Religion: The majority of fishermen in the villages around the park dragons are Muslim. Haji has a strong influence in the dynamics of community development. Fishermen from South Sulawesi (Bajau, Bugis) and Bima most Muslims. Community from Manggarai most Christians.
Anthropology and Language: There are several cultural sites within the park, especially on the island of Komodo. The site is not well documented, however, and there are many questions about the history of human inhabitance on the island. Outside the National Park, in the village of Warloka in Flores, there is writing the rest of China's trade of particular interest. Archeological finds from these sites had been looted in the past. Most communities in and around the park can speak Indonesian. Bajo language is the language used for daily communication in most communities.
Terrestrial PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:
Topography: The topography is varied, with slopes of 00-80%. There is little flat land, and are generally located near the beach. Altitude varies from sea level 735 m above sea level. The highest peak is Mount Satalibo on Komodo Island.
Geology: The islands are volcanic derived Komodo Park. This area is at the junction of two continental plates: Sahul and Sunda. The second friction plate has led to huge volcanic eruptions and caused the up-thrusting of coral reefs. Although no active volcanoes in the park, tremors from Gili Banta (last eruption 1957) and Gunung Api Sangeang (last eruption 1996) are common. West Komodo formed perhaps the Jurasic era approximately 130 million years ago. East Komodo, Rinca, and Padar probably formed about 49 million years ago during the Eocene era.
Climate: Komodo Tama have little or no rainfall for approximately 8 months of the year, and is strongly influenced by seasonal rains. High humidity levels year round are only found in the quasi-cloud forests on mountain peaks and ridges. Temperatures generally range from 170C to 340C, with an average humidity level of 36%. From November to March the wind from the west and causing huge waves that swept across the length of the west coast of the island of Komodo. From April to October is dry winds and big waves hit the southern coast of Rinca and Komodo island.
Terrestrial Ecosystems:
Terrestrial ecosystems is strongly influenced by climate: long dry season with high temperatures and low rainfall, and seasonal monsoon. This park is located in the transition zone between the Australian and Asian flora and fauna. Terrestrial ecosystems include open grass savanna-forest, forest leaf (monsoon) tropical cloud forest and quasi.
Because of dry climate, terrestrial plant species richness is relatively low. The majority of terrestrial species are xerophytic and have special adaptations to help them gain and retain water. Recent fires has been chosen for a fire adapted species, such as several species of grasses and shrubs. Terrestrial plants found in Komodo National Park include grasses, shrubs, orchids, and trees. Important tree species of food for local fauna include Jatropha curkas, Zizyphus sp, Opuntia sp .., Tamarindus indicus, Borassus flabellifer, Sterculia foetida, Ficus sp., Cicus sp., 'Kedongdong Forest' (Saruga floribunda), and 'Kesambi' ( Schleichera oleosa).
Terrestrial FAUNA:
Diversity of terrestrial fauna is rather poor compared to the marine fauna. Number of species of land animals found in the National Park is not high, but this area is important from the perspective of conservation as several endemic species .. Many of the Asian origin of mammals (eg, deer, pigs, monkeys, raccoons). Some reptiles and birds of Australia in origin. This includes scrubfowl orange-legged, the sulpher-crested cockatoo and friarbird little nosy.
Reptiles: The most famous of the reptiles is the Komodo National Park Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis). It is among the largest reptile in the world and can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh more than 70kg. To find out more about the interesting creatures click here.
Besides Komodo twelve terrestrial snake species are found on the island. including the cobra (Naja naja sputatrix), Russel's pit viper (Vipera russeli), and the green tree snake (Trimeresurus albolabris). Lizards include 9 species of skink (Scinidae), geckos (Gekkonidae), a lizard without legs (Dibamidae), and, of course, monitor lizards (Varanidae). Frogs Bullfrog including Asia (Kaloula baleata), Oreophyne jeffersoniana and Oreophyne darewskyi. They are usually found in higher altitude moist.
Mammals: Mammals are deer (Cervus timorensis), the main prey Komodo dragon, horses (Equus sp.), Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus), long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus lehmanni) , the endemic Rinca rat (Rattus rintjanus), and fruit bats. One can also find goats, dogs and domestic cats.
Bird: One of the main bird species is the orange-footed scrub fowl (Megapodius reinwardti), a bird that lived on land. In the area of savanna, 27 species were observed. Geopelia striata and Streptopelia chinensis is the most common species. In the fall of mixed habitat, 28 bird species were observed, and Philemon buceroides, Ducula aenea, and Zosterops chloris were the most common.
MARINE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:
Marine area which is 67% of the Park. Open waters in the Komodo park is between 100 and 200 m deep. Straits between Rinca and Flores and between Padar and Rinca, are relatively shallow (30 to 70 m deep), with strong tidal currents. The combination of strong currents, coral reefs and islands make navigation around the islands of the Park National Park difficult and dangerous. Anchored in a sheltered bay available at Loh Liang on Komodo's east coast, the South East coast of Padar, and bay Loh Kima and Loh Dasami on Rinca.
MARINE ECOSYSTEM:
Indonesia is the only equatorial region in the world where there is exchange of marine flora and fauna between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Passages in Nusa Tenggara (formerly the Lesser Sunda Islands) between the Sunda and Sahul shelves allow movement between the Pacific and Indian Ocean. The three main ecosystems in Komodo National Park are seagrass beds, coral reefs and mangrove forests. This park may cetaceans regular migration routes.
