These are now twenty zoos around the world (five in Europe) where Komodo dragons can be seen. The animal on this page was photographed at Reptilandia Park, in the Canary Islands, where the six-foot female animal lives in a custom-built 150 square metre outdoor enclosure. Further details on Reptilandia , which has the largest collection of reptiles in Europe, are included in Reptilian Volume 6, Number 2.

One the islands where they live Komodo dragons are the top predator, with no natural enemies - except other dragons! People are not a threat as many of the islands are uninhabited. The wild population is stable, at around 3,000 animals, although it is considered an endangered species, being listed on CITES Appendix I.

Komodos can live for up to fifty years and reach sexual maturity at around six years. A large male can weigh up to 135kg and measure more than three metres, longer than a small car. Females are slightly smaller.

The Komodo dragon is, undoubtedly, one of the most spectacular lizards in the world. It is still rare in Europe and until August 1998, the only European institutions maintaining specimens were the Rotterdam and Berlin zoos. Then, for the first time, a French institution, the Thoiry Zoological park, had the opportunity to acquire two specimens of this remarkable species. We were only able to consider taking on this species due to the dedication of our staff. We would particularly like to thank MM de Leusse and Grossiord, who helped us enormously during our visit and answered all our questions about acclimatising these animals with kindness and competence.

The Komodo dragon is officially the longest living lizard in the world, measuring up to 3.13 metres in total length. There is, however, some controversy on this point, as some monitor experts estimate that the crocodile monitor Varanus salvadorii of New Guinea can grow to over 4.2 metres. Komodo hatchlings are around 20cm but in about three years they will be almost a metre in length. The Komodo has a long lifespan and can live up to fifty years.The species is endangered and is listed on CITES Appendix I.

Komodo dragons live exclusively on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinjta, Flores, Pada and Gili Mota and also from Oewada Sami island, to the north of Australia.. These islands are all quite hilly and sparsely covered in rainforest. The lowlands consist mainly of dry, open grassland. The dragons feed on the many small mammals, such as pigs, deer and monkeys, which share their islands and are also known to take carrion.

Reproductive biology is better known for this species than for many other varanids and, unlike most lizards, mature specimens form pair bonds. Females lay up to thirty eggs and incubation lasts from between eight and eight-and-a-half months. Several instances of captive reproduction have been reported, twice between the male and female at Washington Zoo and once between the same female and the male from Cincinatti Zoo. All of the juveniles were dispatched to different institutions. This situation is somewhat problematical, as all these captive-bred specimens are genetically related. This could lead to problems, such as inbreeding depression (characterised mainly by reduced fertility), in zoo populations.

The Thoiry Zoo animals, thus, offer great promise, as they came directly from Genubiraloka, Indonesia and will provide greater genetic diversity in the captive population. They were imported direct from Indonesia in August 1998. The male measured six feet and weighed thirty-six pounds and the female was slightly smaller at five feet and twelve pounds. They were both three-years-old at the time of import.

When they arrived, they were housed individually in enclosures measuring thirty-square-feet, with an earth-based substrate, large artificial rocks and a large swimming pool (about six square metres). Heating is provided by lamps, creating a hot spot of thirty-five degrees centigrade and an ambient temperature of twenty-eight degrees during the day. At night the temperature is lowered to around twenty-four degrees. When the lizards arrived there was a heatwave in France, so the dragons were initially exposed to quite high temperatures (similar to the dry season in Indonesia, in fact). They did not seem to mind this but both animals reacted quite differently. The female remained hidden under the artificial rocks for long periods, but the male did not. They did, however, both spend a lot of time in their respective swimming pools.

They both ate regularly from the start but showed marked individual preferences. The male relishes rats and chicks and the female is fond of chicks and mice, but refuses to have anything to do with rats.

Their behaviour is quite interesting and is studied in depth by Chistophe Grossiord, one of their keepers who is also a graduate animal behaviourist. He explained to me that juvenile dragons are farm-raised in Indonesia and have regular interaction with humans from the time of hatching, although actual handling is not frequent. He tried, therefore, to let the two specimens behave as naturally as possible, instead of trying to tame them. The only conditioning process he employs is that he systematically emits the same whistling noise when feeding them.

This has led to a marked difference in individual behaviour patterns. The male seemed to have the most outgoing personality and when we entered its territory it did not seem to get upset. When Christope emitted his feeding whistling it came very close and devoured an impressive number of rats and chicks (normally in one or two gulps). It was also very tolerant of me and allowed me to get very close (sometimes to less than one foot away) to take numerous photographs, despite the fact that the flashlights clearly disturbed it. It did lash its tail one (in a somewhat nonchalant way) when Christope approached it from the side. Despite this calm behaviour, one much always exercise caution as a lizard of this size can pose a serious threat and inflict a serious bite. The bites from the species easily turn septic, due to amount of bacteria present in the mouth, and the risk of Salmonella should also not be ignored.

When we cam to visit the smaller female, Christophe warned me that she was much more sensitive than the male, so I should be careful. As we entered she was basking under a heat lamp and she immediately raised her head, ready to flee or defend herself. We approached calmly and kneeled down within two metres of her. After about one minute, she came in our direction and began to scent us, flicking her tongue repeatedly against our hands (the varanids being amongst those lizards which make extensive use of Jacobson’s organ).

Christophe explained that the female was shyer than the male but was more inclined to investigate situations, if she felt secure. This behaviour was confirmed when she continued to scent my hand and allowed me to scratch her back, without moving or adopting a submissive posture (head pressed to the ground). This was a magic moment! I then commenced the photo session and she remained confident, allowing me to take numerous shots and sometimes letting me approach very closely. Unlike the male, she never showed the slightest tendency to aggression.

Hopefully these lizards will breed at the facility, the first time this will be achieved in France.

Bibliography

Mader, D. Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 1996.

Frye, F. Reptile Care. TFH 1991.

Klinenberg, R. Understanding Reptile Parasites. Advanced Vivarium Systems. 1993.

Zimmermann, E. Breeding Terrarium Animals. TFH 1986.

Sprackland, R.G. Giant Lizards. TFH 1992.