ZSL London Zoo's komodo dragon stars in Skyfall
Friday 2 November 2012
ZSL London Zoo's male komodo dragon has made his big screen debut in the new James Bond film.
© ZSL
Komodo dragon Raja has been drawing the crowds at ZSL London Zoo for over five years but is now reaching a global audience as a "Bond villain" in film Skyfall.
The Zoo's charismatic, male komodo dragon was filmed in his exhibit to be used for a special CGI scene with James Bond himself, played by Daniel Craig.
The filming, which took place in December 2011, focused on Raja's natural behaviours including the way komodos bite and how they use their tongues to smell and detect their surroundings. Filmmakers also took Raja's measurements to recreate the dragon using special effects technology for the blockbuster film.
Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo do training regularly with Raja which forms part of a comprehensive enrichment schedule for the resident komodo dragons. The training techniques allow keepers to work safely with and in close proximity to potentially-dangerous species, such as komodo dragons and offers way to facilitate the animals’ wellbeing through both mental and physical stimulation.
Bond star Raja the komodo dragon
