Radio Exe By Radio Exe News Paignton Zoo celebrates after eight lazy lizards born
Endangered Chinese crocodile lizards are a little less endangered right now, following the birth of two litters of the little blighters at Paignton Zoo.
Scientists believe that there may be fewer than 1,000 of the lizards left in the wild in China, with habitat loss, climate change and over collection posing a serious threat to their continued survival.
As well as being one of Paignton Zoo’s most unique-looking reptile residents, they are also one of the most unusual in terms of their behaviour. In their native range, they are known as the ‘lizard of great sleepiness’ after their habit of lying motionless on branches overhanging water and hibernating in cool weather. In the past, this behaviour also led to them being captured for use in traditional medicine as a supposed cure for insomnia!