<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Indonesia’s environment ministry on Tuesday sought to calm outrage over construction of an island tourism project being dubbed “Jurassic Park”, after an image went viral on social media of a Komodo dragon facing off with a big truck.<\/p>\n
The picture of the dragon, one of the world’s largest lizards, blocking the path of a big vehicle on Indonesia’s Rinca Island prompted an outpouring of anger about perceived threats to the natural habitat of the vulnerable species.<\/p>\n
Reuters was not able to verify the authenticity of the picture.<\/p>\n
Wiratno, a senior environment ministry official, said rangers would ensure the safety of dragons roaming near the construction, which will include an elevated deck, a dam and an information centre, to be completed in June.<\/p>\n
“They will intensively make checks of whether the Komodo dragons are under the buildings, remnants of buildings, and under the trucks carrying material,” he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Indonesia’s current Komodo population is about 3,000, according to government data.<\/p>\n
Komodo dragons reach up to 10 feet (3 metres) long, have curved and serrated teeth, a yellow forked tongue, strong limbs and a long tail.<\/p>\n
They can take down prey as big as a water buffalo with a single venomous bite.<\/p>\n
The project, which involves the country’s public works and housing ministry, seeks to cater to visitors of the Komodo National Park, where the Komodos can be seen in the wild.<\/p>\n
Social media users have likened the project to one on a dinosaur island featured in the “Jurassic Park” films.<\/p>\n
The public works ministry in a statement on Monday also assured the safety of the Komodos.<\/p>\n
But environmentalists said the construction must stop.<\/p>\n
“Komodo needs to be the main priority. They need to be protected in a designated area,” said Umbu Wulang Tanaamahu Paranggi, director of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) in East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
“What’s going on now is a destruction of the dragons’ living spaces.” <\/p>\n
(Reuters)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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