Columbus Zoo Komodo Dragon Sapo dies at age 13

The Columbus Zoo is reeling following the death of Sapo, the Komodo Dragon.

The 13-year-old was undergoing treatment for severe and progressive arthritis that utilized laser therapy for pain management and to delay the progression of the disease, according to a post on the zoo's Facebook page. 

Sapo's cause of death is not immediately known, and the zoo said its Animal Health and Animal Care teams are awaiting the results of a necropsy to determine how he died Oct. 7.

Sapo hatched in Los Angeles in 2010 and joined the Columbus Zoo in 2016, where he became an "important ambassador" for the species.

"While Komodo dragons are large and impressive apex predators, his care team remembers him as a sweet boy with a soft and gentle demeanor who made his caregivers feel like the best trainers. Sapo was always ready for training sessions and quickly learned new behaviors", the Zoo said in a Facebook post.

Komodo dragons are native to a handful of Indonesian islands and usually reside in tropical forests. They hold the crown in the animal kingdom as the largest living lizard and usually weigh around 154 pounds, with males usually weighing more than females. 

Their unique jaw structure allows them to swallow large chunks of meat and prey in one sitting, and their serrated teeth easily tear into meat.

 Adding to their hunting arsenal, they are venomous, and their saliva hosts at least 50 different strains of bacteria. In addition to their dangerous bacteria, the Komodo Dragon's venom prevents blood from clotting, causing "massive blood loss," and can induce shock in its victims.

Komodo dragons usually live between 30 and 40 years.