Win a prize by labelling new lizards

Bunbury’s newest residents have boosted the reptile population at Bunbury Wildlife Park and while the scaly trio make themselves at home, two are waiting to be named.

The two Ridge-Tail monitors and a Southern Heath monitor take the total of reptiles who have relocated to the park this year to four.

The move is the park’s latest attempt to get a diverse range of wildlife and has added to an already impressive reptile family, which includes pythons and a baby frill-necked lizard, Ziggy, who will go on display soon.

Acting park manager Lucy Wiseman said the newest residents were an exciting development for the park.

“The Bunbury Wildlife Park is home to many unique Australian animals such as the monitors and we are pleased to be able to show these off as well as educate visitors about our native animals,” she said.

The bigger Southern Heath monitor has already secured an appropriate name, Devlyn, after Bunbury business Devlyn Constructions sponsored the creature’s purpose-built enclosure.

However, the park is running an online competition to name the two smaller monitors, with the winner receiving a family pass to the park.

The monitors are marked with light-brown ocelli markings, patterned heads and their tails have rigid sharp spines along the length.

The arid-adapted lizard is usually found in the northern parts of Australia and it will live indoors at the park.

Name suggestions can be made via the park’s Facebook page.