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 Prefecture Governor Yasutomo Suzuki.
“This collaboration goes beyond a simple exchange of animals, it is part of Green Diplomacy and reflects Indonesia’s long-term commitment to safeguarding the world’s biodiversity,” Raja Juli said in an official statement on Saturday.
He added that the Komodo breeding loan program also serves a strategic role in enhancing public education and raising global awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation.
Raja ensured that the program will be implemented with care and transparency, and in full compliance with national regulations and international standards.
Both parties have also reaffirmed their commitment to animal welfare and adherence to international agreements, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“Through this partnership, Indonesia reaffirms its active role in global biodiversity conservation and in advancing environmental diplomacy,” he added.
The MoU signing is part of a wider effort to strengthen Indonesia-Japan relations during President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Japan this week. During the visit, President Prabowo also met with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to further deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Shizuoka TV in Japan reported that the two Komodo dragons are expected to arrive as early as June for the breeding program. The transfer will take place after an inter-institutional agreement is signed between the two participating zoos: iZoo in Japan and Surabaya Zoo in East Java.
The breeding loan marks the first time in decades that Indonesia has sent Komodo dragons abroad.
During President Soeharto’s administration from 1967 to 1998, Indonesia loaned Komodo dragons to several countries, including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the United States, and Spain.
In 1977, Soeharto also sent Komodo dragons to Japan as a symbolic gesture of friendship between the two nations.
Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said on Tuesday that the dragons should never be treated as “diplomatic bargaining chips”.
“Shipping these highly intelligent animals overseas for captive breeding only reinforces the dangerous myth that conservation can happen behind zoo walls, while any offspring born there would be condemned to a lifetime of confinement,” PETA Asia President Jason Baker said, adding that the dragons should remain in their habitat.
The Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard, can grow up to 3 meters long and weigh more than 70 kilograms. It is found exclusively in Indonesia, primarily on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and surrounding islets.
These formidable reptiles can reach speeds of up to 19 kilometers per hour, detect blood from nearly 6 miles away and deliver a venomous bite powerful enough to kill a human.
Despite their fearsome reputation, Komodo dragons are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), threatened by habitat loss, climate change and human activity.
An estimated 3,100–3,400 Komodo dragons remain in the wild, with hundreds also housed in zoos around the world. (nal)