Rare Monitor Lizards on Exhibit at Gladys Porter Zoo

Special to La Feria News

Brownsville, Texas – We have two very special lizards new to the zoo!

These are Gray’s monitors (Varanus olivaceus), also called Butaan dragons! They came to us from the Los Angeles Zoo. We are very happy to have them on display in a newly renovated exhibit inside the Herpetarium.

Native to the Philippine Islands, Gray’s monitors are unique in terms of their feeding habits. Most monitor lizards, like Komodo dragons, are strictly carnivores. However, Gray’s monitors eat primarily fruit!

They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, primarily due to human consumption for food and habitat loss.

Please come visit the zoo to see them for yourselves!