Colchester Zoo is one of the few zoos in the UK approved to keep komodo dragons and we are fortunate to currently houses a number of them. In the past we have had previous breeding success within the EEP breeding programme for this species.
When Komodo dragons are fully grown the males in particular can reach up to 3 metres long, we still have some juvenile dragons so they might be a little smaller than you would expect.
The Komodo dragon is the largest surviving lizard in the world, averaging a length of 2.1m and they can also can run up to 11 miles an hour in short bursts.
The Komodo dragon is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and listed on Appendix I of CITES; their number has declined in the wild due to the threat of widespread habitat loss, a loss of prey species and hunting.
Action for the Wild, Colchester Zoo’s charity supports Wae Wuul Nature Reserve Rehabilitation Project in Komodo.
Animals in Dragons of Komodo
