Zoo Komodo dragon population is getting gender-tested

[DavidBrown]

The Los Angeles and Memphis Zoos are using genetic testing to determine the sex of Komodo dragon eggs so that more females will be added to the population to build a sustainable gender balance.

L.A. Zoo attempts to close Komodo dragon gender gap - latimes.com

 

[zooboy28]

That's a really great story David, and its a very important issue for zoos to be considering.

Redressing the gender balance to make populations more sustainable is going to be required for many zoo species in the coming years. It is going to be harder and harder to find homes for surplus animals (especially big, long-lived things like elephants and rhinos). Reproductive biology research is going to be vital for this, especially among mammal species.