WILD LIFE Sydney Welcomes Ten Baby Frill-Necked Lizards

WILD LIFE Sydney Welcomes Ten Baby Frill-Necked Lizards

WILD LIFE Sydney has welcomed ten new Frill-Necked Lizard hatchlings to its Darling Harbour home.

The clutch of hatchlings is less than two weeks old and each baby lizard weighs just five grams – lighter than the two cent piece they once featured on. The lizards were bred on site at WILD LIFE Sydney and have been thriving in their new environment.

The birth of the quintessential Aussie reptiles is a testament to WILD LIFE Sydney's breeding procedures, with staff excited about monitoring the lizard's growth which will eventually reach over 70 cm in length and weigh over 500 grams.

Most female Frill-Necked Lizards lay between 8-23 eggs which take about 3-4 months to hatch. Once the babies are born, mother Frill-Necked Lizards do not provide any parental care, and in fact babies are at risk of being eaten by their mother or other Frill-Necked adults. As such, the hatchlings are currently being kept in a separate enclosure.

'The new hatchlings are doing exceptionally well, and we can't wait to see them start developing their own personalities," said Jason Hainke, Reptile Manager at WILD LIFE Sydney. 'There are so many unique features about these iconic Aussie creatures, including how they use their frills to intimidate and scare off their predators like birds and snakes, as well as the quirky way they stand up and run on their two back legs."

At the moment, the newborn lizards require some special TLC. WILD LIFE Sydney keepers can be found weighing the hatchlings and regularly taking them into the sunshine for some extra UV light. The babies also undergo daily misting to ensure they are kept hydrated and are fed small crickets. The baby lizards are now on display at WILD LIFE Sydney.

WILD LIFE Sydney, Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour (next door to Sydney Aquarium)
Opening Hours: Now open 9am to 8pm daily
Cost: Best price guaranteed online at www.wild-life.com.au with up to 50% discount. Combo tickets are also available combining entry to WILD LIFE Sydney with Sydney Aquarium and/or the new Sydney Tower Eye experience and/or Oceanworld Manly starting at $45 for an adult and $27 for a child when purchased at www.wild-life.com.au