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SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (Australia) 07 June 04 Baby it's cold outside, and that's how we got you (Stephanie Peatling)
The pride of Taronga Zoo's only male Gila monster has been restored after the successful hatching of his first offspring convinced keepers the 14-year-old lizard was not firing blanks.
Despite years of trying, the zoo had been unable to breed the monster, which is one of the world's only two venomous lizards.
But, last month, one of four eggs hatched and the baby monster, a female, is eating.
The success came after zoo staff decided to leave its three Gilas outside during last winter when the animals go into hibernation.
"Coming from the desert they are very particular about their temperature requirements," their keeper, Terry Boylan said. "A lot of reptiles need that temperature drop for sperm to develop."
Unlike a snake, which releases its venom into the wound as soon as the skin is punctured, a Gila monster needs to hold on to its victim for the venom to do its work. The venom passes into each tooth.
"People who've been bitten say it's incredibly painful - the monster bites, hangs on and chews really hard," Mr Boylan said. No antivenene exists.
Baby it's cold outside, and that's how we got you

?

$100 says that flourish was added by the journalist writing the article, not by the zoo

and that is exactaly why I use newspaper for cages and don't read them.

After every news report I hear, no matter what the topic, Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" plays in my head ....