Loka, the Komodo dragon, makes her Calgary Zoo debut

Loka, the Komodo dragon, is adapting well to her Calgary Zoo enclosure

The Calgary Zoo has unveiled its most recent addition and Loka, a female Komodo dragon, is sure to turn heads.

Visitors will have a chance to visit the lizard at her enclosure in the Eurasia section of the zoo, in the building which formerly housed the elephants.

“Loka has several meanings,” said Mike Teller, curator at the Calgary Zoo. “The Toronto Zoo named her and what we’re told is it means Rose.”

This rose is not a recent bloomer. Loka is the oldest female Komodo dragon in captivity.

“She’s a very impressive Komodo dragon especially considering her age. She is 28 years old which is very old for a Komodo dragon. They usually live to about 25 or 30 years of age. She’s an elderly, geriatric Komodo but she’s in very good health for her age.”

“She seems to be adjusting very well to her exhibit.”

Komodo dragons are carnivorous and Loka’s diet includes quail, fish, rats, mice and rabbits.

The lizards are indigenous to southeast Indonesia, a region of the world known for its hot and humid climate, and the Calgary Zoo has created an exhibit which replicates those conditions. The enclosure’s temperature will remain at 35C throughout the year with a humidity level between 70 and 80 per cent. The exhibit includes a misting system, heating pads, heat lamps and sky lights.

Loka will be joined by four younger Komodo dragons which will be transported to the Calgary Zoo from the Colchester Zoo in the U.K. The six month old Komodo dragons are expected to arrive in Calgary next week but will remain in quarantine for several months.

The young dragons will be separated from Loka to prevent the elder Komodo dragon from dining on the new arrivals.