Komodo Dragons - Disney Animals

Explore the breathtaking wonder of the Asian rainforest as you walk along the Maharajah Jungle Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, and you may just come across a Komodo dragon along the way!

Komodo Dragons in the Wild
Only found on Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands, including the island of Komodo, these tough lizards are capable of enduring the extreme weather conditions created by their tropical domain. While they tend to gravitate towards tropical forest and savanna habitats, Komodo dragons also inhabit the islands in their entirety, from the sandy beaches and mangrove swamps to the grasslands and more mountainous regions. Komodo dragons are the largest lizard in the world and can use their super sense of smell to explore their various surroundings and track prey.

The habitats of Komodo dragons in the wild are diverse and varied—so their home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park must be equally so!

Ups and Downs
From open plains to more bumpy terrain, Komodo dragons skillfully adapt to the varied landscape of the Indonesian islands they call home. The Komodo dragon exhibit at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park combines forested flatlands and undulating slopes to mimic the variety of elevations and ecosystems that make up their natural habitat. The exhibit also incorporates a variety of water features to accommodate their affinity for coastal inlets and shorelines.

Chilling and Sunbathing
Komodo dragons are ectotherms. Unlike humans, whose bodies maintain a consistent temperature on their own, reptiles like the Komodo dragon rely on changing their surroundings to keep their body temperature right where it needs to be. Komodo dragons regulate their body temperature by seeking out shade, sunbathing, going for a swim or burrowing. Their home is designed with a combination of tree cover, built-in burrows and shallow streams for when it is time to cool off. For every patch of shade, there is also a sunny spot for basking and catching a few rays.

Veterinary Care and Animal Training
Preventative health checks are a key component of the stellar animal care provided at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. But how do you give an 8-foot-long lizard a check-up? Disney’s animal care experts created a specially designed carrier made out of clear plastic to decrease stress and make trips to the doctor easy. Komodo dragons at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park are trained using positive reinforcement to enter this carrier. Once secured inside, Disney’s animal care experts can weigh, measure and conduct a quick and effective visual inspection. Additional access panels that slide in and out of place allow Disney’s animal care experts to safely conduct tests and gather samples as needed.

The Walt Disney Company is passionately committed to the protection of Komodo dragons and their natural habitats.

Threats to Komodo Dragons
While Komodo dragon populations are vulnerable due to their limited geographic range, they are also threatened by humans.

A Recipe for Disaster
Natural disasters like hurricanes, floods and volcanic activity are common on islands where Komodo dragons live. The occurrence of these natural disasters can have negative impacts to the species and their environment including reduced habitat area, prey becoming displaced within a Komodo dragon’s hunting range and the introduction of invasive species that disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. Komodo dragons are especially vulnerable to these uncontrollable forces, which can lead to a decline of the population within their natural habitat.

The Downside of a Few Private Islands
Imagine if every human in the world had to live in a single city! With their natural habitat limited to just a few islands, the entire wild Komodo dragon population covers roughly the size of a large city. As human encroachment and deforestation infringes on what little Komodo dragon habitat there is, populations are becoming increasingly fragmented and food is becoming scarcer.

Helping Asian Wildlife
Many Asian animals, including Komodo dragons, are threatened by habitat destruction and human activities. The Disney Conservation Fund has supported projects throughout Asia for more than 20 years to protect its amazing wildlife, such as tigers, gibbons and migratory birds.