Where Can I See a Komodo Dragon?

If you've ever wanted to see a Komodo dragon, you won't have to fly all the way to Indonesia to do it. You can actually find one at Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana and at the Nashville Zoo in Nashville, Tennessee.

Komodo dragons are the largest living lizards on the planet and, according to scientists, have survived for millions of years. Honestly, seeing one is a rather 'Jurassic' experience. They are so large you'll quickly be reminded of dinosaurs. Well, okay, maybe 200-300 pound dinosaurs that are about seven to nine feet long. Thankfully, they're much smaller than their prehistoric cousins. But, like their carnivorous ancestors, Komodo dragons are strong and deadly hunters.

Here are some fun facts about them that may 'tame' them a bit for you!

If you've ever wanted to see a Komodo dragon in person, you can do it with a quick road trip.

The Nashville Zoo is home to a Komodo named Lil Sebastian. Yes, you guessed it! He's not all that little. He's a fully-grown adult male dragon, clocks in at roughly 200 pounds and he's impressive.

Here's some video of Lil Sebastian in action. The Nashville Zoo shared this video of him and about him on World Lizard Day!

If you want to visit the Nashville Zoo and see Lil Sebastian, you can! The zoo is home to 3,700 animals representing more than 350 different species.

The Nashville Zoo is located at 3777 Nolensville Pike.

Hours are 9:00 am - 6:00 pm through October 6th. From October 7th, 2024 through March 2025, the zoo is open 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. It's closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.