Can Komodo dragons’ behaviour reveal how they cope with zoo visitors?

Modern zoos play a fundamental role in biodiversity conservation, both through ex situ and in situ conservation actions. One of the most important aspects of zoos is ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of the animals in their hands. Scientific-based research in zoos can improve the knowledge of species but also can be used to guarantee the optimal management and care by assessing if the needs of each individual are met. The aim of this study was to observe the behaviour of two specimens of Varanus komodoensis (Ouwens, 1912) housed at the Natura Viva – Garda Animal Park of Immersive Parks. Behavioural data collection was divided into three periods: the carnival period, the social period, and the Easter period. The periods were identified according to the presence of the visitors at the zoos and in particular in the House of Dragons where there are the two exhibits of the animals. Data on daily behaviours were collected as durations through continuous recording with focal animal sampling. In total, given the overlap of some days in the three different periods analysed, 248 30-minute sessions were used, 124 for each specimen, for a total of 7,440 minutes. The data were analysed using non-parametric statistical tests choosing a significance level of p<0.05. The results of the study show differences in the expression of species-specific behaviours by both monitor lizards between periods according to visitors’ presence and also other factors. Implementing the knowledge of lesser-known species such as the Komodo dragon hosted at Zoological garden is necessary for the adequate management of this species in a controlled environment to promote its long-term welfare and offer educational programmes to contribute to the conservation of endangered species.