Australian First as Komodo Dragons Breed at Reptile Park

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 26, 2021 1:20 pm

Daenerys and Kraken the Komodo dragons mating at the Australian Reptile Park

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

The Australian Reptile Park are celebrating an Australian first as their Komodo dragons Kraken and Daenerys were successfully paired for mating.

Keepers put themselves on the line to give the world’s largest living lizards a hand to ensure they did not kill each other in the process. Komodo dragon’s are equipped with a venomous bite which can be potentially life threatening.

Daenerys and Kraken the Komodo dragons mating at the Australian Reptile Park

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Keepers are pleased that the mating was successful with copulation noted on multiple occasions. Everything went according to plan and keepers now have an exciting 30 day wait to see if the breeding leads to successful eggs.

Keepers have prepared a purpose-built nest box where Daenerys can lay her eggs.

No other facility in Australia has even recorded a successful breeding of their Komodo dragons and this is seen as a positive event for Komodo dragons which are under threat in the wild.

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Head of Reptiles, Daniel Rumsey said, “A lot of work goes into the breeding of Komodo dragons. These are two animals that could potentially kill each other and do some serious damage to us keepers in the process. It was a bit touch and go during the initial introductions, however our female became receptive and the two mated successfully.”

My Rumsey continued, “To be able to see our hard work come to fruition and witness copulation is just really quite incredible. I’ve been working with our two Komodo dragons for around five years and to see them mating, is just one of the awe-inspiring things I’ve ever seen as a zookeeper.”

Daenerys and Kraken the Komodo dragons mating at the Australian Reptile Park

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Komodo dragons are the world’s largest lizard. They can reach lengths of up to 4m (13ft) long. They live on the Indonesian island of Komodo with a stable population of 3,000-5,000 dragons remaining in the wild.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature list the Komodo dragon as vulnerable. Their numbers are declining due to human encroachment, poaching, natural disasters and a shortage of females.