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Witness Komodo Dragons in Indonesia
STAR CLIPPERS
Witness Komodo Dragons in Indonesia Earlier this year, Star Clippers announced
as a global conservation priority area and is
they would be enhancing their range
widely recognised as being the sole natural
of Far East Asia sailings with a range of
habitat for komodo dragons. These species
itineraries to Indonesia. With sailings set
are classed vulnerable, but you will have no
to commence in May 2017 on board the
trouble spotting several of these amazing
Star Clipper, this is the first time the Star
creatures in the Komodo National Park.
Clippers fleet will embrace the archipelagic
Historically, stories of dragons on the
nation. Each itinerary will deliver a
islands circulated quickly and widely,
fascinating insight into a range of beautiful
however, these were not investigated until
beaches and untouched paradises, as well as the early 1910’s. Dutch sailors based in a unique glimpse into the natural habitat of
Flores in East Nusa Tenggara (Indonesia)
one of the world’s most renowned species of visited the island and reported seeing a reptile.
huge creature which measured up to seven metres in length and had a mouth which
After a day of sailing eastward from the
spat fire.
island of Lombok, you will reach Komodo Island, which is located in the Wallacea
After hearing these reports, Lieutenant
Region of Indonesia. This island is one of
Steyn van Hensbroek planned an armed
three that make up the Komodo National
visit to the island, with the intention of
Park, which has been identified by WWF
killing the fierce lizard. After a few days,
he managed to kill a lizard and brought the
length of three metres. It is thought that
remains back to headquarters and these
the unusually large size of the creatures
were later photographed by zoologist, Peter
can be attributed to gigantism, as no other
A. Ouwens. Unbelievably, these records
carnivorous animals reside on the islands.
are the first reliable documentation of the islands that today make up the Komodo
That said, there is a good chance that you
National Park.
will be able to see wild pigs, monkeys and horses on the island of Rinca. It is also
Touring the national park may also provide
home to one of the world’s richest marine
the opportunity to visit the neighbouring
environments – which is made up of over
islands of Rinca and Padar. Across all three
260 species of reef-building coral and over
of the islands, there is a good chance you
1,000 species of bony fishes. Undoubtedly,
will be able to witness komodo dragons,
this also makes the area an ideal spot for
which are also the largest living species
swimming, diving and snorkelling.
of lizard and can grow to a maximum
STAR CLIPPERS