Dragon Reserves

• Type: Magical Creature Sanctuary; Reservation
• Location: Worldwide, typically established in remote, mountainous regions far from Muggle populations. Specific reserves are known to exist in Romania and the Hebrides islands of Scotland.
• Owner/Residents: Managed by the relevant wizarding governments, such as the Ministry of Magic. They are staffed by specialist wizards known as Dragonologists or Dragon Keepers, including individuals like Charlie Weasley. The primary residents are Dragons of various species.
• Key Features: Vast, isolated territories designed to replicate a dragon's natural habitat. Protected by powerful concealment Charms and other enchantments to prevent Muggle detection, in accordance with the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.

Dragon Reserves are large, protected sanctuaries where dragons can live and be studied in a controlled environment. The creation of such reserves became necessary following the International Warlocks' Convention of 1709, which outlawed experimental dragon breeding, making the conservation and management of existing populations a priority (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). As Class XXXXX Magical Creatures, dragons are impossible to train or domesticate and are lethally dangerous, necessitating their containment in these highly secure and remote locations. The work of a Dragon Keeper on a reserve is extremely hazardous. It involves observing, feeding, and when necessary, treating the dragons. As evidenced by Charlie Weasley's “interesting burns,” handlers frequently sustain injuries. The primary purpose of these reserves is to preserve the various dragon species and to keep them isolated from the non-magical world.

Dragon Reserves play a significant role at two key points in the series, primarily through their connection to Charlie Weasley and the Triwizard Tournament. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Romanian Dragon Reserve is introduced as the workplace of Charlie Weasley. It serves as the only safe and legal destination for Norbert (Norberta), the illegally-hatched Norwegian Ridgeback that Rubeus Hagrid raises in his hut. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger help arrange for Charlie Weasley's friends to collect the infant dragon from the Hogwarts Astronomy Tower and transport it safely to Romania. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the reserves are the source of the four adult female dragons used for the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Charlie Weasley is part of the team of Dragon Keepers who transport a Hungarian Horntail, a Chinese Fireball, a Swedish Short-Snout, and a Common Welsh Green to a temporary enclosure within the Forbidden Forest. This event showcases the immense power and danger of the creatures housed in the reserves and highlights the perilous nature of working with them.

While it is implied that many reserves exist worldwide to correspond with native dragon habitats, only two are explicitly named in canonical texts.

• Romanian Dragon Reserve: The most prominent reserve mentioned in the novels. It is where Charlie Weasley works and studies various dragon species. It is known to house the native Romanian Longhorn species (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) and became the home of Hagrid's Norwegian Ridgeback, Norbert (Norberta).
• Hebridean Dragon Reserve: Mentioned in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this reserve is located on the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland. It was established primarily for the management and conservation of the native Hebridean Black dragon.

The existence of numerous other reserves is strongly suggested by the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which lists several dragon species and their countries of origin, such as the Peruvian Vipertooth (Peru), the Ukrainian Ironbelly (Ukraine), and the Antipodean Opaleye (New Zealand). It is logical to assume that dedicated reserves or protected habitats exist in these locations to manage their native dragon populations.