Forty endangered Canberra Grassland Earless Dragons have been released into new custom-built homes at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

The custom made ‘ring tank’ enclosures have been specifically designed for the dragon, providing a predatory safe, controlled area where research can be conducted.

Since being endangered under ACT and federal legislation, a breeding facility for the species was established at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in 2021. Although not open to the public, the colony of Grassland Earless Dragons functions as an ‘insurance population’ to guard against extinction. The colony also provides a source of genetically diverse animals for research and eventual reintroduction to the wild.

More than 30 dragons were bred through the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve breeding program last year, with over 150 animals bred between colonies at Tidbinbilla and the Melbourne Zoo since 2019.

Strong collaboration between staff at Tidbinbilla, Melbourne Zoo, the University of Canberra, and the efforts of volunteers have contributed to the success of the breeding program.

“The establishment of the earless dragon ring tanks at Tidbinbilla will enable behavioural research into the dragons directed at answering the question: what conditions are required to enable the dragons to thrive in Canberra’s grasslands in the face of urbanisation and climate change?” Professor Stephen Sarre at the University of Canberra said.

“The research planned for the ring tanks builds on 17 years of collaboration between the University of Canberra and the ACT Government.

“These collaborations have seen the establishment, at UC, of the first captive colony of the dragons as well as long-term investigations into the behaviour and genetics of the dragons and the impact of climate change upon them.”

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Dragons released into the tanks will hopefully breed in their new habitats indefinitely, with the aim of new animals being introduced into the wild in the future.