It’s not every day that one has the honor of treating the world’s largest living lizard, varanus komodoensis, or the Komodo dragon. But earlier this fall, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine’s zoological medicine service welcomed 15-year-old Iya to UF from the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, or SAAF, Zoological Park for a diagnostic visit, including a CT scan, ultrasound and treatment, accompanied by Jim Darlington, SAAF’s General Curator of Reptiles.
A true display of interdisciplinary care for her mobility issue, Iya received a comprehensive diagnostic analysis at UF’s veterinary hospital during her trip to Gainesville with the zoological medicine team, anesthesia & analgesia and diagnostic imaging services all collaborating to compose Iya’s care team.
Case Summary
Iya is a 15-year-old female Komodo dragon that resides at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Keeper staff noted that her behavior started to seem a little off and she was moving around a bit slower than usual. Iya was originally examined at the zoo and, when initial physical exam and bloodwork didn’t reveal an obvious cause for her change in behavior, her care team elected to bring her to the UF Zoological Medicine Service for further diagnostics. Collaborating with the Anesthesia & Analgesia and Diagnostic Imaging Services, Iya received a CT scan that revealed some musculoskeletal changes that could be contributing to her mobility issues. A joint injection was performed to help provide comfort and targeted therapy. Iya recovered well from her procedures and her care team reports she is doing well and continuing to improve.
Care Team
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park:
Jim Darlington, General Curator of Reptiles
Zoological Medicine:
Dr. Amy Alexander
Dr. Christian Capobianco
Shawn McMahon, CVT
Kara Prater, CVT
Anesthesia & Analgesia:
Dr. Alexa Acevedo
Diagnostic Imaging:
Dr. Federico Grosso
Dr. Medora Pashmakova
Bobbie Davis, CVT
More about Komodo Dragons
The world’s largest living lizard, Komodo dragons are listed as “Vulnerable” to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, threatened with overhunting and habitat loss. A study of fossil evidence from Australia, Timor, Flores, Java and India shows that Komodo dragons most likely evolved in Australia and dispersed westward to Indonesia.
Komodo dragons are venomous, their sharp teeth and venom are a lethal combination for prey. They’re tertiary predators at the top of their food chain, are also cannibalistic and their hunting strategy is based on stealth and power.
Komodo dragons can live up to 30 years, although scientists are still studying their lifespan and, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Komodo dragons typically weigh about 154 pounds, but the largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet and weighed 366 pounds. Males tend to grow larger and bulkier than females.
Photo Gallery: Iya’s Appointment
