Australia's national science agency apologizes for lack of research on dragons

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization has issued a touching apology for its lack of research on dragons after receiving feedback from a younger-than-usual observer. The letter, penned by Brisbane's seven-year-old Sophie Lester, had one request of Australia's primary research body – a female, toothless dragon.

"I would keep it in my special green grass area where there are lots of space," Sophie wrote, adding that she would play with it 'every weekend'. I would feed it raw fish and I would put a collar on it. If it got hurt I would bandage it if it hurt himself. I would like it if you could but if you can't that's fine." Sophie's mother Melissah Lester said her daughter had begged her parents to get her a dragon for Christmas.

When her husband explained to Sophie that this was not possible, she decided to take matters into her own hands and write to a "lovely scientist", she explained. Mrs Lester said they had hoped to hear a reply but CSIRO had another idea, releasing a tongue-in-cheek statement on Monday. "Over the past 87 odd years we have not been able to create a dragon or dragon eggs ... our work has never ventured into dragons of the mythical, fire breathing variety," CSIRO said.

"And for this Australia, we are sorry." There could be many practical uses for dragons, the statement continued, including a low-emissions dragon fuel. Mrs Lester said Sophie was overjoyed with the response and had been telling everyone since of dragons' environmentally-friendly applications. "All her friends are now saying they want to be a scientist and Sophie says she now wants to work in the CSIRO. She’s saying Australian scientists can do anything," she said.