{"id":380895,"date":"2026-03-12T07:10:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/380895\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T07:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:10:12","slug":"when-playtime-gets-wild-komodo-dragon-eats-plush-toys-after-macaques-toss-them-into-his-enclosure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/380895\/","title":{"rendered":"When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The post <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/articles\/when-playtime-gets-wild-komodo-dragon-eats-plush-toys-after-macaques-toss-them-into-his-enclosure\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;When Playtime Gets Wild&quot;}\" class=\"link \">When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_content=1554255\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:A-Z Animals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;A-Z Animals&quot;}\" class=\"link \">A-Z Animals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">At Singapore Zoo, a Komodo dragon named Mario swallowed multiple plush toys after wild macaques tossed them into his enclosure.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As ambush hunters triggered by sudden movement, Komodo dragons can instinctively strike at flurries of activity, likely causing Mario to mistake the toys for prey.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Veterinary staff from Mandai Wildlife Group launched an emergency medical procedure to check for internal damage and successfully remove the blockages.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Things got a little crazy at the Singapore Zoo, where March brings mischief and mayhem to a resident komodo dragon. Mario, a rare Komodo dragon hatched outside of Indonesia, found himself in a dilemma. When a group of wild macaques found a bag of stuffed plushies and decided to throw them in his exhibit, all bets were off. Mario wasted no time making a meal of them, and in turn, left one veterinary team extremely concerned.<\/p>\n<p>Singapore Zoo Komodo Dragon Snacks on Stuffed Plushies<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">At the Singapore Zoo, wild and captive animals coexist in a shared space. This is what makes the zoo so unique and gives its residents a natural environment to live in. Mario, the komodo dragon, is one of its most beloved residents. The species is also <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/blog\/10-incredible-komodo-dragon-facts\/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=in_content&amp;utm_content=1554255\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:notoriously difficult to breed;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;notoriously difficult to breed&quot;}\" class=\"link \">notoriously difficult to breed<\/a>, and hatchlings are a rarity. This makes his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mandai.com\/en\/singapore-zoo\/animals-and-zones\/komodo-dragon.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:presence at the zoo;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;presence at the zoo&quot;}\" class=\"link \">presence at the zoo<\/a> that much more impactful for visitors. His caretakers work tirelessly to ensure his health, which is how March\u2019s incident was dealt with swiftly. And, despite a few hiccups, successfully.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Facts About Komodo Dragons\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a5a51d9b2804022092a96f66733e9e4b.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Komodo dragons use their sharp, recurved claws to dig up shallow graves. <\/p>\n<p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9ZiemowitJ \/ CC BY 4.0 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Waran_z_Komodo.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Original;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Original&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Original<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:License;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;License&quot;}\" class=\"link \">License<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(ZiemowitJ \/ CC BY 4.0)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On March 2nd, an <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/komodo-dragon-eats-plush-toys-at-singapore-zoo-11917571\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Instagram video;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Instagram video&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Instagram video<\/a> posted by the Mandai Wildlife Group shared the predicament Mario found himself in. As some wild macaques, which are native to the area, had their own fun with a bag of plushies they\u2019d found. Mario, on the other hand, found himself a snack. The flurry and frenzy of the macaque\u2019s excited activity is initially what drew his attention. This lured him to the forbidden funhouse toys, unaware they were not edible. Without realizing what he was eating, Mario ingested two large plushies. From that moment on, the clock began ticking, and the Mandai Wildlife Group waited.<\/p>\n<p>An Indigestible Problem<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">If you\u2019ve ever had a pet eat something they weren\u2019t meant to, then you know that it\u2019s often expelled as easily as it\u2019s ingested. In Mario\u2019s case, the Mandai Wildlife Group hoped for the same result. Komodo dragons often regurgitate food or objects that don\u2019t agree with them, or that can\u2019t be digested easily. Unfortunately, after a full 24 hours, Mario still had not regurgitated the two plushies he\u2019d eaten. The emergency veterinary team immediately jumped into action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Objects left in an animal\u2019s stomach pose a significant threat to their health and can even become fatal. Large objects cause intestinal blockages that prevent food from passing through in either direction. As the animal\u2019s health rapidly declines, they may become sick, lethargic, and eventually succumb to injuries caused by the blockage. Given Mario\u2019s size and the fact that a full day had passed by, the veterinary team knew they needed to intervene.<\/p>\n<p>Diving Into the Belly of the Beast<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Mario was scheduled to undergo an endoscopic procedure to remove the stuffed plushies. Dr. Heng Yirui, deputy vice-president of veterinary healthcare and scientific programs at Mandai Wildlife Group, led the operation. While Mario was under anesthesia, veterinarians attempted to remove the plushies using an endoscopic tool. After about 90 minutes, these efforts proved to be unsuccessful. Knowing time was running out for Mario, the team switched to a more aggressive means of removing the plushies.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Komodo Dragon Charging\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"591\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1db643fdf4d01701cfd5991643075d5d.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A stuffed toy is not the best companion for a Komodo Dragon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9iStock.com\/kiwisoul<\/p>\n<p>(iStock.com\/kiwisoul)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the video shared on Instagram, Dr. Heng can be seen with his entire arm down Mario\u2019s throat. The footage shows him reaching as far as he can for the plushies. As he grabs one plushie with his bare hands, the footage shows a close-up of the fully-intact toy. \u201cTrust me, it is difficult to grab onto these toys with all your might. I could only manage to pull out the first toy. I was so fatigued I had to ask for help for the second toy,\u201d he says in the social media video.<\/p>\n<p>Mario Is Thankfully on the Mend<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Thanks to the swift action of Dr. Heng and his team, Mario made it out of surgery. The Mandai Wildlife Group confirms there are no further obstructions to his intestines or stomach, giving the komodo dragon a clean bill of health. The day after surgery, Mario passed stool.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Mario\u2019s instinct led him to unintentionally ingest the stuffed plushies. Komodo dragons are ambush hunters, which means their predatory instincts were triggered by the macaque\u2019s activity. In all likelihood, Mario may have thought what he was eating was a macaque, or at least an animal that was digestible. In the wild, komodo dragons are skilled hunters and can bring down animals weighing up to 100 pounds. They typically\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/animals\/komodo-dragon\/what-do-komodo-dragons-eat\/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=in_content&amp;utm_content=1554255\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:prey on boar, Timor deer, and water buffalo\u00a0during large feeding events;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;prey on boar, Timor deer, and water buffalo&amp;nbsp&quot;}\" class=\"link \">prey on boar, Timor deer, and water buffalo\u00a0during large feeding events<\/a>. Small prey often include lizards, snakes, birds, and even insects. While these stuffed plushies don\u2019t fall in any of those categories, it\u2019s a miracle that Mario has lived to see another day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The post <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/articles\/when-playtime-gets-wild-komodo-dragon-eats-plush-toys-after-macaques-toss-them-into-his-enclosure\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;When Playtime Gets Wild&quot;}\" class=\"link \">When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_content=1554255\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:A-Z Animals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;A-Z Animals&quot;}\" class=\"link \">A-Z Animals<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The post When Playtime Gets Wild: Komodo Dragon Eats Plush Toys After Macaques Toss Them Into His Enclosure&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":380896,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[273],"tags":[18,19,17,173432,174985,42246,133,166599,138261,461],"class_list":["post-380895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-eire","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-komodo-dragon","tag-mandai-wildlife-group","tag-mario","tag-science","tag-singapore-zoo","tag-veterinary-team","tag-wildlife"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116214957600296756","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/380895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=380895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/380895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/380896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=380895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=380895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=380895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}