By: Ann Kunz
World Crocodile Day aims to highlight the endangered crocodiles and alligators around the world who’s main challenges are land encroachment, pollution, and dredging.
Although the Nile crocodile, which is native to freshwater habitats in Africa, faced extinction in the 1960s, it is now classified by the IUCN as “least concerned.” Researchers estimate that there are approximately 500,000 individual Nile crocodiles living in the wild.
We have five juvenile Nile crocodiles inhabiting our freshwater display in the Dangerous Creatures Reptile House. They no longer resemble lizards but now look more like miniature versions of the adults.
Crocodiles generally lie around all day unless they are hunting or feeding and our little crocs are no different. Next time you visit Dangerous Creatures be sure to spend some time looking at these incredible animals that can trace their ancestry back to prehistoric times.