Summer Exhibit: Dino Don's Dragon Kingdom

Meet

With historical references, meet dragons that can breathe with fire, soar with wings, and mirror characteristics of enormous lizards and snakes.

Learn

Compare the physical attributes to learn the similarities and connection between animals of the natural world and mythical creatures.

Discover

Ranging in size from 10 to 40 feet, marvel at the dragons’ wildlife features that tie-in their existence to endangered animals on the brink of extinction today.

Support

When visiting Dragon Kingdom and the Zoo, consider “Rounding Up” when you make a purchase. Donations benefit wildlife conservation programs that focus on animal species at the Zoo.

Magical & Medieval Beasts

The word “dragon” is derived from the Greek and Roman “drakon” and “draco,” words used to describe a huge snake. Artifacts depicting dragons of one type or another have been found as early as the fourth millennium B.C.

The myth of the dragon came about from the discovery of dinosaur or prehistoric megafauna remains in ancient times.

Some of the Dragons Featured

• Kholodno – Arctic Dragon
  With a nod to the Arctic animals of conservation, the “Ice” dragon’s name, Kholodno, means “cold” in Russian. The Arctic dragon has attributes of narwhals, snowy owls and caribou, and starts its life as a snake, only turning into a dragon with age. It’s known as a master of weather and water.
• Zhenzhu – Chinese Dragon
  Long popular in cultures around the world, these dragons were thought to bring good fortune and are often found clutching a pearl symbolizing their association of controlling the elements, particularly water, rainfall, typhoons and floods. Its animal comparisons include oxen, eagles and tigers.
• Carrizoa – Ninki Nanka
  A dragon in African folklore, the Ninki Nanka is said to be a 30-foot-long beast that dwells in the swampland of West Africa. It’s said to have large scales, the neck of a giraffe and three horns atop its delicate-looking head. Though it doesn’t have wings to fly, it’s very fast on land and in water. Its animal comparisons include pangolin, giraffe and crocodile.
• Adria – Manticore
  This medium-sized man-eater originates in Persian mythology. It’s said to have a lion’s body and a face reminiscent of a man’s, with rows upon rows of large, sharp teeth. The tail either ends in a scorpion’s sting or porcupine quills. It can also shoot its quills like arrows. The only animal the manticore cannot kill is the elephant. Its animal comparisons include lion, hyena and porcupine.