Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Set up in 1980, at first the principle motivation behind the Park was to preserve the one of a kind Komodo monster (Varanus komodoensis) and its natural surroundings. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park’s biological importance.The park includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and numerous smaller islands together totaling 603 square km of land.Komodo National Park is managed by the central government of Indonesia through the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Natural Conservation of the Ministry of Forestry.