caught a Komodo dragon.

Governor Herman Musakabe earlier ordered the provincial forestry office to ban anybody entering Komodo dragon sanctuaries, fearing that they would endanger the habitat. (yac)