Since February, researchers have found and gathered 16 individuals of the species to use in a breeding program.
Melbourne ZooThe square-toed grassland earless dragon has a short life of only about two years .
The last time anyone saw the Victorian grassland earless dragon was in 1969 , and most scientists assumed that the creature had gone extinct . However , a late discovery unveil that the earless dragon is very much alive , as researchers found the lizard living in the grasslands just west of Melbourne .
As ecologists Brendan Wintle of the University of Melbourne and Sarah Bekessy of RMIT University detailed inThe Conversation , the rediscovery of the roughly six - in lizard marks “ an extraordinary second fortune . ”
Melbourne ZooThe Victorian grassland earless dragon has a short lifespan of only about two years.
The earless dragons were once common to the part , but over the age , several factors led the population to wane , including home ground loss and natural predatory animal such as Charles James Fox and ferine computed tomography . rediscover the specie gives ecologists a singular opportunity to save it from extinction . Still , as Wintle and Bekessy noted , rediscovery only pass off when the species is so scarce it is elusive even to researchers who know where to look for it .
The straight-laced grassland earless tartar was rediscovered and photographed by two former - career ecologist in February 2023 .
Ever since , scientists have been working to make up one’s mind the species ’ universe size at the site of the find . They have also observe this location secret from the public to protect the reptilian while they ’re still in such a delicate stage of recovery . The Australian politics is also investing $ 188,000 into a program that uses trained dog to sniff out the sleep of the flying lizard .
Tanya Pilbersek/TwitterThe Victorian earless dragon gets its name from its distinct lack of ear holes.
Since the lizards were rediscover , scientists have regain and hoard 16 to participate in a nurture program go by Zoos Victoria , a conservation organization that has been looking for the flying dragon since 2017 . The Melbourne Zoo is similarly work to bring other species back from the brink of extermination , such as Baw Baw toad , golden - rayed dark butterfly , Lord Howe Island stick insects , and spotted tree Gaul .
“ We are pretty delirious . dragon are a big deal and to have such an endangered firedrake in our population is just something that make us incredibly excited , ” Dr. Jenny Gray of Zoos Victoria severalise theSydney Morning Herald . “ This is probably the most endanger reptile in the world with only 16 verified individuals in secure care , so to be able to mould with an creature like this is both an incredible challenge and incredible opportunity . ”
Tanya Pilbersek / TwitterThe Victorian earless flying lizard gets its name from its distinct deficiency of ear hole .
Zoos Victoria ’s Garry Peterson even likened the Dragon ’ rediscovery to that of the Tasmanian tiger , more ordinarily known as the Tasmanian tiger .
“ It ’s that significant , ” he said . “ We have got people that have spent 30 years looking for this species and I reckon for the corporate squad that are involve it ’s probably the meridian of our preservation careers . ”
Experts have account the modest brown lizard as a “ windfall and bust metal money , ” reaching matureness within 12 months . This allows the dragons to breed before die out within two geezerhood . As helpful as this can be for breeder , however , this forgetful life also realise the lizards more susceptible to predators , extreme weather events , and habitat passing — all of which contributed to the species ’ declension over the years .
PerSmithsonian Magazine , Victorian earless dragons typically endure and lay their eggs in abandon wanderer burrow , really only populating Australia ’s basalt plains grassland ecosystem . regrettably , the grasslands also confront extreme endangerment , having declined by more than 97 percent since the pre - European earned run average .
Still , researcher have n’t given up on this coinage or this ecosystem . In theConversation , Wintle and Bekessy outline three key steps to protect the Victorian earless dragons : breed enough diverse individuals to return to the wild , protect sizable and character habitats , and reduce threat within these areas as the lizards are reintroduced .
“ I want to protect our precious creature for our kid and grandkids . It ’s such exciting news that the Victorian grassland earless dragon has been rediscover , ” said Tanya Pilbersek , the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water . “ It ’s a reminder about why it ’s so crucial to invest in habitat restoration and the obliteration of ferine metal money like cat and foxes . ”
After read about this fresh rediscovered lizard species , take about therediscovered tortoise thought to be extinct since 1906 . Then , mark out therediscovered Indonesian bee species — the largest bees in the public .
