""We knew we wanted to do something really, really special,""
""When it comes to big, charismatic species that get the public excited, that we can tell their conservation story for, Komodo dragons were definitely the most obvious choice.""
""Assuming that climate change doesn't take a toll on their island homes and assuming the situation with trash and debris can be taken care of somehow, we're optimistic about the future""
Charlie hatched at the Denver Zoo in 2018, later lived at the Bronx Zoo, and was adopted by the St. Louis Zoo in September and named after former director Charles H. Hoessle. The new Komodo habitat opens for a Halloween sneak peek on Oct. 16 and to the general public during regular hours starting Oct. 20. The zoo prioritized a Komodo dragon because of strong family appeal and the species' effectiveness in communicating conservation messages. The acquisition followed coordination with the Komodo dragon Special Species Survival Plan and Association of Zoos and Aquariums partners. Komodo dragons are native to Indonesia, endangered, and face threats including poaching, plastic and debris ingestion, and potential impacts from climate change; current estimates place fewer than 3,500 individuals.
Read at STLPR
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