I love Komodo Dragons, it's quite amazing how such predators like these can be so tame. I'm currently studying animal behaviour in college, i hope one day to actually get the chance to be involved in training these beautiful reptiles!
Thank you Houston Zoo for taking good care of this magnificent and trusting fellow. I'm so saddened by the news of Smaug's death! He was indeed an ambassador for his species, as Sharon Joseph said. I love 💜 all lizards. 🦎
While it is true monitors (like this Komodo) are smart and capable of being very tame, most are extremely aggressive and would bite your hand off for no reason other than it was in its home and it doesn't like you (I love monitors and I just don't want people buying them and not realizing the risk)
I'll say they're smart, they're too damn smart. When keepers work with them in captivity are they training the dragons or are the dragons training the keepers?
Half the time it's the person's fault. Most wild Komodo Dragons actively avoid humans and human activity, which means that most of the time you're pretty safe when around Komodos. Just don't encroach on their territory or corner them. Or run into a starving one, I guess.
Although I agree most monitors, and definitely Komodo Dragons, are not suitable as a pet for most people, there is no animal that will just murder you or try to harm you for no reason. You either stressed it out, or appeared to be food (i.e. you just fed another animal and didnt wash your hands and then try to pet the monitor). They are often known for a very aggressive food response, but that doesn’t make them aggressive, since that is just the way they hunt. There are also monitors that make great pets, for example the Ackie Monitor (Varanus Acunthurus if Im correct), which is a far more reasonable size. So while I agree monitors overall arent for everyone, there are exceptions, and every animal can be socialized if you know how and put in the time and work.
Media: Most dangerous animal on Earth! One touch of its teeth and you are dead! Reality (for captive ones of course): Hello, hooman fren, can I has food and petties?
Komodo Dragon's are found exclusively on 5 islands all within Komodo National Park including of courses Komodo island but also Flores, Rinca, Gili Dasami, and Gili Motang. The dragon may look slow and cumbersome but when provoked or excited by food they can easily strike beyond their own body length, and a Komodo can smell dead or dying food at a distance of 6 miles. Though saliva in wild dragon's is extremely poisonous these toxins cease to exist in captive dragon's due to much cleaner conditions, and Komodo's are unfortunately listed as vulnerable on the Endangered Species List, due to one major factor and that unfortunately is man!
Look at my waistcoat of jewels! My teeth are like spears! My claws like swords! My armor is like ten-fold shields! The beating of my wings a hurricane! And my breath, DEATH! Smaug - The Hobbit book.
If I had a nickel everytime someone called a comodo dragon handsome in this comment section id have two nickels which is a small amount but its weird it happens twice
@usmananjum17 Because he was raised in captivity. So he's used to seeing people, she proberly also raised him herself and therefore he/she knows her and trusts her because he/she has known her it's whole life.
@Gyradie That's why little kids have an eerie scariness to them especially when there's a whole bunch of them together like in a classroom! I believe they're inspiration for the new indie movie coming out called 'Citadel'.
If I would suddenly see one in the wild my first reaction would be "Aaah, a crocodile!" then realize "wait wtf that's no croc" and look at it while being confused.
You do realize when raised around people like cats and dogs(over a period of time) they can become DOG friendly. They are not mindless reptiles. They are smarter than most people.
lmao your kidding right a crocadile is much more larger and can kill and eat a big lizard like that they are extremley dangerious im not that saying that lizard is weak is look sick and strong like a badass both are awesome but i dont think that lizard can take on a croc in a fight croc's have bigger mouth's then eny type of lizard!!
mohammed hamidi I was joking, yes but in any case it will tie because of the bacteria in its mouth. Kills within a couple of hours, doesn't matter if its a mouse or an elephant.
Some people just F**ks me up... With. He's handsome, cute or inside the same cage with something that can destroy you at anytime. We have a fool in all parts of the world thinking that what they're dealing with can reason with you or under your commands.
i met one of smaugs parents at miami metrozoo, those dragons are just as friendly as my monitors and i got the opportunity to feed one of his siblings i beleive check out my vidoes
@JayDeLamar well it depends on the type of reptile. theres various factors to consider, especially intelligence. monitor lizards and especially tegu have been known to become surprisingly tame. iguana's are even smart enough to "potty train" so to speak. komodo dragons have been observed as being particularly quick to tame in captivity for monitors. they are even known to "play" games such as tug of war or small things like tugging out your shoe laces.
@gmoco86 It has recently been discovered that the Komodo as well as many other lizards do have venom glands. In most lizards they are vestigial and not used in prey capture, but in some such as the Komodo and the Helodermatids, the glands are able to produce a potent venom.
@thuzan117 I think most big lizards are smart, you just have to be around them a lot.I have big lizards that respond to their names and go back to there cages at night, evan sometimes follow voice comands.The lizards I have are iguanas and monitors.I would think a Komodo Dragon is very, very, smart !
@JayDeLamar very true, turtles this particularly comes to mind with, i have a box turtle and he greets me every morning when i wake up, if he sees me getting out of bed, hell come over to the side of his tank and extend his head up at me, their very responsive animals, id say some reptiles are fairly intelligent and responsive, for reptiles
He's a beauty. I've heard of the intelligence of Komodo Dragons, I've heard that they can play with toys and it's not prey based game. Does he do that?
Smaug does not care that he is on UA-cam. Douglas Adams called these lizards "arrogant" in my favorite book of his, "Last Chance to See", and I can certainly see what he meant.
He's adorable. I would love to see if his saliva contains the same cocktail of toxic compounds as wild dragons. One hypothesis in that their saliva toxicity is primarily due to the amounts of bacteria growing there from the rotting food caught in their teeth. I wonder if being fed fresh food every day reduces the amount of toxin producing bacteria in their mouths. It's a similar idea to the fact that dart frogs in captivity aren't poisonous because they don't eat the insects that supply the toxins they utilize in their skin.
In all reality, anything that eats meat has bacteria in its mouth, even dogs and cats. That's why cat bites often get infected. Komodo dragons really have no more bacteria in their mouths than any other scavenger like a hyena. Since they don't eat carrion, captive dragons don't have as much bacteria. Bites will still likely get infected, but it's not that bad, and the same thing goes for any other lizard. Dragons just have a bad reputation for it
FallaciousScotsman Komodos acctually have fairly clean mouths thanks to the massive tounge and saliva that cleans its mouth. Venom is the reak danger in their bite.
He is a handsome looking komodo dragon. His eyes appears to have fair amount of dignity and pride for some reason.
They are very intelligent, for reptiles apparently
they have every reason to, its not something you want to run into when they're late for lunch
What a handsome dragon. Definitely not someone to mess with, unless you wish to experience the wrath of Smaug.
I love Komodo Dragons, it's quite amazing how such predators like these can be so tame. I'm currently studying animal behaviour in college, i hope one day to actually get the chance to be involved in training these beautiful reptiles!
R.I.P. Smaug. (What a good lizard)
He is fire, and now he is dead
@@panzerofthelake4934 that's a good reference but dark af
I'm a huge fan of the Komodo Dragons. I wish there were more videos about them.
Very fitting name I must say. Man I love these beasts.
So long Smaug, you were one of the best.
I am fire, I am DEATH
aprimeau104 i do catch quickly
@@cristianbonilla5106 He died?
Always loved this video for how chill smaug was shame to hear he passed, he was a good komodo
Thank you Houston Zoo for taking good care of this magnificent and trusting fellow. I'm so saddened by the news of Smaug's death! He was indeed an ambassador for his species, as Sharon Joseph said. I love 💜 all lizards. 🦎
King Under The Mountian
So cute how kind the dragon was, also I appreciate the LOTR themed name on the fallow.
She has more guts than me. I’m never getting that close to a Komodo.
This has gotta be my most favorite animal of all time!
It must be very nerve racking, but thrilling, also. They're such fascinating creatures, I would love an opportunity like that to be around them.
These things really do look like modern-day dinosaurs...and I would be very nervous to be in there with one right now...
He's absolutely adorable! I wish I was lucky enough to be around one of these beauties every day.
Komodo dragons in the zoo are very tame different from the one on the island of komodo dangerous and very vicious
While it is true monitors (like this Komodo) are smart and capable of being very tame, most are extremely aggressive and would bite your hand off for no reason other than it was in its home and it doesn't like you (I love monitors and I just don't want people buying them and not realizing the risk)
I'll say they're smart, they're too damn smart. When keepers work with them in captivity are they training the dragons or are the dragons training the keepers?
Half the time it's the person's fault. Most wild Komodo Dragons actively avoid humans and human activity, which means that most of the time you're pretty safe when around Komodos. Just don't encroach on their territory or corner them. Or run into a starving one, I guess.
Although I agree most monitors, and definitely Komodo Dragons, are not suitable as a pet for most people, there is no animal that will just murder you or try to harm you for no reason. You either stressed it out, or appeared to be food (i.e. you just fed another animal and didnt wash your hands and then try to pet the monitor). They are often known for a very aggressive food response, but that doesn’t make them aggressive, since that is just the way they hunt. There are also monitors that make great pets, for example the Ackie Monitor (Varanus Acunthurus if Im correct), which is a far more reasonable size. So while I agree monitors overall arent for everyone, there are exceptions, and every animal can be socialized if you know how and put in the time and work.
Ooooohhh Smaug the Magnificent
Media: Most dangerous animal on Earth! One touch of its teeth and you are dead!
Reality (for captive ones of course): Hello, hooman fren, can I has food and petties?
Hes all like "shut the hell up an gimme a deer"
I've been to the Houston Zoo and have seen Smaug. Beautiful species...
So if they are captive-raised, they can be "tamed." Of course, all wild animals stay wild, but will tolerate people to this extent. Very impressive.
I'm just amazed that Komodo Dragon could be so....chill, so calm around humans
The dragon thinking : " Why Im here ? I don't know what she said , I cant speak English ohhh .."
She's brave to be that close to it.
I can see intelligence in his eyes.
Because your unintelligent and proudly think a dog is the smartest animal because it can role over on command
@@radiationzack1012 *you're
What about pride and dignity in his eyes?
Awesome looking killer lizard.
Its one of my favorite animals
Camera crew all Gangsta until Death started looking for dinner!
Achievement unlocked: phobia of Komodo dragons
Beautiful video! Thanks heaps for sharing. 😀
He looks very content
He died on my birthday Nov 18 2015, I'll miss him😔❤
He's cute and he looks so serene !!! :)
look at that beast he's like ''wut? just chillin' ''
Magnificient creature
Komodo Dragon's are found exclusively on 5 islands all within Komodo National Park including of courses Komodo island but also Flores, Rinca, Gili Dasami, and Gili Motang. The dragon may look slow and cumbersome but when provoked or excited by food they can easily strike beyond their own body length, and a Komodo can smell dead or dying food at a distance of 6 miles. Though saliva in wild dragon's is extremely poisonous these toxins cease to exist in captive dragon's due to much cleaner conditions, and Komodo's are unfortunately listed as vulnerable on the Endangered Species List, due to one major factor and that unfortunately is man!
Komodo dragons in the zoo are very tame
different from the one on the island of komodo
dangerous and very vicious
Tell Smaug I said hi! I love Komodo Dragons!!!!!
looks more like glaurung father of dragons from silmarilion!
I'm reading that book and the finishing of the story of that book written by his son
This komodo face looked like my favorite actors jean claude van dame, and i can see that lady has a desire on him
Look at my waistcoat of jewels! My teeth are like spears! My claws like swords! My armor is like ten-fold shields! The beating of my wings a hurricane! And my breath, DEATH!
Smaug - The Hobbit book.
If I had a nickel everytime someone called a comodo dragon handsome in this comment section id have two nickels which is a small amount but its weird it happens twice
He loved the camera man🤣
Smaug: I’m sorry, should this “Smaug the Golden” scare me?
He is Fire, he is.... Death~
Beautiful Lady beautiful lizard 🦎
komodo dragons are awesome!
Amazing how she just talks nonchalantly by the lizard that has a bite that would kill her lol.
Amazing seeing someone being that near a Komodo Dragon. Didn't realize they were related to monitor lizards-look like it.
@usmananjum17 Because he was raised in captivity. So he's used to seeing people, she proberly also raised him herself and therefore he/she knows her and trusts her because he/she has known her it's whole life.
they should get another one and call it toothless
@Gyradie That's why little kids have an eerie scariness to them especially when there's a whole bunch of them together like in a classroom! I believe they're inspiration for the new indie movie coming out called 'Citadel'.
There you are!! Thief in the shadows!!
Wow, and to think i thought they were vicious in captivity! I'm getting one now!
If I would suddenly see one in the wild my first reaction would be "Aaah, a crocodile!" then realize "wait wtf that's no croc" and look at it while being confused.
“I am FIRE, I am DEATH”
-Smaug da lizard boi
Komodo's are so cool. i wish we could do more to help them grow the population
Smaug The Golden from Hobbits ❤️❤️❤️👍
Yes.... on four Island closer each other, one of the is Komodo Island.. some komodo usually swim few miles from one island to another island...
You do realize when raised around people like cats and dogs(over a period of time) they can become DOG friendly. They are not mindless reptiles. They are smarter than most people.
Judith is rather large for a hobbit. She's almost as large as Smaug! 😁
DDG well played
Smaug is pretty cute. The bigger, cooler dragons in the corner are Ancalagon and Glaurung
@Astragoth2 Komodo dragons in captivity can be very affectionate actucally. They even like to get petted. Hell they even play.
I like how they walk... its kind of funny
"sniff, sniff. Who are these people in my house?"
A tegu can recognize humans and also have personalities. Most big lizards are known to be as interactive as mammals.
i think he knows who has his life in their hands.. they are intelligent..
I'm doing a project on komodos in school. I think they are very cool and cute
That thing looks like it can wrestle a crocodile and win.
lmao your kidding right a crocadile is much more larger and can kill and eat a big lizard like that they are extremley dangerious im not that saying that lizard is weak is look sick and strong like a badass both are awesome but i dont think that lizard can take on a croc in a fight croc's have bigger mouth's then eny type of lizard!!
mohammed hamidi I was joking, yes but in any case it will tie because of the bacteria in its mouth. Kills within a couple of hours, doesn't matter if its a mouse or an elephant.
GunFuMaster The bacteria thing has fallen to the wayside. It's been determined that it packs a venom.
Jason Jones Oh really? I actually didn't know that. Thanks!
GunFuMaster these powerful lizards are amazing they look like dinosaurs!!
Some people just F**ks me up... With. He's handsome, cute or inside the same cage with something that can destroy you at anytime. We have a fool in all parts of the world thinking that what they're dealing with can reason with you or under your commands.
i met one of smaugs parents at miami metrozoo, those dragons are just as friendly as my monitors and i got the opportunity to feed one of his siblings i beleive check out my vidoes
I've seen these things at the MEMPHIS ZOO. They look like they're stoned.
@JayDeLamar well it depends on the type of reptile. theres various factors to consider, especially intelligence. monitor lizards and especially tegu have been known to become surprisingly tame. iguana's are even smart enough to "potty train" so to speak. komodo dragons have been observed as being particularly quick to tame in captivity for monitors. they are even known to "play" games such as tug of war or small things like tugging out your shoe laces.
I think she's the Houston Zoo Reptile SURVIVOR! LOL
Leave it to the biggest to be the smartest you cant tell me dinosaurs werent smarter than this
RIP Smaug!
@gmoco86
It has recently been discovered that the Komodo as well as many other lizards do have venom glands. In most lizards they are vestigial and not used in prey capture, but in some such as the Komodo and the Helodermatids, the glands are able to produce a potent venom.
I think Smaug was just watching out the window for the Chinese delivery guy.
@thuzan117 I think most big lizards are smart, you just have to be around them a lot.I have big lizards that respond to their names and go back to there cages at night, evan sometimes follow voice comands.The lizards I have are iguanas and monitors.I would think a Komodo Dragon is very, very, smart !
Crocodile Monitors are longer... But when it comes to mass, the dragon takes the title without question.
Aww... He is curious! :3
@JayDeLamar very true, turtles this particularly comes to mind with, i have a box turtle and he greets me every morning when i wake up, if he sees me getting out of bed, hell come over to the side of his tank and extend his head up at me, their very responsive animals, id say some reptiles are fairly intelligent and responsive, for reptiles
i wanna get one so i can put a sign in the door of my house "beware of komodo dragon".
The video ended abruptly because it didnt want to show the cameraman getting attacked and eaten whole 😂😂😂
@Lavos2007 i thought they discovered that they actually are venomus, that there are little glands inbetween each tooth that give off venom
:o SMAUG! like in the Hobbit!! And he's a Komodo DRAGON. Perfect.
He's a movie star now!
Smaug is a dragon from "The Hobbit"
He's a beauty. I've heard of the intelligence of Komodo Dragons, I've heard that they can play with toys and it's not prey based game. Does he do that?
Komodos in captivity actually behave like domestic canines sometimes. Nova did a documentary about them. You should look it up; food for thought.
Cute Komodo dragon
that looks sick like a real dragon!!
THAT LOOK's like a badass lizard DONT FUCK WITH LIZARDS!!
looks he's got a great life there.
Smaug does not care that he is on UA-cam. Douglas Adams called these lizards "arrogant" in my favorite book of his, "Last Chance to See", and I can certainly see what he meant.
I agree
He's adorable. I would love to see if his saliva contains the same cocktail of toxic compounds as wild dragons. One hypothesis in that their saliva toxicity is primarily due to the amounts of bacteria growing there from the rotting food caught in their teeth. I wonder if being fed fresh food every day reduces the amount of toxin producing bacteria in their mouths. It's a similar idea to the fact that dart frogs in captivity aren't poisonous because they don't eat the insects that supply the toxins they utilize in their skin.
In all reality, anything that eats meat has bacteria in its mouth, even dogs and cats. That's why cat bites often get infected. Komodo dragons really have no more bacteria in their mouths than any other scavenger like a hyena. Since they don't eat carrion, captive dragons don't have as much bacteria. Bites will still likely get infected, but it's not that bad, and the same thing goes for any other lizard. Dragons just have a bad reputation for it
FallaciousScotsman Komodos acctually have fairly clean mouths thanks to the massive tounge and saliva that cleans its mouth. Venom is the reak danger in their bite.
They have venom glands.
Them being venomous wasn't known at the time he wrote that
Interesting
@pblomgren
I don't know, but there's a Monitor Lizard living in Australia that is about 3 feet long.