Komodo on the loose!!!

[creepiecrawlie]

A friend of my fathers used to live and Houston, Texas. One day he went to a restaurant for some breakfast but got there before they were open. So he waited and waited for it to open. The restaurant was located by a neighborhood where a guy owned a sub-adult Komodo Dragon the GOT LOOSE. While the my dads' friend was waitng he saw the dragon run accross the parking lot into a bunch of bushes. So he went to investigate and once he saw the thing he ran and called animal control. The dragon was captured and returned to his owner who apparently had a permit for the animal. I just though this would be a neat story to tell and also was wondering "Are you really able to keep Komodo Dragons?"

[silent_truth]

Although I am not one to doubt the validity of a good reptile story, it is next to impossible to believe that this animal was a komodo. One, they are an endangered species (hard enough for zoos to obtain them let alone a private party). Two, more than one permit would be required even if by some miracle a private party was able to obtain this animal. Three, it is very easy for anyone unfamiliar with varanids or reptiles in general to falsely identify a particular species. I would say, more than likely this animal was a more common water monitor. They still get large, but not quite as heavy as the komodo and are easily obtained in the pet trade. However, I do agree that it would be quite something to see one running across a parking lot!

Thanks for the story!

-Adam

[Scales Zoo]

Many of these stories are about a big water monitor, but....

There are Komodo's in basements of private individuals in the U.S. We've had people ask us if we wanted a Komodo in the past, they were already in Canada. There was a bust a couple of years back, the Komodo in that one sold for 30,000 cdn reportedly. I doubt anyone with a komodo would have it at a parking lot, but stranger things have happened.

Ryan

[silent_truth]

Oh, I definitely agree with Ryan. I mean, if there's a will, there's a way to get whatever it is you want. Plus, as he stated, there's big money in rare species. However, I was unaware of any instances of komodos in Canada, which is interesting and somewhat alarming.

Thanks for the info Ryan!

[Cruciform]

It's surprising what lurks in people's basements. Within a 10 minute walk of my place there's an adult alligator that occupies the entire basement of a house, and at least one croc at another location.

And this is a city that bans all snakes over 60 centimeters (2 feet), and lizards bigger than a 4 inch SVL.

[creepiecrawlie]

I was a little on the edge of believing that it was a komodo because normally they would have tried to attack you if you stick your head next to a komodos' head. It does sound like a water monitor though.

[Linds]

Originally posted by silent_truth
it is very easy for anyone unfamiliar with varanids or reptiles in general to falsely identify a particular species.

LOL for sure. 90% of the people that come in to my work call the 3' savannah a komodo :rolleyes:

Originally posted by creepiecrawlie
I was a little on the edge of believing that it was a komodo because normally they would have tried to attack you if you stick your head next to a komodos' head.

Why would you be sticking your head next to its?