Nashville Zoo: Keeping Up With The Komodos

Press release from Nashville Zoo:

March 2, 2022

When completed, this exhibit will be one of the largest Komodo dragon habitats in the Americas. The habitat will feature an indoor and large outdoor viewing area so the dragons can be seen year-round despite chilly temperatures. The outdoor yard will be the largest nationwide and will allow guests to see these giant lizards run for their treats during keeper talks.

Even though Komodo's are typically solitary animals, the many unique features of this habitat will allow multiple dragons to be on display at the same time. The space of the habitat is built to house two adult males, three adult females, and younger dragons.

At Nashville Zoo, several of our Komodo's that will enjoy this space currently live behind-the-scenes. Our 12-year-old male Komodo dragon is the Zoo’s biggest lizard measuring 9 feet in length and can be seen in this habitat once it’s opened.

Komodo dragons are dominant predators in the wild and eat just about anything from deer, mice, goats, pigs, rabbits and have even been known to take down horses or water buffalo. This species is known for being the heaviest lizard on earth and can reach up to ten feet in length weighing more than 300 pounds.

Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) are only native to the tropical and hot year-round Lesser Sunda Indonesian islands and are considered endangered to the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to rising sea levels. Nashville Zoo participates in the Komodo dragon Species Survival Plan to help ensure genetically diverse dragons amongst captive populations.

This press release was produced by Nashville Zoo. The views expressed here are the author’s own.