Eating Habits

• At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, Komodo dragons eat "rodents, chicks, rabbits and, occasionally, fish and carcass meals of beef."
• Because they are fed in captivity, Komodos don't need to use their sharp teeth or neck muscles.

Environment Variables Considered

• At the National Zoo, keepers prioritize "temperature, humidity, a deep substrate for nesting, and water."

Lifespan

• In captivity, male Komodos live approximately 25 years, while females live around 8.9 years. In the wild, they live approximately 50 years.

Interesting Facts

• In a study conducted in 2016, researchers found that Komodo dragons in captivity "significantly share bacteria with their environments."
• At zoos, Komodo dragons are usually "housed alone" and on rare occasions are transported to new environments or brought together to mate. Researchers have found that adults "don’t live well together."
• Komodos that live in the wild have around 46% more bacterial diversity than their captive counterparts.
• In captivity, Komodos "respond very well to training" as they are very intelligent animals.