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This rare 'dragon' breed believed to be extinct has resurfaced in the wild

 
 The Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon was previously believed to be extinct - but now has made a resurgence into the public eye. (photo credit: WIKIMEDIA)
The Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon was previously believed to be extinct - but now has made a resurgence into the public eye.
(photo credit: WIKIMEDIA)

A population of lizards that was defined as extinct since 1969 has been located in Melbourne, Australia. It is believed that these are only the first "survivors."

In Australia, a population of Victorian Earless Prairie Dragons, a species of lizard last seen in 1969, have now been rediscovered in the wild. These rare reptiles, which reach 15 centimeters in length, are often referred to as dragon lizards.

They were once the most common in the grass prairies of West Melbourne, Australia, but over the years they became extinct due to habitat loss. They also faced predators like foxes and stray cats.

Now, "survivors" of these believed-to-be-extinct lizards have been rediscovered. Australian media reported that the Ministry of the Environment stated that, "this is an amazing discovery that gives us the opportunity to bring back these rare species that were already considered extinct and lost. With the help of our partners, we will continue to fight the extinction of this critically endangered species - to ensure that future generations can see and learn about this unique lizard."

Ongoing search for a species in hiding

Wildlife Conservation Victoria has been actively searching for these dragons since 2017. Their CEO, Dr. Jenny Gray, was thrilled with their success in finding it

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"The extraordinary rediscovery of this critically endangered lizard gives us optimism for the recovery of this Victorian species," she said.

The exact location where the lizards were found is being kept a secret for the time being to protect the species and their habitats. Now, the conservation organization in Victoria is currently working on rebuilding special habitats for the lizards to keep them from predators and make sure they don't become extinct again.

The Environment and Climate Change portal is produced in cooperation with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Jerusalem Post maintains all editorial decisions related to the content.

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