Komodo Dragons Coming to Riverbanks Zoo

If you visit Riverbanks Zoo, you'll most likely see children climbing on the backs of bronze animal statues and posing for pictures.

Most of the statues are of animals that live at the zoo: lions, tortoises, elephants and gorillas. 

But there's a statue of one animal you couldn't find at the zoo — until now: the Komodo dragon.

The zoo will begin exhibiting a pair of juvenile Komodo dragons Friday. 

Also known as Komodo monitors, the creatures are the world's largest living lizards, zoo officials said. Male dragons can reach up to 10 feet in length and weigh more than 200 pounds. 

“We are excited to give our visitors an opportunity to watch as these young dragons grow into powerful predators,” said Scott Pfaff, curator of herpetology at the zoo.

“Komodos in captivity grow at a faster-pace, typically reaching adulthood in about 5 to 6 years, while dragons in the wild reach maturity in about 20 years.”

Riverbanks' young dragons were hatched last August at the Los Angeles Zoo. 

Native of the Indonesian Islands, Komodos are considered an endangered species, with only 4,000 to 5,000 left in the wild, zoo officials said. 

Dragons kept in captivity become gentle, allowing close contact with their caregivers.

The two Komodos will be on display in the Desert Gallery of the Aquarium-Reptile Complex. They'll be located near .