A joint team of doctoral students from the Environmental Science, Geography, and Population Studies programs at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) conducted a comprehensive field study on Komodo Island as part of the Lesser Sunda Expedition, held from 1–7 July 2025. The expedition aimed to explore the conservation status, behavioral ecology, and sustainable tourism potential of the world’s largest lizard species — the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis).
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During their visit to Komodo Island, the students had the rare opportunity to encounter Thomas, a 20-year-old male Komodo dragon, guided by conservation rangers from Komodo National Park led by Mr. Fajar. Coincidentally, the visit took place during the Komodo mating season, which occurs between June and August. Komodo dragons are solitary reptiles, preferring to remain within their territorial range and interacting with others only during mating season or while hunting large prey.
According to Mr. Fajar, although these ancient predators may appear calm even when surrounded by tourists, they can become aggressive if provoked by sudden movements, foreign objects, or strong odors such as fish or blood. For safety reasons, one trained ranger accompanies every five visitors, equipped with a Y-shaped wooden stick — a precaution particularly important for groups with children or women who are menstruating. He also shared a fascinating fact: fossil evidence suggests that these “introverted” monitor lizards have genetic ancestry from Australia, having migrated westward and evolved across the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia.
For Fizul Surya Pribadi, a doctoral candidate in Environmental Science, observing Thomas in his natural habitat was a humbling and enlightening scientific experience. As he reflected, “Imagine if this magnificent creature, a relic of the prehistoric world, were to vanish and exist only as a myth in history books.” The Komodo dragon is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with declining populations and limited availability of large prey such as deer. Only 15% of Komodo’s habitat in Flores falls within protected areas, while the remainder faces human encroachment and competition from feral dogs.
Fizul emphasized that allowing these creatures to “live naturally” is not enough — humans play a vital role as active agents of conservation. Studying how this species has adapted and survived for millions of years amid Earth’s dynamic landscapes provides valuable insights into resilience. The Komodo dragon serves as a key species, linking the present to the prehistoric past. Understanding its genetic adaptations and survival strategies can inform conservation efforts for other species threatened by climate change and habitat loss.
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Extensive scientific studies have been conducted by Komodo National Park in collaboration with the Komodo Survival Program (KSP), focusing on reproduction, nesting behavior, population monitoring through camera trapping, and prey population estimation. These long-term studies provide a comprehensive scientific foundation for developing effective conservation strategies and guiding future research directions.
The expedition also highlighted the complex relationship between conservation and local economic development through ecotourism. Based on interviews with local residents, although the tourism sector provides crucial funding for conservation and community welfare, the team found that economic benefits are not evenly distributed. Many tour boats operating in the Lesser Sunda Islands are owned by non-locals, leading to economic leakage that reduces resources available for conservation and community development. This finding underscores the need for community-based ecotourism models and stronger collaboration among government agencies, researchers, and local stakeholders to protect the Komodo National Park ecosystem and its biodiversity.
This expedition directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by providing insights into the ecological adaptations of Komodo dragons to extreme climates, relevant to modern climate mitigation strategies. It supports SDG 15 (Life on Land) through biodiversity protection and habitat restoration, and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by promoting conservation of the coastal and marine ecosystems surrounding Komodo National Park. Additionally, it advances SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by encouraging community-based ecotourism as a sustainable and inclusive livelihood source, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration among universities, government agencies, conservation rangers, and local communities in protecting the Komodo dragon — a true living heritage of the world.
Author: Nida Humaida
Editor: Ulyn N