Komodo (island) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Komodo
Geography
North-eastern tip of the island

Location	Southeast Asia
Coordinates	8°33′S 119°27′E / 8.55°S 119.45°E / -8.55; 119.45
Archipelago	Lesser Sunda Islands
Area	390 km² (150 sq mi)
Administration
Indonesia
Province	East Nusa Tenggara
Demographics
Population	c. 2000
Ethnic groups	Bugis, others

Komodo Island
Pulau Komodo

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Natural: vii, x
Inscription	1991 (15th Session)

Komodo (Indonesian: Pulau Komodo) is one of the many islands that make up Indonesia. It is famous for being the home of the Komodo dragon, which is the biggest lizard in the world. This amazing creature is even named after the island! Komodo Island is about 291 square kilometers in size. In 2020, around 1,800 people lived there.

Komodo is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands group and is a key part of the Komodo National Park. It's a very popular spot for diving because of its rich underwater life. The island is located between the larger islands of Sumbawa to the west and Flores to the east.

In 1991, Komodo National Park, which includes Komodo Island, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was also recognized as a Man and Biosphere Reserve. This means it's a special place where nature and people can live together. The island is considered one of the world's 25 most important places for biodiversity. It was also chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The waters around Komodo Island are full of different kinds of marine animals and plants. This area is part of the Coral Triangle, which has some of the richest marine life on Earth.

Komodo Island is also recognized by organizations like the WWF and IUCN for its important plants and animals. It's a special place for birds and is an ASEAN Heritage Park.

Discovering Komodo Dragons
People of Komodo Island
Nature and Wildlife
Images for kids
See also

Discovering Komodo Dragons

Stories about a dragon-like animal on Komodo Island first spread among Westerners a long time ago. These stories caught a lot of attention. But no Westerner actually visited the island to check these tales until the early 1900s.

In the 1910s, Dutch sailors based in Flores in East Nusa Tenggara heard stories about a mysterious creature. It was said to be a dragon living on a small island in the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Vegetation on Komodo Island

When Lieutenant Steyn van Hensbroek, a Dutch official, heard these reports, he decided to visit Komodo Island. He went with soldiers and managed to kill one of the lizards to study it. This was how the Komodo dragon became known to the wider world.

Realizing how important these dragons were and that they were an endangered species, the Dutch government created rules in 1915 to protect them on Komodo Island. Since then, many scientists from different countries have come to Komodo Island to study these unique lizards.

People of Komodo Island

In 2020, about 1,800 people lived on Komodo Island, mostly in the main Komodo village. The original people of the island, called the Komodo people, are no longer living there since the 1980s. Today's residents are mostly descendants of people who were sent to the island a long time ago and who mixed with Bugis people from Sulawesi. Most people on the island follow Islam, but there are also Christian and Hindu communities.

Nature and Wildlife

Komodo Island is part of a special area called the Lesser Sundas deciduous forests ecoregion. It's a popular place for diving because of its amazing underwater world.

Amazing Animals

Komodo dragon

The Komodo dragon is the biggest living lizard in the world. It gets its name from Komodo Island, where it lives. These lizards also live on some smaller islands nearby and in parts of western Flores. Other animals on the island include Javan deer, which were brought to the island, water buffalo, banded pigs, civets, cockatoos, and macaques.

Pink Beach

Pink beach

Komodo Island has a very special beach with "pink" sand. It's one of only seven such beaches in the world! The sand looks pink because it's a mix of white sand and red sand. The red sand comes from tiny pieces of sea creatures called Foraminifera.

Protecting the Island

In April 2019, Indonesian authorities announced a plan to temporarily close Komodo Island to visitors. This was to help with conservation efforts and protect the animals from illegal trade. In July 2019, it was confirmed that the island would be closed starting in 2020. Later, in September 2019, there was some discussion when tourists were encouraged to take selfies too close to Komodo dragons.

The Governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur province, Viktor Laiskodat, said that money would be provided to support the conservation program. This plan caused some debate. The Governor suggested a high entrance fee for foreign tourists. However, local villagers who live on Komodo Island were worried about losing their income from tourism.