Kleine wijziging:

Het is al een paar jaar geleden.
We hadden al wat verre reizen gemaakt.
Je mist dan vaak de ‘handige’ dingen op reis.
(Nou ja, wij dan toch in ieder geval.)
Zo is een zakmes wel erg handig.
Dus er een gekocht.

Nu, na 11 september zijn de dingen goed veranderd.
Dus er is bij mij al een keer een mes ingenomen op een vliegveld.
Deze keer zouden we het beter doen.
Ik kocht een mooi, duur Zwitsers zakmes.

Wat schetst onze verbazing: we zijn al snel het mes kwijt.
Niet eens mee op vakantie geweest.
Nergens te vinden.
Alles afgezocht.
Alles meerdere keren omgekeerd.
Niet te vinden.

Enfin, maar weer een nieuw mes gekocht.

In de aanloop naar onze komende vakantie
zijn we al wat spullen aan het verzamelen.
We leggen ze al opzij.
Wat er niet (meer) is kopen we bij.

Nu hadden we allebei een erg handige zaklamp.
Hij heet Glo Torch.
Het is een lampje dat op zich niet zo bijzonder is
alleen de buitenkant blijft in het donker
heel lang een fluoriserende gloed afgeven.
Handig om in een onbekende omgeving,
snel je zaklamp te kunnen vinden.

Nu wil het toeval dat we een zo’n lampje kwijt zijn
vanaf onze reis naar Rusland.
Afgelopen week zijn we nog eens gaan zoeken.
Raad eens wat we vonden:
juist een zakmes !



En zoals de foto laat zien heb ik de tweede keer
per ongeluk, precies hetzelfde zakmes gekocht als de eerte keer.

Deze week hebben we twee onderwatercamera’s laten kopen.
Dus weer het getal twee.



2 doosjes palludrine maakt het onderstaande 6-tal compleet.



Overigens houdt het hierbij niet op.
Vanavond de tweede Glo Torch teruggevonden.
Afgelopen week zijn we er nog voor naar Bever geweest.
We hebben de verkoper er nog een hele tijd mee bezig gehouden.
Hij raadpleegde al zijn collega’s en zocht het hele artikelbestand op de pc door.
Zonder succes.
Van die zaklamp hebben we er dus ook weer twee.
Kort geleden twee snorkelsets gekocht.
En als ik diep nadenk kom ik vast op nog wel een paar tweeen.

Deze web log moet hardop,
en met zwoele stem worden voorgelezen:

Ons model M showt hier het geheel nieuwe model van onze zomercollectie ‘water socks’.
Deze elegante voetbescherming die u hier ziet in een blauw/gele kleurcombinatie
is in vele zomerse, sportieve kleurcombinaties te koop.
Een ideale bescherming voor uw voetzolen bij het betreden
van stranden en wateren in verre oorden.

Ons model M toont hier maatje 42 maar natuurlijk zijn deze voetwonders
in vele maten, ook die van u, te verkrijgen.
Wij wensen u veel plezier deze zomer.

De voorbereidingen zijn in volle gang.



De paludrine is een verhaal waard.
De GG&GD wilde geen recept voorschrijven voor paludrine.
We moeten een afspraak maken.
Het vervelende is dat dat altijd veel tijd kost.
Je maakt een afspraak, maar op de afgesproken tijd
ben je nooit aan de beurt.
Altijd is het wachten.
Bovendien kost dat consult (ook al ga je met twee tegelijkertijd)
veel geld.
Echt geinformeerd zijn ze ook niet bij de GG&GD.
De laatste keer hebben we hen de reisgids gegeven.
Die las de medewerkster van de GG&GD en volgde de aanwijzigingen
van de reisorganisatie op.
Nou dat kunnen we zelf ook.
Alle inentingen die we nodig hebben, hebben we in het verleden al gehad
en zijn volgens de informatie van de GG&GD nog jaren geldig.
Rest ons nog de paludrine (malaria).
Die is dus nu voorgeschreven door de huisarts.
Gaat gewoon telefonisch.
Scheelt een hoop tijd.

We zijn vollop in de voorbereiding van onze reis naar de Kleine Soenda eilanden.
Vandaar het uitproberen van daglenzen.
Hier liggen de lenzen klaar om weggegooid te worden aan het eind van de dag.
De foto is niet best maar het gaat om het idee.

Gisteren zijn de voorbereidingen voor de vakantie weer een stap verder.
Snorkels gekocht om de onderwaterpracht van Indonesie te kunnen bewonderen.

Deze week hebben we de officiele bevestiging gekregen.
Er zijn voldoende deelnemers, dus onze reis later dit jaar
naar de Kleine Soenda-eilanden gaat door.

In het verhaal over Komodo van twee dagen geleden komen veel namen voor
van planten en dieren. Eens kijken of we daar foto’s bij kunnen krijgen.

lontar palm Borassus flabellifer:ook wel Palmyra palm genoemd. Ons allemaal wel bekend.Dezelfde plant maar dan jong.Setaria adhaerensChloris barbata (swollen fingergrass, opgezwollen vingergras)Heteropogon contortus (tanglehead, komt veel voor in tropische gebieden maar ook in de Verenigde Staten)Themeda spp. T. triandra (Kangaroo grass) Alang-alang Imperata cylindricaSterculia foetidaUit het US Army field survival manual, of: Wat wel of juist niet te eten in het veld:

Description:
Sterculias are tall trees, rising in some instances to 30 meters.
Their leaves are either undivided or palmately lobed.
Their flowers are red or purple.
The fruit of all sterculias is similar in aspect, with a red, segmented seedpod
containing many edible black seeds.

Habitat and Distribution:
There are over 100 species of sterculias distributed through
all warm or tropical climates. They are mainly forest trees.

Edible Parts:
The large, red pods produce a number of edible seeds.
The seeds of all sterculias are edible and have a pleasant taste
similar to cocoa. You can eat them like nuts, either raw or roasted.

Oroxylum indicumTamarindus indica, vorig jaar nog in India gezien.Schleichera oleosaCassia javanicaMurraya paniculataDiospyros javanica, wij kennen de vrucht van deze plant (of zijn familie) als kaki.De ‘Javanica’-variant kan ik niet op het web terugvinden.

Harrisonia brownii
Nou voor deze bomen kan ik geen afbeeldingen vinden.

Piliostigma malabaricum.
Voor deze ook niet.

Terminalia zollingeri
Voor deze ook niet.

Podocarpus neriifolius

Uvaria rufa

Ficus drupacea

Callophyllum spectabile

Mischocarpus sundaicus

Colona kostermansiana

Glycosmis pentaphylla

Rhizophora stylosa,

R. mangle

Bruguiera sp.

Avicennia marina

FAUNA:

Komodo monitor Varanus komodoensis

Sphenomorphus schlegeli

Sphenomorphus striolatus

Oreophryne jeffersoniana

Emoia similis

Viperia russelli

Kaloula baleata

Sphenomorphus florensis,

Trimeresurus albolabris

Dendrelaphis pictus

Lycodon aulicus

Naja naja

Rattus rintjanus.

Macaca fascicularis.

Cervus timorensis

Sus scrofa,

yellow-crested cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea (V)

noisy friar bird Philemon buceroides

scrubhen Megapodius freycinet

Onderstaande informatie is afkomstig van de
Indonesian Nature Conservation Database.
We hebben plannen om onder andere naar Komodo te gaan
tijdens een volgende vakantie.

COUNTRY:

Indonesia – Lesser Sunda Islands


NAME:

Komodo National Park
(including Mbeliling and Nggorang Protection Forest and Way Wuul
and Mburak Game Reserve)


Natural World Heritage Site – Criteria iii, iv

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

Lies in East Nusa Tenggara province in the Sape Straits
between Flores and Sumbawa.
Access to Komodo village is by boat from Labuan Bajo
on the north-western tip of Flores
or from Sape on the east coast of Sumbawa.


DATE AND HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT:

The islands of Komodo, Padar, Rinca and Gili Motong and the surrounding waters
were declared a 75,000ha national park on 6 March 1980.
This was extended to 219,322ha in 1984 under Ministerial Decree
to include an expanded marine area and a section of mainland Flores.
The island of Padar and part of Rinca were first protected in 1938
when they were established as nature reserves (Auffenburg, 1981)
and extended in 1965 when Komodo Island was gazetted.
Komodo was internationally recognised as a Biosphere Reserve
under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1977
and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991.

AREA:

Komodo National Park and Biosphere Reserve: 173,500ha
Mbeliling and Nggorang Protection Forest: 31,000ha
Way Wuul and Mburak Nature Reserve: 3,000ha
Komodo Island World Heritage Site: 219,322ha

PHYSICAL FEATURES:

The generally steep and rugged topography
reflects the position of the national park
within the active volcanic ‘shatter belt’
between Australia and the Sunda shelf.
Komodo, the largest island, has a topography dominated
by a range of rounded hills
oriented along a north-south axis at an elevation of 500 to 600m.
Relief is steepest toward the north-east,
notably the peak of Gunung Toda Klea
which is precipitous and crowned by deep, rocky and dry gullies.
The coastline is irregular and characterised by numerous bays,
beaches and inlets separated by headlands,
often with sheer cliffs falling vertically into the sea.
To the east, Padar is a small, narrow island the topography of which
rises steeply from the surrounding plains to between 200m and 300m.
Further east, the second largest island in the park, Rinca,
is separated from Flores by a narrow strait a few kilometres wide.
The topography of the southern part of the island
is dominated by the 667m Doro Ora massif,
while to the north the steep-sided peaks of Gunung Tumbah
and Doro Raja rise to 187m and 351m, respectively.
As with Komodo and Padar, the coastline is generally rugged and rocky
although sandy beaches are found in sheltered bays.
The mainland components of the park
lie in the rugged coastal areas of western Flores,
where surface fresh water is more abundant
than on the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar.
Geology reflects regional vulcanism, with Pleistocene
and Holocene deposits
forming the principal geological units.
Deposits are generally resistant volcanics, volcanic ash, conglomerates
and raised coral formations.


According to Kvalvagnaes and Halim (1979), the seas around the islands
are reported to be among the most productive in the world
due to upwelling and a high degree of oxygenation
resulting from strong tidal currents
which flow through the Sape Straits.
Fringing and patch coral reefs are extensive and best developed in the west
and north facing areas, the most intact being on the north-east coast
of Komodo and the south-west coast of Rinca and Padar.

CLIMATE:

The park lies within one of the driest regions of Indonesia
with an annual rainfall of between 800m and 1000mm.
Heaviest rainfall, higher humidity and lower temperatures are recorded
during the monsoon between November and April.
This pattern is reversed during the dry season from May to October,
when mean daily temperatures are around 40xc2xb0C.


VEGETATION:

The predominant vegetation type is open grass-woodland savannah,
mainly of anthropogenic origin, which covers some 70% of the park.
The dominant savannah tree is lontar palm Borassus flabellifer,
which occurs individually or in scattered stands.
Grasses include Eulalia leschenaultiana, Setaria adhaerens, Chloris barbata,
Heteropogon contortus and, in the higher areas, Themeda spp.
including T. frondosa and T. triandra.
Alang-alang Imperata cylindrica is conspicuous by its rarity (Sumardja, 1981).
Tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest occurs along the bases of hills
and on valley bottoms,
characterised by tree species such as Sterculia foedita,
Oroxylum indicum, Tamarindus indica, Zizyphus horsfeldi,
Schleichera oleosa, Cassia javanica, Murraya paniculata,
Diospyros javanica, Harrisonia brownii and Piliostigma malabaricum.
The forest is notable, lacking the predominance of Australian derived tree flora
found further to the east on Timor.
A quasi cloud forest occurs above 500m on pinnacles and ridges.
Although covering only small areas on Komodo Island, it harbours a relict flora
of many endemic species.
Floristically, it is characterised by moss-covered rocks, rattan, bamboo groves
and many tree species generally absent at lower elevations.
These include Terminalia zollingeri, Podocarpus neriifolius, Uvaria rufa,
Ficus drupacea, Callophyllum spectabile, Mischocarpus sundaicus,
Colona kostermansiana and Glycosmis pentaphylla.
Coastal vegetation includes mangrove forest, which occurs in sheltered bays
on Komodo, Padar and Rinca.
Dominant tree species include Rhizophora stylosa,R. mangle and
Bruguiera sp., with Avicennia marina frequently occurring in large stands
on the landward side.
Other terrestrial vegetation types include pioneering beach vegetation,
dominated by Ipomoea pescaprae.
Plant species diversity is relatively low, with some 102 recorded.
Extensive sea grass beds occur to the north end of Rinca Island.


FAUNA:

The park is best known for the Komodo monitor Varanus komodoensis,
the world’s largest living lizard.
The population, which is estimated at around 5,700 individuals,
is distributed across the islands of Komodo (2,900), Rinca (900),
Gili Motong (fewer than 100) and in certain coastal regions
of western and northern Flores.
The species is probably extinct on Padar, where it was last seen in 1975.
Favoured habitat is tropical deciduous forest, and, to a lesser extent,
open savannah.
Herpetofauna of the cloud forest includes Sphenomorphus schlegeli,
S. striolatus and the frog Oreophryne jeffersoniana,
while savannah areas harbour such species as Emoia similis, Viperia russelli
and the frog Kaloula baleata.
Tropical deciduous forest supports such reptiles as Sphenomorphus florensis,
Trimeresurus albolabris, Dendrelaphis pictus and Lycodon aulicus.
Common cobra Naja naja occurs in areas of disturbed agricultural land.


The mammalian fauna is characteristic of the Wallacean zoogeographic zone,
with seven terrestrial species recorded including
the endemic rat Rattus rintjanus.
Other mammals include primates such as crab-eating macaque
Macaca fascicularis.
Introduced species, such as rusa deer Cervus timorensis
and wild boar Sus scrofa,
as well as feral domestic animals including horses and water buffalo,
form important prey species for the Komodo monitor.
Some 72 species of birds have been recorded,
including yellow-crested cockatoo
Cacatua sulphurea (V), noisy friar bird Philemon b
uceroides
and common scrubhen Megapodius freycinet.


Upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deeper areas of the archipelago
is responsible for the rich reef ecosystem of which
only isolated patches remain due
to anthropogenic disturbance.
Dominant coral species on most reefs are Acropora spp.,
particularly table top coral Acropora symmetrica,
as well as Millepora spp. and Porites spp.
Fungia spp. are present on reef slopes.
In areas of strong currents, the reef substrate consists
of an avalanche of coral fragments,
with only encrusting or low branching species, such as Seriatopora caliendrum
and Stylophora pistillata, being able to withstand the rapid water flow.
More protected reef slopes, for example in Slawi bay,
are dominated by species of the genus Heteropsammia and Heterocyathus.
Reefs off the north-east of Komodo have a high species diversity
including branching Acropora sp., Hydnophora sp., Seriatopora sp. and
Caulastrea sp., as well as massive Porites sp., plate-like Echinophyllia sp.,
Merulina sp., Pachyseris sp. and numerous Fungiidae.
The reefs off Gili Lawa Laut are variable, ranging from the sheltered southern bay
with its large stands of Pachyseris sp., Echinopora sp., Mycedium sp.,
Echinophyllia sp. and Montipora sp., interspersed with thickets of Acropora spp.,
to the more exposed northern reefs which have a spur and groove structure
dominated by Porites sp., Seriatopora sp. and Acropora sp.

Notable marine mammals include blue whale Balaenoptera musculus (E)
and sperm whale Physeter catodon, which are occasionally observed,
as well as 10 species of dolphin and dugongDugong dugon (V).
Marine reptiles include five species of turtle.


CULTURAL HERITAGE:

It is thought that the islands have long been settled
due to their strategic importance and the existence of sheltered anchorages
and supplies of fresh water on Komodo and Rinca.
The evidence of early settlement is further supported by the recent discovery
of Neolithic graves, artefacts and megaliths on Komodo Island.
The age of present settlements suggests that the inhabitants
of Komodo village may have settled during the past 150 years,
having been banished from Sumbawa by the Sultan of Bima.
Local languages are unique,
with that of Komodo having its origins on eastern Sumbawa,
and that of Rinca originating from western Flores.

LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION:

According to a 1990 census, a growing population
of approximately 1,500 people
lives on the islands of Komodo and Rinca,
an increase of 50% over the past decade.
Of these, some 568 are located in the village of Kampung Rinca,
769 in the village of Kampung Komodo and 205 in Kerora.
Several small seasonal fishing settlements
lie on the east side of Rinca Island.
The villagers subsist almost entirely by fishing,
low rainfall having prevented
extensive agricultural development.
Some collection of marine resources, such as molluscs and algae
for agar production, also takes place.


VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES:

Annual visitor numbers have increased rapidly during the 1980s,
rising from 100 in 1980 to 15,000 in 1990.
Of these, some 90% are foreign nationals who visit during the dry season
between June and September.
A visitor centre and accommodation facilities are located at Loho Liang
on Komodo and an information centre in Labuan Bajo on Flores.
Limited losman (guest house) accommodation is available
at Labuan Bajo on Flores and Sape on Sumbawa.
The nearest hotel accommodation and airport facilities
are located at Bima on Sumbawa.


SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES:

Auffenberg (1981) has carried out ecological research on the Komodo monitor
and cites numerous earlier studies including de Jong (1929),
Hoogerwerf (1955), Darevsky (1963) and Kern (1968).
In addition, Robinson and Supriadi (1981) have studied
the Flores monitor population and Kvalvagnaes and Halim (1979)
have conducted marine surveys.
A field laboratory was completed in 1984.


CONSERVATION VALUE:

The park is of special importance for the conservation
of most of the world population of the Komodo monitor.
The location of the islands between two distinct zoogeographical zones,
and the presence of a number of important cultural relicts,
further underscores the site’s scientific interest.
The rich marine environment, particularly coral reefs,
provides the basis for the local fishing industry
and enhances the park’s potential for tourism.


CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT:

Management is primarily directed toward conserving the Komodo monitor,
which has been protected by legislation since 1915.
According to the 1977 management plan,
the park is split into intensive use zones
(intended to contain developments such as village enclaves
and tourist and administrative facilities),
wilderness zones (which provide for limited tourism,
such as trails and camps)
and sanctuary zones (which are strictly protected
with access being restricted
to authorised PHPA and research personnel).
Management activities have focused on enforcement
and provision of tourist facilities,
including stations for viewing the Komodo monitor,
which are baited twice a week at Loho Liang.
Park headquarters are located at Labuan Bajo
and there are six permanently staffed guard posts within the park.
Sumardja (1981) makes a number of management recommendations
including the development of buffer zones
to provide resources for the village enclaves,
and the expansion of regional and local development
and conservation awareness programmes.
Robinson and Bari (1982) have recommended that emphasis
on viewing the Komodo monitor
from baiting stations be reduced
and a more balanced programme of nature walks be developed.
Robinson et al. (1982) recommend a number of strategies
to control deer poaching, including closing markets on Sumbawa and Flores
by cooperating with the local government,
as well as strengthening PHPA enforcement capability in Sape.
It is further recommended that the intensive use zone
be extended seawards by 1,000m to allow passage and anchorage of boats.
There is an extensive marine buffer zone to the park,
within which park authorities may regulate the type of fishing permitted
and to some extent, even the presence of outside fishermen.

MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS:

The principal management problem is depletion of Komodo monitor prey stocks,
such as rusa deer and wild boar, through predation by feral dogs and poaching.
An associated problem is the burning of grassland which is most serious
on the rarely patrolled western side of Komodo.
Threats to the marine environment include dynamite fishing of coral reefs
by itinerant fishermen from surrounding islands,
and siltation of coastal waters due to erosion of fired grasslands.
According to Robinson et al., the continued baiting of Komodo monitor
for viewing by tourists may disrupt natural prey/predator relationships
and also lead to loss of the fear of humans,
possibly with fatal consequences.

STAFF:

A total of 90 in 1991 including 60 guards and 30 administrative staff

DATE December 1981, reviewed March 1991