Virgin Komodo Dragon Gives Birth

"When the first of the babies hatched, we didn't know whether to make her a cup of tea or pass her the cigars."


(AP) A British zoo on Wednesday announced the virgin birth of five Komodo dragons, giving scientists new hope for the captive breeding of the endangered species.

In an evolutionary twist, the newborns' 8-year-old mother, Flora, shocked staff at Chester Zoo in northern England when she became pregnant without ever having a male partner or even being exposed to the opposite sex.

While it was not unusual for female dragons to lay eggs without mating, scientists realized they were witnessing something important when they discovered Flora's eggs had been fertilized.

DNA paternity tests confirmed the lack of male input, although the brood are not exact clones of Flora.

Chester Zoo's latest star attractions will eventually be moved into a specially built enclosure so the public can gaze at the evolutionary miracles.

Remember Jurassic Park? "Nature will find the way"
Mother Nature is a Mad Scientist!