Editing Reptilia (zoo)

{{Short description|Collection of zoos in Canada}}

'''Reptilia''' is a collection of [[Canada]]'s largest indoor [[reptile]] [[zoos]], with a combined area of over {{convert|84,000|ft2|abbr=on}} of indoor exhibits featuring over 250 [[reptiles]], [[amphibians]] and [[arachnids]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=Reptilia Zoo – The Ultimate Reptile Zoo Experience | url=https://reptilia.org | access-date=2025-02-21 | website=reptilia.org}}</ref><ref name="CityV">"Communities in Bloom",
   City of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, 2010, PDF webpage:
   [http://www.city.vaughan.on.ca/newscentre/cib/pdf/2009%20<!--
   -->CIB%20Conference%20Preliminary%20Programme.pdf Vau-PDF] {{Cite web| url=http://www.city.vaughan.on.ca/newscentre/cib/pdf/2009%20CIB%20Conference%20Preliminary%20Programme.pdf | title=Communities in Bloom | access-date=2018-08-26 | archive-date=2012-03-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305170102/http://www.city.vaughan.on.ca/newscentre/cib/pdf/2009%20CIB%20Conference%20Preliminary%20Programme.pdf | url-status=bot: unknown}}.
{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/8087981-reptilia-slithers-into-whitby-this-summer/|title=Reptilia slithers into Whitby this summer|last=Pessian|first=Parvaneh|publisher=Whitby This Week|date=2018-01-24|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref>

Currently there are three [[Ontario]] locations, one in [[Vaughan, Ontario|Vaughan]], one in [[Whitby, Ontario|Whitby]], and one in [[London, Ontario|London]].<ref>{{cite web |title=A reptile zoo at Westmount mall inches closer to opening {{!}} CBC News |date=2023-02-01 |website=[[CBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508161219/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/a-reptile-zoo-at-westmount-mall-inches-closer-to-opening-1.6732863 |archive-date=2023-05-08 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/a-reptile-zoo-at-westmount-mall-inches-closer-to-opening-1.6732863}}</ref>

[[File:Basiliscus plumifrons Dvur zoo 1.jpg | thumb | right|''[[Basiliscus plumifrons]]'' at Reptilia Zoo]]

==Locations==
The original Reptilia zoo was established in [[Vaughan, Ontario|Vaughan]] and is housed in a {{convert|25000|ft2|adj=on}} facility.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Reptilia Vaughan: Facility Features and Attractions | url=https://reptilia.org/reptilia-vaughan-facility/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321165613/https://reptilia.org/reptilia-vaughan-facility/ | access-date=2025-02-21 | archive-date=2020-03-21}}</ref> In 2018, it opened a second location in [[Whitby, Ontario|Whitby]] in a former {{convert|31000|sqft|m2}} [[Rona, Inc.|Rona]] store.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Reptilia Whitby: Full Facility Features and Attractions | url=https://reptilia.org/reptilia-whitby-facility/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321090850/https://reptilia.org/reptilia-whitby-facility/ | access-date=2025-02-21 | archive-date=2020-03-21}}</ref><ref name="Pessian">{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/8087981-reptilia-slithers-into-whitby-this-summer/|title=Reptilia slithers into Whitby this summer|last=Pessian|first=Parvaneh|publisher=Whitby This Week|date=2018-01-24|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref> In late 2018, it announced plans to create similar zoos in [[London, Ontario|London]] and [[Barrie]].<ref name="Lupton" /> [[London City Council]] rejected the proposal for a {{convert|28000|ft2|adj=on}} reptile zoo in [[Westmount Mall]].<ref name="Lupton">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/reptilia-london-1.4936859|title=Private reptile zoo Reptilia wants to come to London; not everyone is happy about it|last=Lupton|first=Andrew|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=2018-12-09|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4777100/reptile-zoo-westmount-mall/|title=Council quashes reptile zoo's hopes to move into London|publisher=[[Global News]]|date=2018-12-19|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref> However, the council later reversed course in 2022 and allowed the company to open at [[Westmount Mall]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=Reptilia Zoo Reptilia London: Facility Features and Attractions | url=https://reptilia.org/reptilia-london-facility/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321023358/https://reptilia.org/reptilia-london-facility/ | access-date=2025-02-21 | archive-date=2023-03-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A reptile zoo at Westmount mall inches closer to opening {{!}} CBC News |date=2023-02-01 |website=[[CBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508161219/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/a-reptile-zoo-at-westmount-mall-inches-closer-to-opening-1.6732863 |archive-date=2023-05-08 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/a-reptile-zoo-at-westmount-mall-inches-closer-to-opening-1.6732863}}</ref>

==Attractions==
[[File:Crocodylus niloticus Induna at Reptilia Vaughan.jpg|thumb|left|Induna in September 2022]]
[[File:Croc in aquarium with reflection in water imgp4489cr.jpg|thumb|left|Participants learn how alligators and crocodiles hide themselves in the water. Here we see the small above-water portion of the reptile well [[camouflage]]d, though also reflected in the water.]]
[[File:Reptilia live reptile show child and snake.jpg|thumb|right|Live reptiles are used in hands-on teaching.]]
[[File:Reptilia audience members handling burmese python dsc 0083.jpg|thumb|right|During a live reptile show, volunteers from the audience are requested to assist in the handling of a 5-meter-long (approx. 16-foot) female [[Burmese python]].]]
About 250 species of reptiles are in the zoo's collection.<ref name="Lupton" /> Among them is Canada's largest [[crocodile]], a {{convert|14|ft|adj=on}}, {{convert|1200|lb|adj=on}} male [[Nile crocodile]] named Induna.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/whatson-story/1442391-reptilia-reptile-zoo-vaughan/|title=Reptilia Reptile Zoo, Vaughan|publisher=Vaughan Citizen|date=2007-08-19|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref> The zoo also contains {{convert|20|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} [[Pythonidae|python]]s, [[anaconda]]s, [[poison dart frog]]s, [[rattlesnake]]s, and more.<ref name=CityV/> About 75% of animals are [[Animal sanctuary|rescues]], with the remainder either born on location or acquired from other accredited facilities.<ref name="Lupton" /> Of the rescues, many are obtained from previous owners who cannot cope with animals that have achieved their adult size, for which the zoo receives "constant calls".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/08/13/150-toronto-crocodiles-alligators-rescued-by-reptile-zoo.html|title=Crikey! 150 Toronto crocodiles, alligators rescued by reptile zoo|last=Hall|first=Diana|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=2015-08-13|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref> The zoo takes in about 75 such animals every year, many of which are later sent to other facilities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/2014/07/20/exotic-pet-ownership-on-the-rise/wcm/f187c656-ee88-48ec-87e4-ca36472b9a8b|title=Exotic pet ownership on the rise|last=Wolfe|first=Blake|newspaper=[[Toronto Sun]]|date=2014-07-20|access-date=2019-11-21}}</ref>

Each location has a theatre area in which the zoo exhibits interactive reptile shows.<ref name="Pessian" />

==Educational curriculum==
Reptilia provides curriculum compliant educational programs from kindergarten to grade 12 along with specialized post secondary programs for first responders, educators, animal control officers and veterinarians. Educational programs are provided at Reptilia, as well as through the transportation of reptiles to various schools to provide lessons in school classrooms. Lessons are typically of 1 hour duration.

Reptilia interacts closely with other educational organizations, supplying reptiles and other supplies to the [[Ontario Science Centre]], helping the [[Toronto Zoo]] with their educational programs, and working with many of the schools in the [[Greater Toronto Area]]. Reptilia also has a number of classrooms and party rooms that can be rented out for activities such as birthday parties. Each room is named after a different reptile.

==Film industry==
Reptilia provides reptiles along with skilled handlers for [[film production]]s, photo shoots, and television. Reptilia has provided reptiles for Guinness, [[Murdoch Mysteries]], [[Canada's Greatest Know-It-All#Episode 104: February 20.2C 2012|Canada's Greatest Know-It-All]], [[YTV (TV channel)|YTV]], [[Daily Planet (TV series)|Daily Planet]], and other shows and productions.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://reptilia.org|Reptilia}}

{{Vaughan}}
{{Coord|43.8333|N|79.5207|W|display=title}}

{{Zoos of Ontario}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Zoos in Ontario]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Vaughan]]
[[Category:Reptiles and humans]]