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Posted: 9th January 2013

Indonesian sailfin dragons hatch in UK
Rare reptiles may become part of breeding programme

Two female Indonesian sailfin dragons have hatched, and are thought to be the first of their kind that have been captive-bred in the UK.

Betty and Wilma, who arrived on New Year's day, were bred by Neil Harris from Cambridgeshire - a special achievement in itself, as sailfin dragons are threatened in the wild.

Mr Harris said he and his colleagues have not been able to find any records of other sailfin dragons hatching in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

The mother laid a number of infertile eggs before her successful eggs were laid in August last year. Mr Harris incubated the eggs for 90 days prior to Betty and Wilma's arrival.

"They are very rare and difficult to breed, so we're thrilled," he said.

Mr Harris does not intend to sell the reptiles, instead, he hopes they will become part of a breeding programme when they are older.

"We have found two single sailfin dragons - one at a zoo in the Netherlands, and one at a Polish zoo - but at the moment we don't know whether those are male or female," he said.

Betty and Wilma are both currently about three inches (7.5cm) long, but will grow to be around four feet (120cm). Mr Harris said they feed mainly on fruit and vegetables, "with the odd mouse or locust thrown in for good measure".

Richard Brook, treasurer at the International Herpetological Society, commented: "To the best of our knowledge, these dragons have not been bred here [in the UK] before."



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