Words by Blyth Brentnall
Image: Chester Zoo
Two Komodo dragons have hatched at Chester Zoo, showing some hope for the revival of their species.
Hooray! Tell me more.
It’s the first time the zoo has successfully bred these creatures. Mum, Mezcal, and dad, Satali, produced babies weighing around 74g and measuring just 40cm each. They will grow to more than three metres long and up to 90kg in weight.
Conservationists at the zoo are particularly excited about their arrival because their species is classified as ‘endangered’.
Komodo dragons have inhabited Earth for more than 100 million years. But now only about 3,000 survive in the wild - mostly living on a handful of small isolated islands in Indonesia, including Komodo and Flores.
Habitat loss, agricultural expansion and rising global temperatures have caused major decline in Komodo dragon populations – with their habitat expected to reduce by a further 30% in the next 45 years.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Every Can Counts. This is a not-for-profit recycling programme, encouraging people to recycle more often, to protect our planet. Support them here.
Trees For Cities. They are working to plant more trees within large metropolitan areas, for the betterment of people and planet. Support them here.
The Woodland Trust. This is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, concerned with the creation, protection, and restoration of native woodland heritage. Support them here.
