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Extinct Dragon Resurrected: Hope for Australia's Rarest Reptile
4 May
Summary
- Victorian grassland earless dragons, thought extinct for 50 years, were rediscovered in 2023.
- Melbourne Zoo has opened a new conservation center to breed hundreds of these critically endangered dragons.
- Reintroduction efforts are hampered by the species' last wild population residing on a single private land plot.
The Victorian grassland earless dragon, a species believed to be extinct for 50 years, is experiencing a resurgence thanks to a dedicated conservation program. Following their rediscovery in 2023, Melbourne Zoo has established a specialized dragon conservation center. This facility is designed to house and breed hundreds of these critically endangered reptiles, which are vital for the species' survival.
The zoo's efforts aim to bolster the wild population by breeding "pocket rockets" – a term for the small, fast-moving dragons. Mating pairs are carefully selected before winter to encourage breeding. Females can produce multiple clutches of eggs, with hatchlings arriving fully formed and minuscule in size.
Historically, these dragons inhabited grasslands between Melbourne and Geelong but faced severe habitat loss due to development and agriculture. Zoos Victoria aims to breed over 500 dragons, significantly more than the estimated wild population, to ensure protection against extinction and to facilitate reintroduction.
Experts emphasize that success hinges on establishing multiple wild populations. Currently, the sole remaining wild cohort resides on a single plot of private land, a situation deemed precarious. Calls are being made for government acquisition of this land to secure its future as a conservation reserve, preventing the potential loss of the species for a second time.
