Crocodiles at Paignton » Paignton Zoo

Crocodiles at Paignton
21-10-2008

Just got back from spending my birthday at Paignton. Very impressed with crocodile swamp, but I have a couple of questions , if anyone can help? According to ISIS, Paignton have 4 Cuban crocs: 1.1.2. There are 2 separate pools which contain 1 cuban each, according to signage. The first is on the right as you enter the building, opposite the Niles. The second is round the corner, next to the saltie. This second cuban did not look like the first, it was a lot lighter colour, and the head seemed a different shape, almost like an American croc, with a slight bump in front of the eyes. Can anyone confirm if this is definately a cuban?... I have taken lots of photos, so as soon as I've downloaded from my camera, I'll put some in the gallery for comparison. Does anybody know where the other 2 cubans are? Also, according to ISIS, there is only 1 female Nile at Paignton, but there are very definately a pair there. Will ISIS ever get things right?

21-10-2008

The 2 young crocs ex Czech Republic originate from Skansen Zoo in Sweden. The experts say these were hybrids and thus Paignton has 2 unpure crocs with their potential breeding programme.

I do hope that an ESB/EEP will rise up now that C. rhombifer has been raised to CR EN by IUCN. It will generate the interest required to lift another endangered crocodilian in EU/EAZA to coop species breeding programme. It would be about time, and ... there are still sufficient numbers of PURE-BRED Cuban crocs in Europe!

21-10-2008

The Cubans you didn`t see are kept off-show in the large green house just up the hill from the Crocodile Swamp House.