Understanding human-komodo dragon conflict in Komodo Village, Komodo National Park, with suggestions for conflict mitigation and prevention Ardiantiono 1,2, M. Jeri Imansyah 3, & Noviar Andayani 1,2 1 Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesia Program (WCS-IP), 2 Department of Biology, Universitas Indonesia, 3 Yayasan KEHATI The 1 st South East Asia Symposium on Herpetology and Envenomation (SEASHE) 28-29 August 2015, Malang, Indonesia
INTRODUCTION
Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) Largest monitor lizard Endemic only in Indonesia Flagship species Top predator in their habitat (Auffenberg 1981; Indrawan et al. 2007; Jessop dkk. 2007)
Distribution and Population Population in Komodo National Park (KNP) 2448 ± 229 ind Grey Area = Current distribution Black Area= Extinct (Purwandana et al 2014; Ciofi & de Boer 2004: 100)
People has been living with komodo dragons for hundreds of years Even though both parties coexist Humans presence in komodo dragons habitat Increased competition for space and resources Human-Komodo Dragon Conflict (Auffenberg 1981: 314--321; Endo 2013: 31)
Human-Komodo Dragon Conflict, How Urgent? 1. No study about human-komodo dragon conflict 2. Attacks on human were well documented but livestock predations were poorly documented 3. No conflict mitigation and prevention strategies have been conducted yet
1. Understand humankomodo dragon conflict in Komodo Village, KNP Aims of Study 2. Formulate conflict mitigation and prevention strategies
METHODS
Time and Location Time : March 2014 Location : Komodo Village, Komodo National Park
Methods 1 150 respondents were interviewed 2 3 Human-komodo dragon conflicts reported by respondents were recorded Coordinate of conflict locations were recorded and visualized
Results and Discussions
A. Human-Komodo Dragon Conflict (Livestock Predation) 50 respondents (33.3%) reported livestock predations by komodo dragons Number of Livestock Loss 143 264 Goats Chickens
Percentage (%) Percentage (%) A. Livestock Predation Percent of Attacks by Season 50 45.45 40 30 20 32.19 17.94 10 0 4.42 Dry All-year Wet NA Season Percent of Attacks by Time 60 50 40 30 35.63 47.67 20 10 0 9.09 1.23 2.21 4.18 Morning Morning-Noon Noon Noon-Afternoon Afternoon NA Time
Percentage (%) A. Livestock Predation Percent of Attacks by Habitat 50 45 46.19 40 35 35.38 30 25 20 16.71 15 10 5 0 Village Plantation Forest Savannah Habitat Type 0.25
No of Attacks No of Attacks A. Livestock Predation Comparison of attacks by komodo dragon and wild pig reported by respondents Attacks by Komodo Dragon Attacks by Wild Pig (Sus scrofa) 300 264 300 281 250 250 200 200 188 150 143 150 100 100 50 50 0 0 Goats Chickens Goats Chickens Types of Livestock Type of Livestock
B. Conflicts Distribution Total 405 livestock predations were distributed in 40 locations: Within village (52.6%) Near village (<100m; 33.8%) Outside village (>100;13.6%)
B. Conflict Distribution: Conflict Hotspot Areas Conflict hotspots areas: Near village boundary High livestock density (grazing area) Minimum supervision by people
C. Conflict Mitigation and Prevention Strategies To reduce the conflicts, this study suggests four strategies: 1 2 Improved livestock Intensive supervision management in hotspot areas
C. Conflict Mitigation and Prevention Strategies 4 3 Conflict awareness to Livestock loss local people compensation and insurance programs
D. Local People Perceptions on Komodo Dragons Although conflicts have occurred, most respondents showed supports for the dragons conservation 72% respondents expressed positive response toward komodo dragons 90.67% respondents believed human can live together with komodo dragons
Conclusions
In Komodo Village What we ve got so far? 1. Human-komodo dragon conflicts occurred along village boundary 2. Most conflicts happened during dry season and noon time 3. Four mitigation and prevention strategies to be applied in the village 4. High support for the dragons conservation
Future works 1. Conflict study in other villages in KNP and Flores Island e.g. Rinca Village 2. Behavioral study of komodo dragons around the village 3. Study of wild pig as another livestock predator 4. Implementation of conflict mitigation and prevention strategies
References Auffenberg, W. 1981. The behavioral ecology of komodo monitor. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville: x + 405 hlm. Balai Taman Nasional Komodo (BTNK). 2013. Statistik Balai TN. Komodo tahun 2013. Balai Taman Nasional Komodo, Labuan Bajo: vi + 114 hlm. Brandt, K. 2003. Mengapa kebudayaan masyarakat kampung komodo terancam. Fakultas Pelajaran Asia Universitas Australia Nasional, Australia: 29 hlm. Ciofi, C. & M.E. de Boer. 2004. Distribution and conservation of the Komodo monitor (Varanus komodoensis). Herpetological Journal. 14: 99--107 hlm. Endo, H. 2013. Difficulties of conservation of the komodo monitors related to tourism and local economics in the eastern region of Indonesia. Jpn.J.Zoo.Wildl.Med. 18(1): 29--32 hlm. Jessop, T.S., M.J. Imansyah, D. Purwandana, A. Ariefiandy, H. Rudiharto, A. Seno, D.S. Opat, T. Noviandi, I. Payung & C. Ciofi. 2007. Ekologi populasi, reproduksi, dan spasial biawak komodo (Varanus komodoensis) di Taman Nasional Komodo, Indonesia. Disunting oleh Imansyah, M.J., A. Ariefiandy, & D. Purwandana. BTNK/CRES-ZSSD/TNC. vii + 38 hlm. Meijaard, E., K. Mergersen, D. Buchori, A. Nurcahyo, M. Ancrenaz, S. Wich, S.S.U. Atmoko, A. Tjiu, D. Prasetyo, Nardiyono, Y. Hadiprakarsa, L. Christy, J. Wells, G. Albar & A.J. Marshall. 2011b. Why don t we ask? A complementary method for assesing the status of great apes. PLoS ONE 6(3): 10 hlm. Purwandana, D., A. Ariefiandy, M.J. Imansyah, H. Rudiharto, A. Seno, C. Ciofi, D.A. Fordham, & T.S. Jessop. 2014. Demographic status of Komodo dragons populations in Komodo National Park. Biological Conservation 171: 29 35 hlm. Walpole, M.J. & H.J. Goodwin. 2000. Local economic impacts of dragon tourism in Indonesia. Annuals of Tourism Research 27 (3): 559--576 hlm. White, P.C.L., N.V. Jennings, A.R. Renwick & N.H.L. Barker. 2005. Questionnaires in ecology: a review of past use and recommendations for best practice. Journal of Applied Ecology 42: 421--430.
Acknowledgment Komodo National Park Authority Department of Biology, Universitas Indonesia Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesia Program (WCS-IP) Komodo Survival Program: Deni Purwandana and Achmad Ariefiandy Komodo People: Sidik and family, Hama, & Ruslan Credits to icon creators: freepik (flaticon.com), clipartpanda.com, & shirt-speaker.com
Terima Kasih Shall we discuss?