Monster babies at Bristol Zoo Gardens
Photo courtesy of Andy Carbin
One of the few venomous species of lizard in the world has given birth at Bristol Zoo Gardens.
Five baby Gila monsters have been born in the Reptile House – just the second time this species has been bred at the Zoo.
The five eggs were laid after a new adult male arrived at the Zoo as a mate for Bristol Zoo’s female. After the female laid the clutch of eggs, they were transferred to a temperature-controlled incubator for three months until hatching. They have now been separated into five separate vivariums on display in the Zoo’s Reptile House and the adults are currently hibernating off show.
Tim Skelton, Curator of reptiles and amphibians at Bristol Zoo, said: “The arrival of five baby Gila monsters is great news, particularly as this species is difficult to breed in captivity. The babies are currently only around 20cm long and have been separated so that we can distinguish between them and ensure they each get the correct amount of food.”
He added: “Despite being small now, the babies will eventually grow to approximately 60cm and will be re-homed in other zoos to further the captive breeding programme for the species.”
Gila monsters are the largest lizards of their native areas of north Mexico and southwest America, where their arid scrub habitat is under threat from human development, and the lizards are at risk of attack by feral or domestic cats and dogs.
As such, Gila monsters have been classified as ‘near threatened’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Bristol Zoo’s Gilas are part of a European breeding programme (EEP) for the species.
Though Gila monsters are venomous, their slow and sluggish nature means they represent little threat to humans. However, they have earned a fearsome reputation and are sometimes killed despite being protected by state law in Arizona and Nevada.
Most of the Gila monster’s teeth have two grooves which conduct the venom from the lower jaw. The toxin is not injected like snake venom but instead flows into the wound as the lizard chews its victim. Small animals die very quickly from the venom, which attacks the nervous system and causes paralysis of the respiratory muscles. The effectiveness of the venom varies in humans but it is rarely fatal.
Gila monsters are named after the Gila River Basin of south-western USA. They are recognisable by their black, orange, pink or yellow blotches, bars and spots with bands extending across their tails and raised knobbly scales across their back. They are related to komodo dragons and can live for over 20 years in captivity.
Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on the generous support of the public not only to fund its important work in the zoo, but also its vital conservation and research projects spanning five continents.
For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens visit the website at http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/ or phone 0117 974 7300.
