University of Canberra researchers are creating clay burrows to help save the endangered Canberra grassland earless dragon, which has fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild. The new terracotta tubes mimic spider burrows and can withstand extreme summer heat, with ground temperatures reaching up to 70 degrees Celsius. These artificial dens provide a thermal gradient for temperature regulation and are expected to aid egg incubation. Early observations show that the dragons have quickly adapted to using these new shelters over previous PVC alternatives.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Researchers at the University of Canberra are creating artificial clay burrows to help save the endangered Canberra grassland earless dragon, with only an estimated 100 or fewer left in the wild. PhD student Ryan Colley has been studying the species' genetics since 2020 and notes that spotting these dragons is rare due to their elusive nature. The burrows, each 20cm long and as thin as possible while maintaining structural integrity, are designed to mimic spider burrows where the dragons usually shelter and nest.
Ben Croak from ACT Parks and Conservation explains that during summer, temperatures in the grasslands can reach up to a lethal 70 degrees Celsius on the ground, making it challenging for these small reptiles to survive. The terracotta tubes provide insulation by dropping about 20cm beneath the surface, offering a thermal gradient beneficial for the dragons' survival.
Written for “Endangered Dragon Conservation Efforts” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
You would be lucky to spot a Canberra grassland earless dragon at the best of times, with an estimated 100 or fewer left in the wild.
asserted
You → spot → wild
So saving this Canberra critter is critical.
asserted
saving → save → critter
University of Canberra PhD student Ryan Colley, who has been studying the species' genetics since 2020, said the dragons were "very hard to see" outside their burrows.
asserted
dragons → study → burrows
"You'll occasionally see one running around, but it's very rare," he said.
asserted
he → see → ?
In a bid to help the tiny reptiles survive, researchers have now made their own dragon dens out of clay.
70 degrees and no shade
ACT Parks and Conservation dragon recovery coordinator Ben Croak said the grasslands could be brutal for an animal so small, being unable to survive temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
uncertain
grasslands → help → Celsius
"The grasslands get incredibly hot in summer," Dr Croak said.
"
asserted
Croak → get → summer
In the middle of summer, we've recorded temperatures up to 70C on the ground, which is incredibly lethal to a little dragon like this."
asserted
which → record → this
The dragons usually shelter and nest in spider burrows, so the new terracotta tubes are designed to mimic them, dropping about 20 centimetres beneath the ground.
asserted
tubes → shelter → ground
"The ground's pretty insulated, and having them around 20cm provides a thermal gradient for them to shuttle up and down," Dr Croak said.
"
asserted
Croak → have → gradient
[That way] they can get to the sort of desired temperature they want to be at."
asserted
they → get → temperature
PVC tubes have previously been used to monitor the dragons, but Dr Croak said they were not suited to egg-laying.
asserted
they → use → laying
Clay holds moisture, which the team hopes will buffer the impact of climate and help incubate eggs.
asserted
team → hold → eggs
Dr Croak said the trial would test the tubes ahead of an approaching hot summer.
asserted
trial → say → summer
"I think they're like most things, they'll take advantage of things that are there for them," Dr Croak said.
asserted
Croak → think → them
Early signs of promise
One hundred specially made dragon dens have been installed at two sites in Canberra to give the reptiles a variety of burrows to choose from.
asserted
dens → make → burrows
"They've taken up the burrows quite quickly, which was a bit of a shock," Mr Colley said.
"Because these burrows mimic more of the natural burrows, it was good to see them use those over the PVC burrows.
asserted
them → take → burrows
"
Using an endoscope to peer into the burrows, Mr Colley has been closely monitoring how the new digs are being used.
asserted
digs → use → burrows
"When you see them in the burrow, they're curled up at the bottom," he said.
asserted
he → see → bottom
A different sort of art installation
Finding someone to make the burrows was a challenge in itself.
asserted
Finding → find → itself
Dr Croak said he rang around, but finding an artist or workshop interested in a commissioned work of 100 tubes, each 20cm long and "as thin as possible whilst maintaining structural integrity" did not stir the creative juices of everyone.
asserted
each → say → everyone
"The loss of artistic licence when it came to just making a clay tube was kind of a deterrent for some people," he said.
asserted
he → come → people
"Tom from Strathnairn Arts in North Canberra really embraced the idea and pumped them out for us really quickly.
asserted
Tom → embrace → us
"So it was really, really cool of those guys to do that."
asserted
it → do → that
Tom has joined the team in the field to see his artwork installed.
asserted
artwork → join → field
Dwindling gene pool
Providing shelter and nesting sites is only part of the challenge around the conservation of this critically endangered species.
asserted
Providing → dwindle → species
Dragon populations in the ACT are small and isolated.
asserted
populations → isolate → ACT
Mr Colley, who also works at the Office of Nature Conservation, said that was a major concern.
asserted
that → work → Conservation
"These populations are becoming quite genetically isolated from each other even though they're within a short distance," he said.
asserted
he → become → distance
He said the first step was translocating animals between sites in the hope of boosting genetic diversity.
asserted
step → say → diversity
The Aporia