FLORES

Oct 16

Written By Peter Hemenway

Article and photographs by Peter Hemenway

Peanut farmer and family

My first experience with the Island of Flores, Indonesia was bicycling across the island. Some years later I returned and visited the Small People of Flores.

The three famous lakes in the crater are shown here. — The three famous lakes in the crater are shown here

Flying over the famous colored lakes, Tiwu Ko’o Fai Nuwa Muri and Tiwu Alta Polo which are separated by a shared crater wall. The lakes change color but are usually red or green.

Rice Fields are abundant in Flores. — Rice Fields are abundant in Flores

An interesting occurrence that happens on small Islands sometimes is larger then normal species of a particular animal will be found living in the area. An example of this is on the Komoda Island (not far from Flores) , where the largest lizard in the world lives.

Flores is known to have a very large rat as a habitant and also famously the Rampasasa, Flores are the small people. They are on average about 146 cm (58 inches). This is the area that the famous Hobbit was discovered in the Liang Bua Cave. Apparently there is no genetic connection between the Hobbit and the Rampasasa people. The reason for the smallness of the people is now suggested from a genes called FADS. Fatty acid desaturatase gene cluster. When diet is poor these FADS are shown to select for small stature as is what is most likely tech reason for these particular people to be small. The mystery of the small people has yet to be solved though.