The Victorian grassland earless dragon, a tiny reptile believed to be extinct in the wild, has been rediscovered in the state of Victoria, Australia. The last confirmed sighting of the species occurred in 1969, and efforts to locate it in recent years had been unsuccessful. The reptile's decline was attributed to habitat degradation, fragmentation, inappropriate livestock grazing, and predators such as feral cats. The specific location of the rediscovered population is being kept secret to aid preservation efforts. The Victorian and federal governments will invest in a trial using detection dogs to locate additional populations of the critically endangered lizard. Zoos Victoria will also establish a conservation breeding program for the species. The rediscovery provides hope for the recovery of this unique Victorian species and underscores the importance of habitat restoration and the control of feral species.
Photo Credit: Ravit Sages