Reptilia (zoo) facts for kids

Live reptiles are used in hands-on teaching.

During a live reptile show, audience members can help handle a large Burmese python.

Reptilia is Canada's biggest indoor zoo for reptiles! It has a huge indoor space, about 2,322 square meters (25,000 square feet), filled with over 250 amazing reptiles, amphibians, and even spiders. Reptilia is officially approved by CAZA, which means Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums.

Right now, Reptilia has two locations in Ontario: one in Vaughan and another in Whitby.

Where Can You Visit Reptilia?

The very first Reptilia zoo opened in Vaughan, Ontario. It's a big building, about 2,322 square meters (25,000 square feet) in size.

In 2018, Reptilia opened a second location in Whitby, Ontario. This one is even bigger, about 2,880 square meters (31,000 square feet)! It used to be a Rona store. Reptilia also planned to open zoos in London and Barrie, but the London City Council decided not to approve the one there.

What Animals Can You See at Reptilia?

Participants learn how alligators and crocodiles hide themselves in the water. Here we see the small above-water portion of the reptile well camouflaged, though also reflected in the water.

Reptilia is home to about 250 different kinds of reptiles! You can meet Canada's largest crocodile there. His name is Induna, and he's a Nile crocodile who is 4 meters (13 feet) long and weighs about 450 kilograms (1,000 pounds)!

The zoo also has a 4.2-meter (14-foot) long king cobra, and pythons that can be as long as 6 meters (20 feet)! You can also see anacondas, colorful poison dart frogs, and even rattlesnakes.

Did you know that about 75% of the animals at Reptilia are rescues? This means they were saved from situations where their previous owners couldn't take care of them anymore. Many people get pets like snakes when they are small, but then the animals grow very large and need special care. Reptilia gets many calls each year to help these animals. The zoo takes in about 75 rescue animals every year! Some of these animals stay at Reptilia, while others might go to other approved zoos or animal facilities. The rest of the animals at Reptilia were either born there or came from other trusted zoos.

Each Reptilia location has a special theatre area. Here, you can watch exciting and interactive reptile shows! It's a great way to learn more about these amazing creatures up close.

Learning and Education at Reptilia

Reptilia offers awesome educational programs for students from kindergarten all the way to grade 12. They also have special programs for adults like first responders, teachers, animal control officers, and veterinarians.

You can learn about reptiles right at the Reptilia zoo, or they can even bring reptiles to your school for a lesson in your classroom! These lessons usually last about one hour.

Reptilia works closely with other places that teach about animals. They provide reptiles and supplies to the Ontario Science Centre and help the Toronto Zoo with their educational programs. They also work with many schools in the Greater Toronto Area.

Reptilia also has classrooms and party rooms that you can rent for special events, like birthday parties! Each room is named after a different reptile.

Reptiles in Movies and TV

Reptilia also helps out the film industry! They provide reptiles and expert handlers for movies, photo shoots, and television shows.

You might have seen Reptilia's animals in shows like Guinness commercials, Murdoch Mysteries, Canada's Greatest Know-It-All, YTV, and Daily Planet.