The ACT Government has today announced a major new investment of $4.5 million over four years to help prevent the extinction of one of the Territory’s most critically endangered species, the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon.

This new funding builds on $2.7 million already invested since 2020 and forms part of an ambitious four-year recovery plan to conserve the unique lizard, which is found only in the Canberra region.

“This small, iconic lizard is on the brink of extinction, and we cannot allow that to happen,” said Environment Minister Suzanne Orr.

“Improving the genetic diversity of the Dragon is key to ensuring we can recover the species. The captive breeding programs the ACT Parks and Conservation Service has run over the last few years has proven we can do this and now the Government is backing and expanding our efforts.”

The additional $4.5 million will support:

• $2.4 million for program operations, including staffing to manage breeding colonies and deliver recovery actions.
• $2 million to expand the breeding colony at Melbourne Zoo, aiming for up to 200 breeding individuals.
• $120,000 for ongoing release of Dragons bred in captivity back into the wild.

This additional investment builds on previous government investment starting in 2020 for habitat restoration, trial reintroductions, population viability modelling, and cutting-edge genetic matchmaking to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse population.

Genetic analysis and matchmaking programs are essential to address inbreeding, which is why a partnership with Melbourne Zoo is crucial for the project.

Melbourne Zoo has a captive colony of Dragons, from which it provides animals for release and research, and has shared its expertise in husbandry and breeding techniques, developed over several years, with the ACT Government.

“The Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon is a part of our unique natural heritage, and its survival depends on the work we do now.”

“This investment ensures we can act now, with science, collaboration and determination, to give the Dragon a real chance to thrive again in our Canberra grasslands.”

The Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon—measuring just 15 cm and weighing 5–9 grams—was only recognised as a distinct species in 2019. Its population has declined dramatically due to habitat loss, fragmentation, altered fire and grazing regimes, and climate impacts. With wild populations now isolated in the Majura and Jerrabomberra Valleys and parts of Queanbeyan, the species is now listed as critically endangered.