A new breeding facility for the endangered Grassland Earless Dragon was opened at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve following the arrival of six dragons from Melbourne Zoo.
Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti said the new facility and breeding colony would be critical to the long-term survival of the dragon, which was only found in the ACT region.
“This colony will be an insurance population to guard against extinction and provide a source of animals for reintroduction to the wild,” Ms Vassarotti said.
“They will also provide opportunities for research aimed at conserving and managing this species in the face of threats such as predators, habitat destruction and climate change,” she said.
Ms Vassarotti said Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve had partnered with the University of Canberra (UC), which would do the genome sequencing to assist in breeding the dragons as well as other behavioural, genetic and ecological research.
Minister for Land Management, Mick Gentleman said the purpose-built breeding facility and specially designed quarantine capacity could house up to 80 dragons.
“This controlled, bio-secure facility will keep diseases out and provide optimal conditions for the dragons’ wellbeing,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Each dragon will have its own space with everything it needs, such as a burrow, grasses to climb on and a basking platform,” he said.
Mr Gentleman said the facility also featured larger outdoor, predator-proof ring tanks which would allow ecologists to observe the Grassland Earless Dragons in a more natural environment.
