Calgary, AB – The Calgary Zoo was delighted to debut four new and very active Komodo dragons in August, two females and two males. The dragons reside in the enclosure next to Loka our older female who has been a “star” over the course of the summer months. The four juveniles are from the Colchester Zoo in the UK and are all from the same clutch at eight months old.
“We are delighted to debut the new additions to our Komodo exhibit, new next door neighbours for Loka, the oldest female Komodo dragon in captivity. Judging from the response to Loka, we know the public will be excited to meet them,” states Colleen Baird, Curator.
Komodo dragons are native to a small group of islands in Indonesia and are considered to be the largest lizards in the world with mature males growing up to 3.5 m (10 ft) in length. Currently there are estimated to be only about 3,000 – 5,000 Komodo dragons left in the wild. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List of endangered species.