... female komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) laid 12 eggs at the zoo...Surabaya (ANTARA News) - The Surabaya city government in East Java is likely to build a Komodo Dragon Park in the coastal area of Kenjeran, anticipating the giant lizards overpopulation in the city's zoo.
"We will first study whether the land structure (in Kenjeran) is suitable," Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini said after attending the commemoration of a local online media's anniversary here on Wednesday.
A female komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) laid 12 eggs at the zoo between February 21 and March 7. Since July 23 last year, the reptile has laid 29 eggs.
Currently, the zoo has a total of 70 Komodo dragons, of which 13 are one year old.
Rismaharini noted that the city government will also scout other areas as a possible location for the park, besides Kenjeran. Therefore, that the park will be located in Kenjeran is still uncertain.
The location for this park will depend on land structure, she explained.
Furthermore, the mayor offered several solutions to deal with the Komodo dragon overpopulation, including returning them to their habitat in Komodo Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, but it would be expensive to do so.
"So we will likely build a Komodo Dragon Park as their number in the zoo continues to increase," she pointed out.
Moreover, animal affairs observer Singky Soewadji warmly welcomed the city's plan to build a Komodo Dragon Park.
If the komodo dragon overpopulation is dealt with by building a park, the city will have a new animal park besides the Surabaya Zoo.
The Komodo Dragon Park will become another special attraction of the city, he noted.
"I agree with the plan to build the Komodo Dragon Park in Kenjeran, which has high temperature and is located close to the coast. This condition is suitable for the komodo dragon," he affirmed.
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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