Fans of iconic shows like Game of Thrones or movies like The Hobbit will rejoice at this news the most- it’s not that you find out every day that a mythical creature is real and shares the same planet with you!
It seems that dragons are for real and they live in South Africa- the legendary and potent creatures of myth, the dragon’s tale, is a story of loneliness and solitude. BUT, regardless of the story, the dragons are rare beings- either chased away, hunted…
And, the story seems to be not very different for the real life dragons- named after the lead dragon in the Hobbit, the Smaug- this spiky lizard is a miniature dragon which is being poached now, according to scientists.
Cute, Real-Life Dragon Reptile Looks Impressive
The armour-plated reptile is the biggest of the group of girdled lizards and like numerous other dragons, the species is known by many common names, including sungazer, giant dragon lizard, and giant zonure.
Originally, it was grouped under the Cordylus name with the other girdled lizard; however, after a reassessment in 2011, it got a new name, after the fictional fire-breathing villain from J. R. R Tolkien’s work.
The architect of the Middle Earth was born in the same area in South Africa where the lizard can be found.
Why Is this Lizard so Special?
The body of this unique lizard is covered with sharp and bony spikes that help them get rid of jackals and birds of prey. And, researchers who study this lizard claim that these spikes have drawn blood from them too!
Same as the fictional Smaug, the sungazer spends a lot of its time underground, and even half a meter below the surface, in the Free State and Mpumalanga provinces.
The lizard, same as the dragon from Tolken’s stories, is picky about where it makes its lair and demands a specific combination of soil, climate, and prey.
Despite their strong body armour and a unique way of living under the ground, the Smaug isn’t still protected from the roads and farms or from local people who use them to make a traditional love potion.
Unfortunately, in the past 3 decades, almost 1200 sungazers were exported through a permit; still the number of the ones transported across the border remains unknown.
They’ve also been traded in Europe since the 18000s. They’re internationally-protected under the CITES Appendix 2 and nationally through the TOPS.
Moreover, a lot of institutions are doing research as well as NGOs to learn more about better protection and management of these species.
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