Colchester Zoo is pleased to welcome a male Emerald tree monitor lizard! We are very excited to welcome this new arrival as this is a species of lizard we have never been home to before.

This species inhabits monsoon rain forests however it is known to adapt well to other habitats as long as trees are present!  This is a highly specialized tree-dwelling lizard which has a prehensile tail; meaning it is able to use it as a fifth limb, great for climbing!

This species diet includes mainly insects but it will also eat small frogs, geckos, small birds and eggs.

It is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and does face some problems from the pet trade as a species.

Our new arrival needs a name and we’re open for suggestions! Let us know what you think we should call him on our social media pages! 

You can stop by and see our new arrival as he settles into his new home at Wilds of Asia.