Reptiles & Amphibians

Rankins Dragon

Psst… want to meet a real-life dragon cousin with scales that shimmer like treasure? Come and meet Rankins Dragon — a treasured resident of our tropical sanctuary in Epping. Stand quietly, watch closely, and you might spot a blink, a stretch, or a cheeky scramble that makes you fall in love in five seconds flat.

Rankins Dragon

Their story

Every animal at Get To Know Animals is a rescue. Donna and Rob, the founders, give animals a second chance — there are no breeding programmes here.

Behind every smile is a story. Animals like Rankins Dragon often arrive because a home changed, a rescue needed space, or someone realised wild beauty deserves expert care. We promise warmth, the right food, enrichment and keepers who know each personality. When a child presses their nose to the glass and whispers ‘hello’, that second chance becomes a lifelong memory — for them and for Rankins Dragon.

Rankin's dragon is a wonderful kind of Australian agamid lizard. It may also be called the pygmy bearded dragon, black-soiled bearded dragon or downs bearded dragon. Adults often remember: Species of lizard. At Get To Know Animals we turn those wild facts into daily care — the right heat, humidity, UV where needed, climbing or digging space, and food that matches what Rankins Dragons evolved to eat.

It costs over £35,000 every month to feed, heat and care for 300+ animals. UVB bulbs alone can cost £20–£40 each and need regular replacing; add heat mats, live feeders, vet checks and tropical electricity and one reptile room becomes a serious bill. Adopting Rankins Dragon, sponsoring a meal, funding the wish list or joining Patreon isn’t ‘extra’ — it’s how Rankins Dragon eats next Tuesday when the weather is quiet and the till is slow.

You can help today: adopt Rankins Dragon, buy a treat, play Get To Feed Animals, or become a monthly patron. Every pound is love you can measure in full bowls, warm lamps and wagging (or flicking) tails.