Komodo Island (one of the 17,508 islands that comprise the Republic of Indonesia) famed for its Komodo dragon population, is closing its doors to tourists from January 2020. The Indonesian island’s resident dragons are under threat of abduction. Part of the UNESCO-listed Komodo National Park, Komodo Island has grown increasingly popular in recent years thanks to the addition of new flights and hotels in the nearby town of Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores. The park currently receives an average of 10,000 visitors per month.
According to UNESCO figures, there are more than 5,000 dragons spread across the national park’s islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motong and some coastal regions of western and northern Flores.
Tempo reports that only Komodo Island will close; the rest of the national park will remain open to tourism.
