The world’s largest lizard, the Komodo dragon has just successfully been bred under enclosure of a zoo for the first time in history; 122 years to be exact! As reported by TimeOut, six baby Komodo dragons hatched at the Bronx Zoo in New York which is a good sign for the endangered species as there are only as few as 350 breeding females in from an approximately total population of 2,500 Komodo dragons.
Furthermore, mating between these reptiles can sometimes become aggressive, particularly under enclosures, so it has taken years of work by the Bronx Zoo’s herpetology department to make it happen. Native to the Komodo islands in Indonesia, the reptile is the world’s largest living lizard species.
Don Boyer, curator of herpetology at the Bronx Zoo commented,
“This is an important achievement for zoo staff and a significant milestone for the Bronx Zoo… Komodo dragons are one of the planet’s most fascinating species and these hatchlings represent a hopeful future for the species.”
“They will be wonderful ambassadors for their wild counterparts as they help us raise awareness about conservation needs.”
You can watch the whole video of the baby Komodo dragons hatching here:
What do you guys think of this achievement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: WATCH: Cheeky Giant Panda Caught On Camera By Visitors Breaking Out Of His Enclosure In Beijing Zoo
