Komodo dragon arrives at Saint Louis Zoo

Note: Video courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo.

ST. LOUIS - The Saint Louis Zoo is welcoming a new resident.

Charlie, a Komodo dragon, came to the zoo Sept. 20 from the Bronx Zoo in New York through the Komodo Dragon Species Survival Plan to "ensure a healthy and genetically diverse population of Komodo dragons in the U.S."

The six-year-old reptile is the first one to live in the newly renovated Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium, who Charlie is named after. This marks the first Komodo dragon in St. Louis in over 12 years.

The herpetarium was transformed to suit Charlie's needs, which includes a UV-transmissible ceiling, allowing light in year-round, basking spots with automatic warming elements, and a dry, forest climate habitat.

As Charlie is still acclimating to the new environment, he will not be visible to the public until the middle of October as part of "Boo at the Zoo." Visitors can see Charlie Oct. 16 - Oct. 19, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A ticket is required to enter.

However, beginning Oct. 20, the Komodo dragon will be available to visit during regular hours.

“Our team has been eagerly preparing for Charlie’s arrival, and we can’t wait for guests to discover all the things that make Komodo dragons one-of-a-kind,” Curator of Herpetology and Aquatics at Saint Louis Zoo Justin Elden said in a release. “It’s a privilege to have this unique and endangered species in our care.”

For more information about Charlie and his habitat, click here.