Natural born killers - coming soon
Wednesday 21 April 2004
We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a fascinating new species this summer
© Gerard Visser
With razor sharp teeth, incredible stalking skills and toxic saliva that can fell a buffalo, Komodo dragons are the world's largest lizards and are only found on five islands including Komodo Island in Indonesia.
Despite their large size and fierce reputation Komodo Dragons are increasingly threatened in the wild by habitat and prey loss as a result of agriculture encroachment.
These carnivorous lizards grow up to 10 feet long and can eat up to 80% of their body weight in a single sitting.
London Zoo is building a new exhibit to house a pair of these incredible dragons and work is well underway on the site behind the current Reptile House. The new enclosure is due to be open for the summer school holidays in July so keep an eye on this site for more information.
Picture copyright Gerard Visser
