Indonesia hails provisional inclusion of komodo

After high-profile efforts to mobilize the Indonesian people`s support and despite a controversy over its participation in the New7Wonders of Nature competition, the Komodo has finally been provisionally shortlisted as one of the winners.

On its official website Friday (Nov 11), the New7Wonders Foundation announced the first count of vote results of the provisional New7Wonders of Nature sites, namely the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River, and Table Mountain.

The Switzerland-based foundation explained that the provisional New7Wonders of Nature are listed in alphabetical order, not in any position or ranking.

"It is possible that there will be changes between the above provisional winners and the eventual finally confirmed winners," the Foundation said on the website.

The voting calculation is now being checked, validated and independently verified, and the confirmed winners will be announced starting early 2012 during the Official Inauguration ceremonies.

Founded in 1980, Komodo National Park is a home of the endemic Komodo dragon, the world`s only surviving prehistoric giant lizard. 

The Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers.

In 1977, Komodo National Park was named a biosphere reserve by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). And in 1991, UNESCO named the island accommodating around 3,000 komodo dragons, a world heritage. 

Upon hearing the Foundation`s announcement, Tourism Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said she was very proud that the Komodo National Park has been included in the provisional list of the New World 7 Wonders.

"We , of course, respond to it positively and are proud," she said in Palembang, South Sumatra, which is hosting the 26th SEA Games, on Saturday (Nov 12). A pair of Komodo dragons called "Modo" and "Modi" have been made a mascot of the ongoing SEA (South East Asia) Games.

Although the announcement was still provisional, she said, it had shown that in terms of the votes cast for Komodo, the Indonesian people could be counted upon.

This was what had made the minister proud. It had shown that the Indonesian people were moved to participate in the campaign to have the Komodo included in the New Seven Wonders of Nature list through an a on-line voting system.

"Indonesian people were moved and this proves they have a high sense of nationalism," she said. The Komodo National Park was put on the list of the new seven wonders through a vote done through e-mails and SMS text messages to www.new7wonders. com.

The minister hoped the election of Komodo as one of the new seven wonders of nature would further boost the animal`s image as one of the country`s icons and also increase the country`s popularity in the world. 

"Certainly, we at the ministry of tourism and creative economy, have been, will be and are working to further develop the park which has already been recognized by UNESCO," she said.

Mohammad Jusuf Kalla (JK), former vice president who has been named Komodo Ambassador, expressed his happiness about and hailed the inclusion of Komodo in the provisional New7Wonders of Nature.

"Allahmdulillah (Thank God), the result of Komodo as a (provisional) New7Wonders was announced at dawn today ," JK said in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Saturday.

He said his mission as Komodo Ambassador was not merely taking care of the rare animal, but also dealing with humanitarian issues in NTT in particular and Indonesia in general.

The Komodo dragon was not aware of its inclusion in the New7Wonders of Nature, but the Indonesian people would get the benefit of it because it could boost the tourism industry in NTT and create job opportunities, according to Kalla. 

Another official who hailed the announcement regarding Komodo was East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya. 

"We should like to express our appreciation and respect to the organizing committee which has been able to read the wish of the supporters of one of the 28 finalists of the New7Wonders of Nature," Governor Lebu Raya said here on Saturday.

He said the inclusion of Komodo in the New7Wonders should encourage the people of NTT to create a conducive climate for tourists to visit the province, and Komodo Island in particular.

Sharing borders with Australia and Timor Leste, East Nusa Tenggara Province has a population of around 4.7 million and is one of the country`s poorest regions.

The central government in cooperation with various parties including United Nations (UN) agencies and foreign countries, have been promoting programs to reduce poverty in NTT.

The development of tourism industry is also being boosted to improve the welfare of the people of NTT, which is rich of biodiversity and culture

Source: ANTARA