Indonesia: Expedition in Forgotten Lands by the Iris Foundation

EPISODE 5

WHERE THE READER CAN, SAFE, LOOK AT NEARLY PREHISTORIC ANIMALS

July 17, 2015

As of 7 a.m. this morning, the Royal Fortuna anchors in front of the Loh Buaya pier on the island of Rinca, one of the three main islands of Komodo National Park with Padar and Komodo.

We want to be the first to enter the park to make the most of the famous Komodo dragons before the arrival of "cannonballs" (tourists in Indonesian).

Photo of Jean Marie Hullot

At the entrance of the forest where the Komodo dragons reside, an Indonesian "Danger" sign.

We have been warned that we must be careful !!

That day, in the rush to unload on the return on the boat, the 650 photos that I had taken of the dragons, a false maneuver and all my work disappeared. Fortunately Jean-Marie did his job!

Photo de Jean Marie Hullot

Photo of Jean Marie Hullot

This park is protected for flora and fauna. Here more waste, more burning, ... however large trees and birds!

Very quickly following our guide we come across a monitor lizard (dragon), a female. It is a huge lizard with a very prehistoric look. She seems very comfortable but not at all sympathetic. We stand at a distance, but we see it very well and we photograph it in all directions. We will see another young dragon a little further on, but there won't be a single other Komodo monitor in sight later today.

We see several hinds which are the prey of monitor lizards, as well as buffaloes. We also see guinea fowls (big foot or megapod ) which make holes in the ground to make their nest, a nest that can be squatted and enlarged (1 m wide and 1 m deep) by a female monitor lizard. Each lays about 30 eggs, of which only 3 will give a viable baby monitor lizard. The young live in trees during their first 3-4 years, far from predatory adults.

We have a very nice walk in this park even if we no longer see monitor lizards. We come across a majestic Ficus (fig tree) with imposing foundations where a skull of buffaloes and three of deer are hung like trophies.

Padar Island

On the beach, Françoise and Isabelle find heaps of marine treasures including a large giant clam and red coral which is the source of the amazing pink color of the sand.

In the evening, when it is cooler, Françoise, Isabelle and Jean-Marie leave for a ride on the heights of the island with Agus. Below, they meet yellow Crotalaria (1 m high and more), on the slopes of Moringa and Ficus, and in the grasses of many fragrant lemongrass plants.

July 18, 2015

For our second day in the National Park, we anchor off the island of Komodo. During our breakfast, two fishermen on their pirogue approach our boat to offer us their early morning fishing: magnificent fresh squid. Very beautiful image of these two local fishermen who already seem to be old men. According to Agus, they are at most 65 years old. We buy them all their catch, 50,000 rupees each. They are happy and leave quietly with a few bananas given by Agus to their surely rough but simple life.

July 18, 2015

For our second day in the National Park, we anchor off the island of Komodo. During our breakfast, two fishermen on their pirogue approach our boat to offer us their early morning fishing: magnificent fresh squid. Very beautiful image of these two local fishermen who already seem to be old men. According to Agus, they are at most 65 years old. We buy them all their catch, 50,000 rupees each. They are happy and leave quietly with a few bananas given by Agus to their surely rough but simple life.

In the afternoon we land in the bay of Gili Lawa Parat with magnificent funds. Very beautiful snorckeling, magnificent fish, blue starfish.