Our team of experts has managed to determine the sex of the two poisonous lizards after more than four years waiting. The zoo keepers have had to wait for the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) and the scorpion lizard (Heloderma horridum) to reach sexual maturity at the age of four.
The identification of sex is essential to form breeding groups in captivity of both species, and thus contribute to the conservation of these populations. Some subspecies of Heloderma’s are currently in critical danger of extinction.
The monster of Gila and the scorpion lizard arrived at the park four years ago when they were just young. The specialist of the zoo in poisonous animals, David Martí, said that “they are especially excited to succeed in the project of conservation of both species”. Part of the study of the poison of these animals is helping patients with diabetes.