Komodo dragons are the world's largest lizards whose welfare in zoos depends on appropriate thermal gradients, space for natural movement, and minimal human contact to reduce stress in this naturally solitary reptile.
Komodo dragon welfare in captivity centres on providing adequate thermal management, appropriate space for their large body size, and minimising unnecessary human contact that triggers stress responses. Thermal gradient provision is not optional — without the ability to thermoregulate behaviourally, Komodo dragons cannot maintain immune function, digestion, or reproductive physiology. Social management must respect their strongly solitary nature. Enrichment should target hunting and olfactory foraging behaviour using scent trails, carcass feeding, and environmental novelty. Komodo dragons in well-managed zoo enclosures contribute to genetic diversity management for a species with a restricted wild range.