Six Komodo dragons — the world’s largest living lizard species native to Indonesia — have hatched in New York, sparking hope for the future of the endangered species.
The successful breeding was announced by the Bronx Zoo earlier this month. In a statement, the zoo said that the pair of Komodos bred earlier in March, and the female laid a clutch of eggs in April. The eggs were then placed in an incubator for careful monitoring, and eventually hatched in November.
“Komodo dragons are one of the planet’s most fascinating species and these hatchlings represent a hopeful future for the species,” Don Boyer, Curator of Herpetology at the Bronx Zoo, said.
“They will be wonderful ambassadors for their wild counterparts as they help us raise awareness about conservation needs.”
Komodo dragons are native to eastern Indonesian islands, such as Komodo, Flores, Rinca, and Padar, which are located in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province. The species is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Official data from 2018 estimates that there are about 2,800 Komodo dragons at Indonesia’s Komodo National Park.
The Komodo dragon exhibit opened at the Bronx Zoo back in 2014.
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