The Research Institute for Natural Resources Conservation of East Nusa Tenggara, in cooperation with the Burung Indonesia team and the Komodo Survival Program, have found several Komodo Dragons were living in the forest of Golo Mori Village in Komodo District and Tanjung Kerita Mese in South Lembor District, both of West Manggarai Regency. This discovery confirmed the encounter of Komodo infants when the documentary team of Burung Indonesia visited the same place in 2010.
The survey in Golo Mori was conducted from 30 June to 3 July 2013, while in Tanjung Kerita Mese it was conducted from 24 to 27 September 2013, using seven camera traps. The cameras were tied to trees, randomly distributed at a distance of approximately 500 meters, and were activated for three days. Based on the photo, it was estimated that there are still at least five Komodo Dragons in Golo Mori and seven in Tanjung Kerita Mese.
In the book The Komodo Dragon, published in 1999, Claudio Cio, a Komodo Dragon researcher from the Università Degli Studi Firenze, stated that the distribution of the species in Flores, based on 1970 data, coverer the south, southwest, west and north coasts of western Flores. The areas included Tanjung Kerita Mese-Golo Mori, Wae Wuul, Reo, Pota, and Riung. However, from several locations in Flores surveyed in 1997, Cio only found Komodo Dragons in Wae Wuul, Pota and Riung. However, he estimated that around 2,000 Komodo Dragons still lived on the mainland of Flores and were scattered in several places. Unfortunately, most of the Komodo Dragon habitat on Flores was not protected.
The rediscovery of Varanus komodoensis in Tanjung Kerita Mese and Golo Mori was certainly good news. This meant that the habitats in both locations were still supportive for these ancient animals. "This finding confirms that the Mbeliling landscape is an important habitat for biodiversity," said the Team Leader of Burung Indonesia Mbeliling Program, Tiburtius Hani. Tanjung Kerita Mese and Golo Mori are part of the Mbeliling Landscape, West Manggarai.
The Mbeliling Landscape has been recorded as habitat for four bird species which endemic to Flores, namely the Flores Crow (Corvus florensis), Flores Hanging-parrot (Loriculus flosculus), Flores Scops-owl (Otus alfredi) and Flores Monarch (Monarcha sacerdotum). (Tri Susanti)