April 1, 2026
JAKARTA – Indonesia will loan a pair of Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) to Japan under a breeding program designed to support conservation of the endangered species and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Ahmad Munawir, a conservation official at the Forestry Ministry, said the dragons will be sent to iZoo in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan’s largest reptile and amphibian-focused zoo, which houses over 400 species and 2,000 animals.
“In return, the prefecture will send several animals to Indonesia, including red pandas and giraffes,” Ahmad said on Monday, as quoted by Reuters.
The agreement was signed last week by Forestry Minister, Raja Juli Antoni, and Shizuoka…