Komodo Dragons Make First Return to Bronx Zoo [video]

An exhibit of the world's largest species of lizard, the Komodo dragon, will return to Bronx Zoo after nearly half a century, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The three Komodo dragons will be kept on display at the zoo to mark the Memorial Day weekend of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Along with these amazing monitors the exhibit also features Merten's water monitors (Varanus mertensi), yellow spinny-tailed monitors (Varanus acanthurus) and blue tree monitors (Varanus Macraei).

It is estimated that less than 2,500 Komodo dragons (Varanus Komodoensis) are thriving in the wild and less than 350 breeding females exist.

"Komodo dragons are one of nature's most amazing creatures," Jim Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President and Director of the Bronx Zoo, said in a statement. "They are the top predator in the environment in which they live. By introducing visitors to Komodo dragons and the challenges they are facing in the wild, we hope people will take on an appreciation for this uniquely adapted species. Perhaps we will even inspire the career of the next great herpetologist or conservation scientist to work in Indonesia to help save the remaining wild dragons."

The Bornx zoo stopped exhibiting the Komodo dragons in the 1950s. The present trio includes two females and one male. Visitors can take a look at these adolescent dragons that are yet to achieve the size of an adult. An adult male measures nine feet from nose to tail and weighs a whopping 360 pounds.

 "Providing the right environmental conditions, habitat, and enrichment is vital to the health and wellbeing of all animals in our care. The Komodo dragon exhibit is a good example and demonstrates the attention to detail that goes into the design of all Bronx Zoo exhibits," said Don Boyer, Bronx Zoo Herpetology Curator.

Classified as 'vulnerable species' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Komodo dragons are native to the eastern Indonesian islands. They mostly feed on large and small mammals including deer and buffalo and are efficient predators as they consume over 80 percent of their body weight in one feeding.