A zoo in Indonesia has nurtured a notable batch of young Komodo dragons, a fact reported by AFP. Komodo dragons stand as the planet’s largest lizards, living only in the wild within Indonesia’s Komodo National Park. Experts estimate there are about 3,458 individuals left in their natural range, which places the species on the endangered list. These reptiles can grow up to three meters long and weigh as much as ninety kilograms. They lead a predatory life, capable of dangerous encounters with humans, and their survival is threatened mainly by habitat loss and human pressures in their limited habitat.
In Surabaya, a city zoo has successfully incubated and raised a group of Komodo dragons. Between February and March, keepers removed twenty-nine monitor lizards from their incubation spaces. The zoo’s director, Chairul Anwar, explained that the facilities simulate the Komodo’s natural environment with controlled humidity and temperature to support healthy development.
Surabaya Zoo now maintains a population of 134 Komodo dragons on site, representing the largest community of these lizards outside their native ecosystem. This concentration offers researchers and visitors a rare chance to observe the species up close while underscoring the need for ongoing conservation efforts to safeguard this unique reptile heritage.