Komodo dragons are the world's largest lizards with specific welfare requirements. Their management in zoo settings requires understanding their unique biology and behaviour.
Komodo dragon welfare in captivity is relatively less studied than that of mammalian species, but their complex behavioural and ecological needs are increasingly understood. Adequate enclosure size and complexity that allows for territorial expression, adequate thermal gradient provision, and appropriate diet composition are the foundations of acceptable welfare. Komodo dragons are intelligent reptiles capable of associative learning — they can be trained to approach a target for feeding and health checks, reducing the stress of veterinary procedures. The individual personalities documented in captive Komodo dragons suggest that individual-level welfare assessment is appropriate. Their endangered status gives captive populations conservation value, but this must be maintained alongside genuine attention to individual welfare.