Rumble 1/31/20
Go to https://yhoo.it/2uR2DgR for short video of a Gila monster.
Biologists
who ventured out into the desert in Arizona in the middle of the night
were in search of several different species of lizards and snakes to
record and study, hoping to gain valuable information that would help
with conservation efforts. But they did not expect to happen upon a very
rare and intriguing lizard, the gila monster. These lizards are seldom
seen in the wild and some biologists will go their entire career without
sighting one. This team of scientists from Canada were well aware of
their good fortune and one of them can be heard calling another
biologist on his phone to share the news. In typical Canadian fashion,
he apologizes to his friend for the fact that he has missed this amazing
encounter.
The
biologists photographically record, estimate measurement, and collect
data from the sighting and then allow the lizard to continue on its way.
The animals are not physically handled or restrained at any time. But
the meeting caused Steve, a very accomplished researcher, to
hyperventilate from excitement. His rapid breathing can be heard as the
animal retreats into the brush. These scientists take their job
seriously and they make every effort to ensure that animals are
disturbed as little as possible. Their data will be very useful in many
areas of conservation and preservation of threatened species.
Gila
monsters have enjoyed legal protection in order to prevent them from
slipping into the threatened species category by the IUCN but myths and
misunderstanding by humans is still one of the biggest challenges that
these "monsters" face. They are famous for being venomous and it is true
that their saliva contains a powerful toxin, but it is not sufficiently
powerful enough to seriously harm a human. A bite from a gila monster
would make a healthy person ill for a few days, at most. But gila
monsters are unlikely to ever attack a human, unless they were handled
carelessly, or provoked. They are not fast moving and could almost never
approach and bite a human who was actively trying to avoid it.
Gila
monsters have sharp teeth and could inflict a painful bite if given the
opportunity. They can also hold on tenaciously, if need be. Keeping a
respectful distance prevents this sort of incident in all cases. Perhaps
the biggest risk for humans is passing out from the excitement of
seeing a live one in the wild.
As
is true of most venomous creatures, they are of great interest to the
medical community and their venom has been found to inhibit the growth
of lung cancer. It has also been used to treat diabetes, and research is
being conducted because of possible benefits in the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and other diseases.
Habitat
destruction and irrational fear by humans continues to present a risk
to the survival of this species. Their loss would be accompanied by the
loss of potentially life-saving medicines and treatments. As well, gila
monsters play a vital role in the delicate balance of nature.
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