Taro, the Komodo dragon, unveiled to the public at a zoo in Japan; Nagoya Zoo is the only place in the country where the largest extant lizard species can be seen

NAGOYA — A 13-year-old Komodo dragon named Taro has been on display to the public at the Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Nagoya since Friday.

The largest extant lizard species was previously on display at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo and other facilities, but Nagoya Zoo is now the only place in Japan where they are kept.

Taro is 2.7 meters long and weighs 50 kilograms. He was born from a lizard loaned by the Ueno Zoo to the Singapore Zoo for a breeding program. He arrived in Japan in mid-July.

Taro appears to have acclimated to his new surroundings and is responding to calls from his keeper. When he was unveiled to the press on Thursday, Taro was seen eating a mouse and appeared to be in good health.

“He has a cute face, so I hope you like Taro,” said a zookeeper.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Taro, a Komodo dragon, was spotted at the Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Nagoya on Thursday.