Rare Komodo Dragons Hatch at Denver Zoo

© October 15th, 2010 - All rights reserved © Denver Zoo

DENVER, Colroado – As Halloween draws near, Denver Zoo is hatching dragons!  Komodo dragons, that is.  Four have already hatched and four more eggs remain in an incubator.  The hatchlings began emerging from their shells a week ago.  They are all behind-the-scenes now, but visitors should be able to see them in Tropical Discovery's nursery in time for the zoo's Halloween event, Boo At The Zoo.  Denver Zoo’s Komodo dragon habitat encompasses 5,500 square feet and is among the largest indoor facilities for the creature, which is found on a few small islands east of Bali and south of Borneo in southeast Asia.  Komodo dragons grow up to eight to 10 feet long and can weigh up to 175 pounds.  Komodo dragons are listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Between 3,000 and 5,000 dragons remain in the wild.“This is a very significant event as Denver Zoo is only the second zoo in North America to hatch dragons this year and the only zoo in the world to hatch dragons on three different occasions,” says Denver Zoo Curator of Reptiles and Fishes Rick Haeffner.  "Denver Zoo is committed to being a leader in captive management and reproduction of this magnificent, endangered giant lizard.”

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