Las Vegas Strip aquarium welcomes Komodo dragon

Quote :

Las Vegas Strip aquarium welcomes Komodo dragon

The Associated Press
Fri, Jun 20, 2008 (1:04 p.m.)

Cheap buffets. 99-cent shrimp cocktails. Single-deck blackjack. The list of endangered species in Las Vegas just got longer.

A Komodo dragon has arrived at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

The 87-pound, 7-foot-long endangered lizard was acquired from the Miami Metro Zoo to tout the aquarium's eighth anniversary. It went on display Friday.

It's among 75 such lizards held in zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and Canada, according to Shark Reef officials. From 3,000-5,000 exist in the wild, largely on Komodo Island and three surrounding islands in southeast Indonesia.

"He is just an incredible regal and unflappable animal that has an air about him that really transfers," said Shark Reef curator Jack Jewell.

A Komodo dragon has shark-like serrated teeth and a bite can be deadly. Its saliva contains roughly 50 different known bacteria strains, so if a wound is not cleaned properly septicemia sets in quickly.

Hearst Corp. executive Phil Bronstein made headlines when he was attacked and bitten by a Komodo dragon during a tour of the Los Angeles Zoo.

Jewell said Las Vegas' high rollers shouldn't expect special access to this lizard.

"That's just foolhardy behavior," he said.

But is he allowed to gamble and will we see him on a future episode of CSI?

That's great! I read about Scott Adam's experience going to the island of Komodo to look at them.

I don't think it's all that good. Endangered animals being held in a casino - it just rings unhappy bells in my head for that dragon...

I must admit the noise slot machines make annoys the hell out of me, I couldn't stand to be around that all the time so I do wonder what the dragon is going to make of that. Although I would hope the Miami Metro Zoo would know better than to put the dragon into a home that is not fit for its health and wellbeing.

One of my favourite nowaday reptiles!
But I agree with Tysha, a zoo would be a better place for the komodo dragon.