Once again, the interaction between man and nature is causing an issue.
Indonesian officials are taking a hard look at banning tourists from Komodo Island after a rash of thefts of the famed Komodo dragon lizards.
The thefts, mostly by poachers, have depleted the population of the giant lizards and degraded the habitat, which also affects their prey.
Authorities recently busted a ring in which 41 Komodo dragons were stolen and sold on Facebook, costing up to $35,000 per animal. The lizards, which can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds, do have a venomous bite. While it is rare, they can and will attack humans.
In 2001, in fact, then San Francisco Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein, husband of actress Sharon Stone at the time, was attacked by a Komodo dragon while on a private tour of the Los Angeles Zoo. Bronstein needed tendons in his foot reattached.
The decision by the Indonesian government could go into effect as soon as January of 2020, and brings up yet another chapter of the man vs. nature dilemma. Stories of poachers killing African elephants for their tusks are well-documented. But even more allegedly benign incidents have taken place that have upset the balance of nature.
In 2016, a man picked up a bison calf at Yellowstone National Park and put it in his car because he thought it was too cold. After fellow tourists scolded the man and park rangers retrieved the calf, Yellowstone officials had to euthanize the baby after it was rejected by its mother following its return to the herd.
Komodo National Park, which includes the islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses most of the remaining 5,700 Komodo dragons left in the world.
An upgrade and expansion of nearby Labuan Bajo airport has reaped a doubling of tourists to the island.
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