Komodo dragons are the world's largest lizards whose welfare in zoos requires specific temperature gradients, UVB lighting, adequate prey enrichment, and careful management of their solitary, territorial nature.
Komodo dragon welfare in zoos requires attention to their ectothermic physiology and specialized thermoregulatory needs. The temperature gradient — from hot basking spots to cool retreats — is not a luxury but a physiological necessity; without it, Komodo dragons cannot regulate their metabolism, immune function, or digestion effectively. UVB lighting that allows vitamin D3 synthesis is equally essential. Social management presents challenges: wild Komodos are solitary and interact primarily for mating and at large kills. Forced cohabitation causes chronic stress and territorial aggression. Feeding enrichment should reflect their natural hunting behavior — whole prey items that require manipulation and simulate natural prey encounters provide far more behavioral engagement than pre-cut food. As their only natural habitat on a few Indonesian islands faces increasing pressure, zoo breeding programs have gained conservation significance.