Humaniora
Vol 31, No 2 (2019)

Komodo Dragon Attacks: The Changing of Human and Environment Relations

Dian Lintang Sudibyo (Department of Cultural Anthropology Universitas Gadjah Mada)



Article Info

Publish Date
02 Dec 2019

Abstract

This paper discusses the issue of Komodo Dragon attacks on humans from an anthropological perspective. Wild animal attacks are often regarded as a result of human-wildlife ecological conflict. Humans, in their pursuit of economic expansion, often sacrifice the habitat of fauna, resulting in disturbances to food chain stability in the local ecosystem. It has been said that due to the increased difficulty of finding prey as a result, predators turn to humans instead, which is not part of the natural food chain. However, this research (based on observations on Rinca Island, Komodo National Park in 2013) finds that this explanation is not always correct. In the case of Komodo National Park, a conservation area primarily established to secure the availability of Komodo Dragon prey, the fact that there are still cases of dragons attacking humans throws weight against the idea that dragons are merely supplementing their natural diet. Rather, this paper argues that these attacks come as a result of the creation of spaces that changes the human relationship with the natural environment.

Copyrights © 2019






Journal Info

Abbrev

jurnal-humaniora

Publisher

Subject

Humanities

Description

Humaniora focuses on the publication of articles that transcend disciplines and appeal to a diverse readership, advancing the study of Indonesian humanities, and specifically Indonesian or Indonesia-related culture. These are articles that strengthen critical approaches, increase the quality of ...