Indonesia takes drastic steps to stop animal trafficking

Travellers should be warned that Indonesia is set to close one of its most popular tourist attractions due to animal trafficking.

According to Marius Jelamu, a spokesperson for the provincial administration, Komodo Island in Manggarai Barat in East Nusa Tenggara province will be shut to tourists from January 2020 after a decision was taken through consultation with the environment and forest ministry.

According to the departments, the country’s iconic Komodo Dragons are being regularly stolen and trafficked around the world before being sold for as much as $35,000 (R50,000) and limiting access to the animals is seen as the best way to conserve them.

Jelamu was quick to stress that only Komodo Island, a major tourist attraction, would be shut, and not all areas of Komodo conservation.

“The shutdown will allow better preservation of the island’s nature and environment and increase the Komodo population,” Jelamu said.

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