Indonesia closing Komodo Island because people keep smuggling dragons

INDONESIA (WFLA) – If you were planning on visiting Indonesia’s Komodo Island in the near future, you may have to put your plans on hold.

According to local media reports, government officials decided to close Komodo Island to tourists next year because people keep smuggling komodo dragons. The island will shut down temporarily starting in January 2020 and will reportedly stay closed for one year.

The news outlet Tempo reports that the closure is in response to a smuggling case involving more than 41 endangered and protected komodo dragons that were later sold abroad. 

During the closure, government officials are planning to conduct conservation and preservation efforts on the food stock and habitat of the dragons.