Komodo Dragons on Exhibit at Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is now home to Komodo Dragons as well.

Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) are the world's largest species of lizards with adults weighing as much as 360 pounds, Wildlife Conservation Society said in a statement.

This the first time that visitors will be able to see these giant lizards at the Bronx Zoo since the 1950s. The dragons are part of "Amazing Monitors."

The Bronx Zoo has three dragons: two females and one male. The exhibit will also feature other species of monitors such as Mertens' water monitors (Varanus mertensi), yellow spiny-tailed monitors (Varanus acanthurus), and blue tree monitors (Varanus macraei), WCS said in a statement.

"Komodo dragons are one of nature's most amazing creatures," said Jim Breheny, WCS Executive Vice President and Director of the Bronx Zoo, according to a news release. "They are the top predator in the environment in which they live."

Native to Indonesia, these dragons have lived in the tropical climate for millions of years. These creatures were discovered only in 1910 by Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek. They are a dominant predator in few Indonesian islands and eat almost anything- from pigs, carrions to wild buffalo and humans and even small Komodo dragons.

It is believed that the dragons hunt by infecting the prey with deadly bacteria that lead to blood poisoning and death. However, a recent University of Queensland study found that the Komodo Dragon is a victim of bad PR and that its mouth is actually pretty clean.

Loss of prey, poaching and human encroachment has led to a decline in the number of Komodo dragons. These giant lizards are now listed as vulnerable by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). An estimated 2,500 Komodo dragons remain in the wild, including as few as 350 breeding females.

"By introducing visitors to Komodo dragons and the challenges they are facing in the wild, we hope people will take on an appreciation for this uniquely adapted species. Perhaps we will even inspire the career of the next great herpetologist or conservation scientist to work in Indonesia to help save the remaining wild dragons," Breheny said in a news release.