It Turns Out, Dragons Are Real And They Live In South Africa

It’s not every day you find out a mythical creature is real and living on the same planet as you. Fans of shows like Game of Thrones, or movies like The Hobbit may have wanted to see a dragon at one point, or wished they were real. Well, I hope you’re sitting down because we’re about to blow your mind with these miniature dragons.

Over the past three decades, nearly 1,200 sungazers were exported via permit, but exactly how many have been moved across borders illegally is unknown. These animals have been traded in Europe since the 1800s. Since then, only one instance has been recorded of an animal successfully being bred in captivity, yet, to this day, animals are being traded on a regular basis. There have been measures put into place to protect these creatures. They are internationally protected under CITES Appendix 2 and nationally protected through TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species). There is also research being done by different research institutions and NGOs on how to better protect and manage these species.