Critically Endangered Victoria Grassland Earless Dragon First Sighting in 50 Years Ends Extinction Worries in Australia

A tiny Victoria grassland earless dragon, which experts thought has succumbed to extinction, has been spotted for the first time in over 50 years in Australia.

Victoria Grassland Earless Dragon

More than 70 different species of dragons may be found in Australia, however, the Victorian grassland earless dragon, which was once common in the grasslands of eastern Australia, was last spotted in the wild in 1969.

Its population fell dramatically because of habitat degradation and predators including foxes and feral cats, which were once prevalent in the area.

Iguanian lizards known as dragons are a subspecies that are indigenous to Asia, Africa, and Australia. They resemble miniature versions of their legendary counterparts. A few species are native to Southern Europe as well.

The Victorian grassland earless dragon is so named because it has no external ear openings and, at its greatest size, is just 15 cm long from head to tail.

According to the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of 1988 as well as the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999, the Victorian grassland earless dragon is classified as critically endangered.

Since the lizard has been discovered again, environmentalists are determined to prevent its loss in the future, according to a release by the Albanese and Andrews Labor Governments published in the Premier of Victoria.

First-Time Sighting in a Secret Location

The animal's survival was feared by conservationists, who had made significant but fruitless attempts to track down the species.

Now that a tiny colony has been found, the specific location remains to be kept secret in order to save the remaining animals.

However, studies are still being conducted at the rediscovery location to learn more about the population size, and the Andrews Labor Government is collaborating with Zoos Victoria and the Albanese Government to create a strategy to guarantee the species' recovery.

The Victorian environment minister, Ingrid Stitt, stated that this is a remarkable finding and presents a chance for the recovery of a species that was formerly believed to be extinct in the state and around the world.

According to Stitt, her team will continue to work to prevent the extinction of the recently rediscovered critically endangered species to preserve it for future generations to see and learn about.

Also Read: Fairy Lantern That Eats Fungi Rediscovered 30 Years After Extinction in Japan

Conservation Efforts

The federal and state governments of Australia are interested in investing AUD$188,000 in sniffer dog training to find new dragon populations.

Tanya Plibersek, the minister for federal environment, reportedly hailed this approach as a successful and harmless technique to locate this elusive and critically endangered reptile in the wild, according to reports from The Guardian.

Plibersek stated in a statement that she wants to safeguard the precious animals for future generations.

She expressed her delight at learning about the re-discovery of the Victorian grassland earless dragon. It serves as a timely reminder of the importance of supporting habitat restoration and the elimination of feral animals like cats and foxes.

Additionally, Zoos Victoria is starting a special breeding program to guarantee the lizard's survival in the future, EuroNews.Green reported.