Komodo dragons are really cool animals. I’ve never seen one in real life and I’ve definitely never seen a Komodo dragon as a pet. I wonder why that is!?
Well…there are many reasons you haven’t seen anyone with a pet Komodo dragon and we are going to discuss the reasons in this article.
This article breaks down the legal issues with owning a Komodo dragon as a pet and also discusses why it wouldn’t be a good idea to own a pet Komodo dragon if having money is important to you.
Let’s discuss it!
Can You Have a Komodo Dragon as a Pet?
No, you can’t have a Komodo dragon as a pet. Komodo dragons are illegal to keep as pets. These reptiles are now considered to be endangered species and are protected by law from being privately owned as pets.
Purchasing a Komodo dragon on the black market could cause you a lot of legal issues and headaches if you are caught.
Can You Have a Komodo Dragon as a Pet in The United States (US)?
It is not possible to have a Komodo dragon in the United States because it is illegal to own a Komodo dragon as a pet in the U.S. You can’t find one for sale legally here in the United States.
If you do see a Komodo dragon for sale as a pet, it is guaranteed to be an illegal purchase.
Not only is it illegal to have a Komodo dragon in America, but being caught with a pet Komodo dragon can run you some pretty hefty fines and could also include jail time.
It would be best to check out your state and local laws on wildlife and exotic pets before entering into any purchase with a wild or exotic animal.
Can You Have a Pet Komodo Dragon in Canada?
No, it is not legal to own a pet Komodo dragon in any part of Canada. It is impossible to keep one as a pet in Canada because Komodo dragons were listed as endangered species by the IUCN Red List.
Having a Komodo dragon as a pet in Canada will only be possible on the black market and you should definitely avoid that option.
Not only would it be ridiculously expensive to purchase a pet Komodo dragon if it were legal, but it would also be much more expensive on the black market due to how illegal it is to keep one as a pet.
Can You Have a Pet Komodo Dragon in Australia?
You can’t have a Komodo dragon as a pet in Australia because it is illegal to own one in all of Australia’s regions and territories.
They are not allowed to be kept as pets in Australia because they are considered a vulnerable species and are not considered to be a good pet option for your household.
Can You Have a Komodo Dragon as a Pet in The United Kingdom (UK)?
It is not possible to keep a Komodo dragon as a pet in the United Kingdom because they are considered wild animals and are illegal as pets.
They are also considered to be dangerous animals and it would be almost inconceivable to have a Komodo dragon as a pet while living in your house or flat in the UK.
Are Komodo Dragons Good Pets?
Komodo dragons are not good pets and shouldn’t be kept as pets. They are illegal, dangerous, and endangered. That is just three of many reasons why a pet Komodo dragon is a bad idea.
I get it! They are really cool, exotic animals. But, they are also wild animals and they get extremely big. Komodo dragons can grow to a length between 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to 2.7 meters) and can weigh up to 200 pounds (90.7 kilos).
That is not the average size of your typical domesticated pet.
A Komodo dragon is not a good fit as a pet for the majority of us. Even if Komodo dragons were legal as pets, their size and how dangerous they are would never allow them to be kept as pets for the majority of us.
Could you imagine a lawsuit against an animal like this? Forget pit bulls! That would not be a day in court that I’d be looking forward to.
With that said, it is best to observe these beautiful creatures from afar and let them bounce back within their natural habitat where they belong. They are not a novelty and are not ideal pets.
Plus, there are many other reptiles and lizards that could be a better fit as a pet.
Are Komodo Dragons Dangerous?
Komodo dragons are considered very dangerous animals. Komodo dragons have inch-long, razor-sharp teeth similar to sharks. If they don’t kill you with their bite, they can overpower you with their strength and knock you to the ground with their tails.
Like a shark, they can rip your flesh from the bone in a matter of seconds and won’t hesitate to do it.
Aside from being endangered, this is one of the main reasons keeping a Komodo dragon as a pet is illegal. They are more dangerous than any domesticated animal or pet. They are not tame animals and will act on instinct.
That instinct isn’t to give out hugs but it is to be a killing machine.
Are Komodo Dragons Dangerous to Humans?
Komodo dragons are very dangerous to humans if the habitats of Komodo dragons and humans intertwine. In villages, there have been reported human deaths by Komodo dragons. While it is rare, it does happen often enough to find many articles on the topic.
Can a Komodo Dragon Kill You?
A Komodo dragon possesses the right capabilities to be able to kill an adult human. It can happen and it has happened.
While most of us will never find ourselves up-close and personal with a Komodo dragon, I imagine it is not a place you’d want to be.
These are not curious animals. They are not interested in what you have going on and what you are doing.
You should never try to go up to a Komodo dragon and you should absolutely never have a pet Komodo dragon.
These animals are too dangerous and too much of a liability to even be considered as pets.
What Happens if A Komodo Dragon Bites You?
If you are lucky enough to get away from a Komodo dragon after it bites you, don’t just go on about your day.
I imagine you wouldn’t anyway because the bite would likely be a very severe one, but even if it wasn’t, it could still kill you from poisonous venom.
Komodo dragons have some of the most potent venoms in the world.
Are Komodo Dragons Venomous?
Komodo dragons are highly venomous with venom that can kill animals and humans within just a few hours.
Their venom ranks right up there with the most venomous snakes in the world.
So not only do you have to worry about their nasty bite, but you also have to worry about succumbing to their poisonous venom a few hours after you’ve been bitten.
Are Komodo Dragons Aggressive?
Komodo dragons are highly aggressive and may even be aggressive in a non-provoked state. What this means for you is to stay as far away from a Komodo dragon as possible.
Anyone wanting a Komodo dragon as a pet should understand that these animals are not tame and will be highly aggressive and dangerous toward humans and domesticated pets.
Are Komodo Dragons Domesticated?
Komodo dragons are not domesticated and can’t be tame enough to be domestic pets.
Komodo dragons are wild animals and are not suitable to be household pets or any kind of pet for that matter.
As with any wild animal, there is a slight chance of domestication when taken right after the animal is born and whatnot.
But would you really want to take that chance with a dangerous animal of this magnitude? No thank you for me!
Are Komodo Dragons Intelligent?
Komodo dragons are rather intelligent. Just looking at the way Komodo dragons hunt proves that they are very intelligent animals.
Whether hunting in a group or hunting alone, these animals show great decision-making skills and can be very patient when needed.
They are not just dumb reptiles.
Why You Shouldn’t Own a Pet Komodo Dragon
Well, if you’ve skipped over every other section and found yourself here, then I will just summarize why you shouldn’t own a Komodo dragon as a pet.
- It is illegal to own a Komodo dragon as a pet no matter which state or country you live in. Komodos are illegal as pets in every state.
- Owning a pet Komodo dragon can bring liabilities that make vicious dog breeds look like a cakewalk.
- A pet Komodo dragon can eat you! Well, maybe that was a bit overdramatic but they can easily kill you in no time.
- Komodo dragons are not domesticated and are not a substitution for a domestic pet. Domesticating a Komodo dragon would be a task that would prove to be unsuccessful in most scenarios.
- The cost to own a Komodo dragon as a pet, along with the habitat, would be extremely expensive and would cost much more than most of us regular humans would be able to afford.
How Much Is a Pet Komodo Dragon?
Pet Komodo dragons are not for sale. It is illegal to keep a Komodo dragon as a pet, but it is also illegal to keep one for any other purpose without getting approval from government officials.
It is 100% unlikely that anyone would ever get approved to have a pet Komodo dragon, so finding one for sale will be impossible…legally anyway.
Where to Buy a Pet Komodo Dragon
You can’t buy a pet Komodo dragon because no legal exotic pet breeder has them for sale because they are illegal to own as pets.
If you do find one for sale, it won’t be legal and should be avoided.
No reputable breeder will have any of these types of animals for sale.
You may be able to find a pet Komodo dragon on the black market, but it is highly illegal.
If you are caught with a pet Komodo dragon, you will face heavy penalties and possibly some jail time as well.
Recap
I hope you’ve learned everything you ever wanted to know about keeping a Komodo dragon as a pet. As you have learned, Komodo dragons do not make good pets for many different reasons.
Pet Komodo dragons are dangerous, non-domestic, illegal, and would be very expensive animals to keep as pets.
Komodo dragons are protected by laws and legislation that prevent you and me from owning one as a pet.
If you are bummed about not being able to have a Komodo dragon as a pet, there are plenty of other legal reptiles to consider having as a pet.
You can check out our reptile articles here.
Thank you for checking out one of my articles and please come back for more good reads.
