Latest news with #SaskatoonZoo
CTV News
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Saskatoon Zoo's grizzlies turn 20
Watch WATCH: It was a special birthday for two residents of the Saskatoon Zoo as the two grizzlies turned 20.
CTV News
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Big milestone': Saskatoon Zoo's grizzlies turn 20
The Saskatoon Zoo held a special celebration on Wednesday for Koda and Mistaya, a pair of grizzly bears who have just turned 20. Dozens of families came out to line the fence and get a look at the two bears as they enjoyed a slight change from their usual days. 'We're really, really excited with the turnout,' said Jeff Mitchell, Saskatoon Zoo manager. 'We love that, our bears are 20 years old.' The bears came to the zoo 17 years ago after being orphaned in Alberta. Mitchell says they've already lived a long life by bear standards. 'In the wild, bears will live anywhere from 15 to 18 years,' he said. 'So to reach that 20 year milestone, it's a really big milestone for them. And we're just really excited to be able to share our passion and our love for these animals with the community.' Kids were able to learn more about the bears and sign a birthday card for them. Saskatoon Zoo's grizzlies turn 20 (John Flatters/CTV News) While there was cake for the visitors, there was cake for the bears too. 'Well, it looks like they've been swimming,' said Emerey, a zoo visitor. 'And it looks like one was eating watermelon. The other was eating birthday cake.' Some kids were even celebrating the same birthday as the bears. 'It's my birthday,' said Nina, another visitor to see the bears. 'I was going to get face painted, but the line is really long. But this is the best birthday ever.' It was also a chance for the zoo to announce plans for a new six acre bear habitat. 'What we're really looking forward to is building the new bear habitat,' said Mitchell. 'And we're building the new bear habitat to polar bear standards, so that when Koda and Mistaya are no longer with us, we're able to bring polar bears and look to the future.' He says over the next year the Zoo Foundation will be fundraising, and the hope is that construction starts in the next year and a half to two years time. Meanwhile, visitors can get behind the scenes tours to learn more about the bears on Saturdays and Sundays.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- Science
- CTV News
‘They are very shy': Saskatoon Zoo welcomes pair of Gila Monsters
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.
