Indonesia's ancient dragons are disappearing at an alarming rate, with only approximately 3,300 Komodo dragons remaining in the wild according to recent research, earning them endangered status from the IUCN since 2021.
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) veterinary doctoral student drh. Aji Winarso warns that these magnificent reptiles face multiple threats including habitat destruction, inbreeding, climate change, illegal trade, and zoonotic diseases that could push them toward extinction.
Professor Dr. drh. Raden Wisnu Nurcahyo from UGM's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine emphasizes the critical "one health one welfare" approach, explaining that human health, animal welfare, and environmental protection are inseparably connected in conservation efforts.
The research reveals that excessive tourism exploitation, plastic waste, and potential disease transmission from humans to Komodos disrupts the entire ecosystem, threatening their prey like deer and buffalo, which ultimately affects the dragons' survival chain.
Without immediate and intensive conservation action involving research, policy changes, and community engagement, Indonesia risks losing this iconic endemic species forever, transforming these living legends into mere historical footnotes like the dinosaurs before them.
