2012年10月，本協會接獲民眾舉報在高雄市某寵物店疑似在販賣科莫多龍。接獲舉報後，我們立即連絡高雄市林務局詢問保育性動物的販賣、飼養等相關問題。
維基百科：科莫多龍是現今體型最大的蜥蜴，平均體長2至3公尺（10英尺〉。在野生環境，成年的大科莫多龍普遍重約70公斤（154磅），獵獲的樣本往往還要重一些。已證實最大的樣本為3.13公尺（10英尺3英寸）長，166公斤（365磅）重，未消化的食物計算在內。科莫多龍的腳上有尖銳的爪子幫助牠們撕裂獵物的肉，粗壯的大尾末端的尾鞭可掃倒敵人，身上粗厚的硬皮可讓牠們在獵蛇時防止被蛇咬傷。澳洲新南威爾斯大學研究發現，科莫多龍會分泌一種類似蛇毒的毒液，讓獵物的血液無法凝固，血管擴張，進而休克，迅速失血過多致死。牠們是世界上最大的有毒動物，牠們最多有30年的壽命。
根據研究資料可得知，科莫多龍非常不適合做為「寵物」來飼養及販賣。野生動物由於天性及體型的關係，不易被人類所馴化，也不適合當作「家庭寵物」，若是寵物店將野生動物任意販賣給未具備完善飼養知識的民眾，將造成許多危險問題的發生。
幸好，經過相關單位拜訪該店家後得知，此店家飼養的是「黑喉巨蜥」，並不是「科莫多龍」。而店家已飼養四年，為「非賣品」。但因該寵物店仍販賣許多人工飼養的野生動物，政府相關單位也承諾會加強稽查該區的野生動物販賣行為(黑喉巨蜥在台灣被視為第二級保育類動物，黑喉巨蜥的相關資訊： http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh/%E5%B7%A8%E8%9C%A5)
根據台灣野保法，科莫多龍被視為第一級保育類，進出口需向中央申請，而買賣需向地方政府申請。
Taiwan SPCA在此呼籲各位，請勿飼養任何野生動物當作寵物。畢竟，野生動物就應該生活在大自然家園，並非你家的玻璃展示窗。
In October 2012 we received a report that a pet shop in Kaohsiung was selling Komodo Dragons. After receiving the report, we immediately contacted the Kaohsiung Forestry Bureau and found out the rules and regulations regarding the selling and breeding of protected animals.
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis),is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands . A member of the monitor lizard family (Varanidae), it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres (10 ft) in rare cases and weighing up to around 70 kilograms (150 lb). Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals. Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans in the area of West Manggarai Regency where they live in Indonesia.They take about eight to 9 years to mature, and are estimated to live up to 30 years. The Komodo dragon has a tail as long as its body, as well as about 60 frequently replaced, serrated teeth that can measure up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in length. Its saliva is frequently blood-tinged, because its teeth are almost completely covered by gingival tissue that is naturally lacerated during feeding. This creates an ideal culture for the bacteria that live in its mouth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon
According to the information found it seemed clear that Komodo Dragons are certainly not suitable as pets. If pet shops were to sell wildlife to people who don’t have the sufficient knowledge in caring for this kind of exotic species, it could cause dangers to the animals as well as the people caring for it.
Thankfully, after the shop had been visited, we realized the lizard they had was a Black Throat Monitor, not a Komodo Dragon. Furthermore, the lizard was the shop owner’s pet, which he’d had for four years, he wasn’t for sale. However, because this pet shop was selling ‘raised’ wildlife, the government officials we were in contact with promised that they would increase their policing of the sale of wildlife in this area (The Black Throat Monitor is viewed as a 2nd class protected animal in Taiwan, see this link for related information)
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh/%E5%B7%A8%E8%9C%A5
According to the Taiwan Wildlife Conservation Act, Komodo Dragons are classified as first grade protected animals. To import and export these lizards, one must apply with the central government and to sell/trade them one must apply with the local government.
The Taiwan SPCA thus reminds everyone to not keep wildlife as family pets. After all, wildlife should live in natural habitats, not like a doll on display in a glass showcase.
野生動物保育法
第 42 條：「有下列情形之一，處一年以下有期徒刑、拘役或科或併科新臺幣六萬元以上三十萬元以下罰金；其因而致野生動物死亡者，處二年以下有期徒刑、拘役或科或併科新臺幣十萬元以上五十萬元以下罰金：
一、未具第十八條第一項第一款之條件，騷擾、虐待保育類野生動物者。
二、違反第十八條第一項第二款規定，未經中央主管機關許可，騷擾、虐待保育類野生動物者。
於劃定之野生動物保護區內，犯前項之罪者，加重其刑至三分之一。」
