Member Blog: Melbourne Zoo plays Devil’s advocate

The Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon, a tiny reptile once feared extinct until its rediscovery west of Melbourne in 2023, now has a purpose-built conservation breeding facility at Melbourne Zoo, helping secure a future for this Critically Endangered species.

Funded through an emergency action grant from the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species Program, the new Dragon Conservation Centre can house up to 400 Victorian Grassland Earless Dragons. That’s more than double the estimated size of the entire known wild population, providing a vital safety net for the species.

Zoos Victoria General Manager of Threatened Species, Garry Peterson, said the facility is a major milestone in the recovery effort.

“Together with our recovery partners at Museums Victoria, we’ve conducted genetic analysis to understand the relatedness of the wild animals and how we might set the species up for survival in the long-term,” Garry said. “A robust insurance population where we maintain genetic diversity will provide us with a level of security should something catastrophic happen to the only known wild population.”

The new facility has been carefully designed around the unique needs of these elusive reptiles. Each enclosure houses either an individual dragon or a breeding pair and features deep soil and clay substrates, artificial burrows, living plants, and even tiny invertebrate “clean-up crews” such as pill bugs and springtails that help maintain healthy, bioactive environments.

Automated irrigation and climate systems recreate the dragons’ native grassland habitat, simulating everything from morning dew to ideal basking conditions.

For Specialist Keeper Rory, the centre represents years of preparation and learning.

“We always hoped the species would be rediscovered, which is why we began working with an analogue species – the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon – six years ago,” said Keeper Rory. “Everything we learned since prepared us for our first two successful Victorian Dragon breeding seasons, and now we’ve taken those learnings and built something entirely with these dragons in mind.”

Step behind the scenes with Keeper Rory and discover a day in the life caring for this remarkable species.

The Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon Recovery Team is a collaborative partnership involving Zoos Victoria, Museums Victoria, the Australian and Victorian Governments, and other conservation organisations, all working together to ensure this remarkable species has the best possible chance of survival.

Thanks to the support of conservation partners, government funding, and passionate zoo visitors and members like you, one of Victoria’s rarest reptiles now has a brighter future.