E. Nusa Tenggara Governor Seeks Help in Komodo 7 Wonders Campaign

Kupang, Indonesia - East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya has asked district chiefs and city mayors in the province to lend their support to Komodo Island’s bid to be named one of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature.”

Komodo Island is competing with27 other finalists for the honor. In online voting, the island currently ranks 14th, better than its 20th position last December, but still far outside the top seven.

Frans Rihi, head of the province’s culture and tourism office, said in Kupang on Monday that the government’s “Vote Komodo” campaign needed the support of every official in East Nusa Tenggara.

Rihi said that to support the campaign, his office had installed free Internet connections at every entry point in East Nusa Tenggara, including airports and seaports, as well as at popular public gathering places. Votes are cast through the www.new7wonders.com Web site.

“We hope people are motivated to support the effort to get the Komodo dragon selected as one of the seven natural wonders of the world,” Rihi said.

The New7Wonders Foundation announced on July 21, 2009, that Komodo Island had been named one of 28 finalists out of more than 440 nominees from 220 countries.

“We will continue to run the Vote Komodo campaign until the voting closes on September 11, 2011,” Rihi said.

The government declared Komodo Island a national park on March 6, 1980, at an official ceremony attended by then President Suharto.

In 1986, Komodo National Park was designated as a biosphere reserve, and in 1991 it was named a World Heritage Site.

The national park consists of three islands. They are Komodo, which measures 33,937 hectares, Rinca (19,625 hectares) and Padar (2,017 hectares).

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com
Picture: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com

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