The Nashville Zoo in Nashville, Tenn., officially opened a new Komodo dragon habitat to the public on 27 July. The space is the largest Komodo dragon habitat in the Americas, built to house up to two adult males, three adult females, and juvenile Komodo dragons.

Guests can see the Zoo’s Komodo dragons, including Lil Sebastian, the Zoo’s biggest lizard measuring nine feet in length. This species is known for being the largest and heaviest lizard on earth, reaching up to ten feet long and weighing more than 300 pounds. They are dominant predators with powerful jaws and a toxic bite. In the wild, they ambush deer, goats, pigs, and have even taken down horses and water buffalo.

Lil Sebastian the Komodo Dragon sitting by the water in his new outdoor exhibit area.

The new Komodo dragon habitat is located by the Zoo’s HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center. It features viewing areas along an outdoor path giving guests an elevated view from several vantage points. A large viewing window offers eye-level viewing when the dragons are inside. Interactive learning elements and signs complement the exhibit, educating visitors about Komodo dragon biology, their natural habitat, and the Zoo’s work to protect the species.

Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) are only native to the tropical Lesser Sunda Indonesian Islands and are considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Nashville Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Komodo Dragon Species Survival Plan® to help ensure genetically diverse dragon populations in human care. Nashville Zoo also helps protect this species in their native habitat by partnering with Komodo Survival Program, an organization dedicated to Komodo dragon educational initiatives and hands-on conservation work with wild populations.

In addition to Komodo dragons, this exhibit features crocodile monitors and red-crowned cranes. Komodo dragons will be visible in the outdoor section of the habitat during warmer months, while crocodile monitors, the second longest lizard species, will be visible from the viewing window. During colder months, the Komodo dragons can be viewed in their climate-controlled, indoor habitat, while red-crowned cranes, a winter-hardy bird, will enjoy the outdoor habitat space.

This habitat was made possible through a generous gift from the Patton family.

Photos Credit: © Nashville Zoo

Edited by Sarah Gilsoul, a writer and communications program assistant at AZA. 

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