Komodo dragons hatch from eggs after an incubation period of about 8 months. They are independent from birth and must fend for themselves.
Komodo dragons reach sexual maturity around 5-7 years of age. Males engage in combat for mating rights, while females lay eggs in burrows.
Young Komodo dragons spend their early years in trees to avoid predators. As they grow, they transition to a terrestrial lifestyle.
Female Komodo dragons lay clutches of up to 30 eggs in a nest and fiercely guard them until they hatch. The eggs incubate for several months.
Once hatched, baby Komodo dragons are vulnerable to predators and cannibalism from older dragons. They must quickly learn to hunt and survive.
As Komodo dragons grow, they become apex predators in their ecosystem. They have a long lifespan, with some individuals living over 30 years.