As a species threatened with extinction, these births are a great event for the species to continue, thus ensuring more genetic diversity, according to the zoo press release.
Two new Komodo dragons
According to a press release published by the Nashville Zoo (capital of the state of Tennessee in the United States), the establishment recently had the pleasant surprise of welcoming two new Komodo dragons born on September 20 and 23. According to According to the release, they are in very good health and both weigh around 100 grams.
The zoo has had Komodo dragons since 2014 (one adult male, two adult females, two juvenile males) but no birth has been celebrated. And the least we can say is that this event moved the infrastructure staff: Cayton Curtis and James Flaherty, the herpetologist keepers (amphibians and reptiles) of the Nashville Zoo, responsible for the care and breeding of this species, declared in the press release that this beautiful discovery caused them tremors.
The Komodo Survival Program (KSP)
“At the Nashville Zoo, we work hard to ensure endangered species are protected and help them thrive. We are proud to contribute to increasing the genetic diversity of Komodo dragon populations with the two new Komodo dragons”, they recalled.
The press release specifies that the zoo participates financially in the Komodo Survival Program (KSP), “an organization dedicated to Komodo dragon educational initiatives and practical conservation work of wild populations”. The animal is in fact classified as “in danger of extinction” by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). The total population is estimated at 3,500 individuals.
A fearsome animal
Native to the Komodo Islands in central Indonesia, the Komodo dragon, or Komodo monitor lizard, seems straight out of a fantasy (or horror) film. According to an article from the Zooparc de Beauval, this animal can measure up to 3 meters long and weigh up to 165 kg. He therefore holds the record for the largest lizard in the world.
Its scales act as armor, its tail is extremely muscular. A large predator, it is capable of devouring monkeys, pigs, deer and even buffalo! To make matters worse, the monitor lizard is also venomous. Its venom combined with pathogenic bacteria present in its mouth allows it to more easily kill its prey. Recently, studies have proven that their teeth are covered with a sort of “iron layer”….
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