Komodo National Park has little or no rainfall for approximately 8 months of the year, and is strongly impacted by monsoonal rains. High humidity levels year round are only found in the quasi-cloud forests on mountain tops and ridges. Temperatures generally range from 170C to 340C, with an average humidity level of 36%. From November through March the wind is from the west and causes large waves that hit the entire length of Komodo island’s west beach.  From April through October the wind is dry and large waves hit the south beaches of Rinca and Komodo islands.

The terrestrial ecosystems are strongly affected by the climate: a lengthy dry season with high temperatures and low rainfall, and seasonal monsoon rains. The Park is situated in a transition zone between Australian and Asian flora and fauna.  Terrestrial ecosystems include open grass-woodland savanna, tropical deciduous (monsoon) forest, and quasi cloud forest.

Due to the dry climate, terrestrial plant species richness is relatively low. The majority of terrestrial species are xerophytic and have specific adaptations to help them obtain and retain water. Past fires have selected for species that are fire-adapted, such as some grass species and shrubs.   Terrestrial plants found in Komodo National Park include grasses, shrubs, orchids, and trees.  Important food tree species for the local fauna include Jatropha curkas, Zizyphus sp., Opuntia sp., Tamarindus indicus, Borassus flabellifer, Sterculia foetida, Ficus sp., Cicus sp., ‘Kedongdong hutan’ (Saruga floribunda), and ‘Kesambi’ (Schleichera oleosa).

The terrestrial fauna is of rather poor diversity in comparison to the marine fauna. The number of terrestrial animal species found in the Park is not high, but the area is important from a conservation perspective as some species are endemic.. Many of the mammals are Asiatic in origin (e.g., deer, pig, macaques, civet). Several of the reptiles and birds are Australian in origin. These include the orange-footed scrubfowl, the lesser sulpher-crested cockatoo and the nosy friarbird.

VEGETATION

The mix vegetation of Komodo National Park provides habitat and shade for different animals of the park. There are 254 plants species from Asian and Australian origin. Komodo dragons are carnivores and do not eat any of the vegetation. However, the main prey of Komodo dragon, such as deer and will boar, feed on various leaves, fruit, flowers, roots and grasses found in the park

SAVANNA : Savanna is exposed hills of tall grass with scattered trees. This habitat is probably formed and maintained by fires and extreme drought. More than 70% of the park is open savanna. This area is an important grazing ground for Timor deer, wild board, water buffalo and horses.

Lontar palms (borassus flavellifer) and Jujubi trees (Zizyphus Jujuba) are scattered in the savanna. Both trees are important shade producers. Deer and boar eat the fruit of jujubi trees and the fruit of the lontar palm is eaten by a variety of animals MONSOON FOREST : Monsoon forest is a dry tropical that is effected by the wet and dry seasons. This type of forest is very fragile and is easily lost when cut down. Komodo dragons are well camouflaged in this forest and can hide and ambush prey such as nesting birds and other lizards. The monsoon forest is found usually surrounding the base of hills or as a gallery forest along stream beds.

Most of the trees in the monsoon forest are deciduous and loose their leaves in the dry season. Dominant trees in the monsoon forest in Komodo and Rinca include tamarind trees (Tamarindus indicus) and Sterculia foetida. Fruits and leaves of the tamarind trees are often eaten by deer and boar. Young Komodo dragons are often found in trees.

MANGROVE FOREST : Mangrove forest are made up of trees which live along the shoreline. Different species of mangrove trees can tolerate different amounts of salt water. There are 26 types of mangrove trees in Komodo National Park.

PLANTS & TREES

• Jarak (Jatropha curkas)
• Jujubi or Chinese Apple (Zizyphus Sp)
• Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia Sp)
• Gebang (Corypha Utan)
• Tamarind Tree (Tamarindus Indicus)
• Lontar Palm (Borassus Flavellifer)
• Sepang (Caesalpinia Sappan)
• Strangling fig (Ficus Sp)
• Kedondong Hotan (Garuga Floribunda)
• Kesambi (Schleichera Oleosa)
• Kapuh / Kelumpang (Sterculia Foetida)
• Wild Kapok (Bombac Ceibada)
• Orchid (Vanda Sp)
• Cicad / Cicus (Cycas Rumphii)
• Pipe (Moringa Pterygosperma)