Rare Komodo dragon babies hatch at Toronto zoo

[PetNews]

RTw 10/01/2003 1740 Rare Komodo dragon babies hatch at Toronto zoo

TORONTO (Reuters) - The population of the endangered Komodo dragon, estimated at 5,000 around the world, has risen by two with the birth of two of the rare reptiles at Toronto Zoo, zoo officials said on Wednesday.

Satu, which means "one" in Indonesian, was born on August 27th, 2003 and another baby hatched on Tuesday, spokeswoman Cynthia Shipley said. They are the first Komodo dragons born in Canada and a rare coup for the zoo.

"We're just beyond thrilled to have this happen. It's just amazing," said zoo spokesperson, Cynthia Shipley.

The reptiles are the largest flesh-eating lizards in the world, and they can be 10 feet (3 meters) long.

They are only found in the wild on four small Indonesian islands, where they are vulnerable to disease, volcanic activity, and competition with feral dogs and man.

The babies were just 16 inches (40 cm) long at birth, and Shipley said Satu has already started making its presence felt.

"At first it would sort of hiss, but now it's letting people know that it's getting the dragon attitude. Survival instincts are obviously kicking in," she said.

The father of the two babies is a 16-year-old male named Doni who is on a two-year "breeding loan" to Toronto.

"Doni came a year ago for the purpose of love -- to breed -- and he just took it really seriously," Shipley added.

"We weren't sure if it was going to be successful and because we only had him on a two-year breeding loan."

A total of 95 Komodo dragons have been successfully hatched in eight U.S. zoos, but Toronto's first two babies will help broaden the gene pool -- mothers, Draca, 14, and Loca, 17, have not bred before and Doni is a first-time father.

"These dragons are not genetically represented ... but they can now genetically live through their children," explained Bob Johnson, curator for amphibians and reptiles -- and now baby dragons -- at the zoo.

Komodo dragons are not particularly known for their beauty, but Satu is nonetheless a striking creature, with a jewel-like reddish-yellow and blue skin. "I kind of see a primitive, Indonesian island king, mixed with beautiful hues, like a fanciful dragon," said Johnson.

The zoo will wait until later to determine what sex the babies are. They hope Satu will be on public display in time for Halloween.