TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Forestry established a wildlife conservation partnership with Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture, signed on March 28, 2026. This Memorandum of Understanding centers on a breeding loan program for Indonesia’s iconic Komodo dragons.
Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry, explained that the breeding loan is an international program for wildlife propagation. "It is part of a broader international conservation effort," he said when contacted on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
He stated that the memorandum will serve as an umbrella for a business-to-business (B2B) cooperation between the Surabaya Zoo and iZoo in Shizuoka, Japan. This B2B agreement is scheduled to be signed on April 22 in Surabaya, East Java.
"Indonesia will send a pair of Komodos to iZoo in Shizuoka Prefecture," Ristianto confirmed.
In exchange, Indonesia will receive various wildlife from iZoo to be managed at the Surabaya Zoo. The animals arriving from Japan include a pair of red pandas, a pair of giraffes, one male and three female Aldabra giant tortoises, and two female snow monkeys.
"The agreement is valid for five years and will be automatically extended unless one party moves to terminate the MoU," he added.
Ristianto characterized the lending of the dragons as an act of "green diplomacy" intended to strengthen ties with friendly nations. He also noted that the program aims to promote the Komodo’s natural habitat in Indonesia, specifically positioning Komodo National Park as a premier tourist destination.
He further explained that the loan is a vital component of ex-situ conservation efforts, particularly for endemic species like the Komodo dragon. Another primary goal is to foster education and research regarding wildlife and their respective ecosystems.
Ristianto emphasized that the government remains committed to prioritizing in-situ, or natural habitat, conservation even while lending a pair to another country. "The ex-situ approach functions as a complementary part of our comprehensive conservation framework," he said.
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