Endangered Komodo Dragon Welcomed at Melbourne Zoo

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The first Komodo dragon ever bred in Australia has arrived at its new home in the Melbourne Zoo, according to a press release from Zoos Victoria on December 21.Two-year-old Khan “arrived in a special insulated reptile transport crate inside a calico transfer bag,” which is “the best way for reptiles to travel as it helps them stay calm and feel protected,” Zoos Victoria said.Though Khan was 90 cm (35.4 inches) long and weighed 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds), the zoo said Komodo dragons – the largest and heaviest lizards in the world – can grow up to three meters in length and up to 70 kilograms (154 pounds) in weight.“Khan’s diet at the zoo includes a variety of meats, mirroring his wild diet of deer, pigs, and smaller reptiles. Komodo dragons can consume up to 80 percent of their body weight in one meal — demonstrating their incredible adaptability,” the press release said.Melbourne Zoo Reptile Keeper Sam Hermann said the zoo had “been preparing for this moment for a long time” and said “Khan’s arrival is a delight for our team.”Komodo dragons are an endangered species, with fewer than 1,400 of the venomous lizards remaining in the wild in its native Indonesia, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Credit: Zoos Victoria via Storyful
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