Lizard delivers virgin birth

A KOMODO DRAGON believed never to have had a bunk-up has had five kids. Another couple are still in their eggs and may pop out any time now.

The dragon named Flora produced ten eggs at Cheshire's Chester Zoo in May last year. These have now begun to hatch.

Flora's eggs developed without being fertilised by a male dragon in a process called parthenogenesis.

Multiple virgin births are seen by scientists as being a good way to make messiahs go a bit further.

Foxy Flora dodged the sticky bit about sending her spouse a dream from a deity by remaining husbandless.

Said Kevin Buley, curator of lower vertebrates and invertebrates at Chester Zoo, to the BBC: "When the first of the babies hatched, we didn't know whether to make her a cup of tea or pass her the cigars."

It is hoped that should the young miracles be sent out into the wide world to do goodly works, they'll all be singing from the same hymn sheet. µ

L'INQ
BBC Merseyside