‘They are very shy': Saskatoon Zoo welcomes pair of Gila Monsters

CTV News

21-05-2025

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is now home to a pair of Gila Monsters.
In an announcement Wednesday morning, the zoo said the vibrant, colourful lizards are one the few venomous species in the world – adding that staff are excited to share the cold-blooded creatures' story with visitors.
According to zoo manager Jeff Mitchell, the Gila Monsters will play a key role in the zoo's education programs.
'These Gila Monsters will be important animal ambassadors in our education programs, helping visitors and students explore the fascinating world of venomous animals,' Mitchell said.
The Gila Monster is listed as 'Near Threatened' on the International Union Conservation Nature (IUCN) Red List, primarily due to the increasing threat of climate change, which brings hotter and drier weather conditions.
Gila Monsters now featured at Saskatoon's zoo
(Source: Saskatoon Zoo)
These unique creatures mainly eat eggs, small mammals, birds, and insects and can grow up to 26 to 36 centimetres in length, not including their tail, and weigh between 550 to 800 grams.
They can live for 20-30 years in captivity.
Some other fascinating facts about Gila Monsters include:
Gila Monsters have bright colourful patterns on their skin usually in shades of orange, pink and black.
Young Gila Monsters have been known to swallow prey up to 50 per cent of their own body weight.
Gila Monster venom is as toxic as a diamondback rattlesnake. They are one of the few venomous lizards in the world but they are very shy and prefer to avoid humans. They use their venom mainly to hunt small animals.
A synthetic version of their venom is used to help treat type-2 diabetes in humans.
Gila Monsters are not very fast. They move slowly and spend most of their time hiding under rocks or in burrows to stay cool.
Their name comes from the Gila River Basin in Arizona where they were first discovered.
Gila Monsters now featured at Saskatoon's zoo
(Source: Saskatoon Zoo)
The Gila Monster habitat is located in the Affinity Learning Centre, where visitors can learn more about rare creatures.
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.