Two baby Komodo dragons have hatched at a U.S. zoo - only the second time in 95 years the endangered species has been successfully bred there. The rare hatchlings arrived at ZooTampa at Lowry Park in Florida, born to 15-year-old mother Aanjay and 14-year-old father Titus. Their babies began hatching on September 7 after a nine-month incubation period, with the zoo's expert herpetology and veterinary teams keeping a close eye on every step of their development. Each egg, roughly the size of a goose egg, was carefully monitored through candling imaging and genetic testing. In a breakthrough move, the team was even able to determine the sex of the dragons before they hatched, by analyzing tiny blood samples from each egg. The results? One female and one male, both weighing around 100 grams - about the same as a stick of butter - and measuring roughly 10 inches long. For now, the new arrivals will remain behind the scenes, growing stronger before they make their big public debut later this fall. "This is another important achievement for the entire zoo and a significant milestone for the animal care team," said Dan Costell, Curator of Herpetology at ZooTampa. "Komodo dragons are one of the planet's most fascinating species, and these hatchlings represent a hopeful future for the species. They will serve as wonderful ambassadors for their wild counterparts as they help us raise awareness about conservation needs." Native only to the Indonesian islands that make up Komodo National Park, these mighty reptiles are now endangered - their numbers dwindling to around 1,400 adults in the wild. Habitat loss caused by human encroachment and the impacts of climate change continue to threaten their survival.