Rinca

Rinca
Native name: Pulau Rindja

Rinca island
Rinca
Geography
Location Maritime Southeast Asia
Coordinates 8°43′S 119°40′E / 8.717°S 119.667°E / -8.717; 119.667Coordinates: 8°43′S 119°40′E / 8.717°S 119.667°E / -8.717; 119.667
Archipelago Lesser Sunda Islands
Area 198 km2 (76 sq mi)
Administration
Indonesia
Province East Nusa Tenggara

Rinca, also known as Rincah and Rindja, is a small island near Komodo and Flores island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, within the West Manggarai Regency. It is one of the three biggest island part of Komodo National Park. The island is famous for Komodo dragons, giant lizards that can measure up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) long. Rinca is also populated with many other species such as wild pigs, buffalos and many birds.

Being less known and less visited than Komodo, it is a good place to see the Komodo dragon in its natural environment with fewer people to disturb them. Day trips can be arranged from Labuan Bajo on Flores by small boat at the park headquarters.

The island's area is 198 square kilometres (76 sq mi).[1]

Living conditions for local people on the island are often difficult. Education facilities, for example, are quite limited for children. Some non-government organisations help with the provision of books for children on Rinca.[2] Local people must also take some care to avoid Komodo dragons because Komodos in the area occasionally attack and kill humans.[3]

Sea conditions

Rinca and Komodo bracket a north-south passage between the Indian Ocean and the Flores Sea. Due to the large bodies of water and narrow gap, the waters between Rinca and Komodo are subject to whirlpools and currents in excess of 10 knots.[4]

In June 2008, five scuba divers (three British, one French and one Swedish) were found on the Southern coast of Rinca after having been missing for 2 days. The group had drifted 20 miles (32 km) from where their dive boat abandoned them. They survived on oysters and other shellfish.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Monk, K.A.; Fretes, Y.; Reksodiharjo-Lilley, G. (1996). The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions Ltd. p. 7. ISBN 962-593-076-0.
  2. ↑ Eva Muchtar, 'Gardens of Learning', The Jakarta Post Weekender, 26 April 2012.
  3. ↑ Markus Makur, 'Giant lizard attack: Komodo dragon bites elderly woman on Rinca island', The Jakarta Post, 13 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Komodo National Park - http://www.komodo-gateway.org/marine.html
  5. ↑ BBC Online
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