The Los Angeles Zoo is celebrating the successful hatching of two healthy perentie lizards (Varanus giganteus). This is the first time the LA Zoo has bred the species in its history.

“It is incredibly rewarding for our team to experience success breeding this species,” said Byron Wusstig, LA Zoo acting curator of ectotherms. “This species is not endangered, but it is rarely seen in zoo settings outside of Australia. The LA Zoo is one of only three AZA-accredited institutions that have successfully reproduced them.”

The babies are doing well, are eating and are being closely observed by Zoo staff. While they continue through early stages of development, they will be raised off-exhibit in very specific, controlled environmental conditions that will allow them to thrive. The adult male perentie, the sire of the new babies, can be seen by Zoo visitors in the Zoo’s Australia section adjacent to the Komodo dragon habitat.

Native to Australia, perenties are among the world’s largest lizards, dwarfed only by the Komodo dragon, Asian water monitor and a few others. Adults of the species can reach more than eight feet in length and can weigh more than 40 pounds. They are identified by their brown skin with cream or yellow markings.

Perenties are a carnivorous species and eat a variety of food, including turtle eggs, insects, birds, other reptiles and small mammals and marsupials. Perenties track their prey by sight or by sensing with their tongue. Once caught, the perentie will violently shake the prey until it is dead and then swallow it whole.

The Los Angeles Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is dedicated to providing exemplary animal care and wellbeing. As a trusted leader in local and global conservation efforts, the Los Angeles Zoo is saving wildlife and connecting Angelenos to the natural world by delivering diverse learning opportunities and creating unforgettable experiences. The 133-acre campus is lush and its team is passionate and dedicated and welcomes all to be inspired by the Zoo’s vision to create a just and sustainable world where people and wildlife thrive, together. The Zoo is located on Zoo Drive in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Admission is $22 for adults and $17 for children ages 2 to 12. For information, call (323) 644-4200 or visit the L.A. Zoo website at www.lazoo.org.