Two Komodo dragons slated for breeding programme at Japan’s iZoo

Shizuoka — Indonesia plans to loan two Komodo dragons to iZoo in Shizuoka, Japan, under a breeding programme, according to Ahmad Munawir, a conservation official at Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry, in a report dated March 30, 2026.

The loan would involve one male and one female Komodo dragon. The Forestry Ministry said the programme is intended to support breeding of the endangered species and strengthen cooperation on wildlife protection and conservation.

iZoo is described as Japan’s largest reptile and amphibian-focused zoo. The facility houses over 400 species and 2,000 animals.

Why it matters to Komodo readers

The planned loan links Komodo conservation in Indonesia with an overseas breeding programme. The arrangement also includes animals being sent to Indonesia from Shizuoka, including red pandas and giraffes, according to the reports.

The agreement was signed in late March 2026 by Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki. The Forestry Ministry said the cooperation would be implemented through an agreement between Surabaya Zoo and iZoo covering animal care, transport and supervision.

The Japan Times reported that the agreement is a five-year renewable deal and that the two zoos would exchange animals under the arrangement. The Jakarta Post reported that the proposed loan is part of a breeding programme designed to support conservation of Varanus komodoensis.

The dragons were expected to arrive as soon as June, according to TV Shizuoka reporting cited by Reuters and The Japan Times. The animals would be transported after an agreement between the Indonesian and Japanese zoos was completed.

Sources

• The Jakarta Post — Indonesian national news organisation
• rri.co.id
• kehutanan.go.id
• surabaya.go.id