Six trafficked Komodo dragons sent from East Java to Riung for release

Labuan Bajo — — Six Komodo dragons seized from an illegal wildlife trafficking case in East Java were transported to northern Flores in mid-July 2019 for planned release around Riung, Ngada, according to conservation authorities and national media reports.

The Komodo dragons had been confiscated by the East Java Regional Police (Polda Jawa Timur) in a case of illegal trade in protected wildlife. According to the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s conservation directorate, the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA Jawa Timur) was authorized by Surabaya District Court rulings in June 2019 to release the six animals back into the wild.

Transfer from East Java to Flores

According to a July 2019 bulletin from the Directorate General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAE), BBKSDA East Java prepared to release the six Komodo dragons to Taman Wisata Alam Riung 17 Pulau in Ngada, Flores. The agency stated that the animals would begin their journey via Juanda International Airport to Labuan Bajo, before continuing to Riung, in mid-July.

National media reporting at the time similarly described plans for the dragons to be flown from Surabaya to Labuan Bajo and then taken onward by land and sea to the Riung area in northern Flores. These accounts identify BBKSDA East Java as the originating conservation authority, with BBKSDA East Nusa Tenggara (BBKSDA NTT) designated to receive the animals upon arrival in the province.

Planned release at Ontoloe Island

Coverage in July 2019 reported that Ontoloe Island, within the Riung 17 Islands tourism park, had been selected as the release site for the six dragons. Then–BBKSDA NTT head Timbul Batubara told reporters that Ontoloe had been chosen as suitable Komodo habitat and that the animals would be released there following their transfer from East Java.

Media interviews with regional officials in Ngada described plans for a traditional welcoming ceremony in Riung and the presence of local government representatives to mark the arrival of the Komodo dragons ahead of their intended release. These reports indicate that BBKSDA NTT would oversee the release operation on Ontoloe Island once the animals had been handed over from East Java authorities.

Documented chain of custody and legal basis

According to KSDAE’s 2019 release, the Komodo dragons were evidence in the East Java trafficking case and could only be returned to the wild after court authorization. The Surabaya District Court issued determinations in June 2019 allowing BBKSDA East Java to carry out the release, providing the legal basis for their transfer to Flores.

Public statements from KSDAE and media reports together identify the following sequence: interception of the illegal trade by Polda Jawa Timur; custody and preparation for release under BBKSDA East Java; air transport via Juanda International Airport to Labuan Bajo; and planned release in the Riung 17 Islands area under BBKSDA NTT’s supervision.

Context from a later Komodo release

Subsequent Ministry and media documentation for a separate Komodo release in 2023 shows the level of procedural detail that can accompany such operations. In that case, six captive-bred Komodo dragons from Taman Safari Bogor were transported to Wae Wuul Nature Reserve in Manggarai Barat, with KSDAE, BBKSDA West Java, BBKSDA NTT, Taman Safari and PT Smelting all named as partners.

According to the Environment and Forestry Ministry and supporting media coverage, the 2023 dragons underwent about a month of habituation at Wae Wuul before release, and their movements were monitored using GPS telemetry after they were returned to the wild. The ministry’s materials also list Riung Nature Reserve and the Riung 17 Islands marine tourism park, including Ontoloe Island, alongside Wae Wuul and Wolo Thado as protected Komodo habitats on Flores.

While the 2023 operation involves different animals and a different site, the publicly available information illustrates how official Komodo releases may be documented, and confirms that Riung and Ontoloe Island are recognized components of Komodo habitat outside Komodo National Park.

Sources

• Direktorat Jenderal Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam dan Ekosistem (KSDAE) – BBKSDA Jatim Siap Pelepasliaran 6 Komodo
• Balaikliring Kehati KLHK – Enam Komodo Pulang Kampung / HKAN 2023 coverage (Komodo habitat context)
• Tempo.co – Pulau Ontoloe di Ngada, NTT Jadi Rumah Baru Buat 6 Komodo
• Garda Indonesia – BBKSDA NTT Kembalikan 6 Ekor Komodo dari Jawa Timur ke Flores Utara
• Detik.com – Polda Jatim Lepasliarkan Komodo Hasil Ungkap Perdagangan Satwa Liar Ilegal
• CNN Indonesia – Komodo Hasil Perdagangan Ilegal Bakal Dilepas di Flores Utara
• KlikJatim – 6 Ekor Komodo Hasil Breeding TSI, Smelting dan KLHK RI Dilepasliarkan ke Cagar Alam Wae Wuul NTT
• Metrotvnews.com – 6 Komodo Jadi Penghuni Baru Cagar Alam Wae Wuul