Does anyone know what zoos currently have American Crocodiles as a part of their collection? I heard Disneyworld has some.
You are correct. There is one at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I’ve also seen them at Zoo Miami, Brevard Zoo, Central Florida Zoo, St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Gatorland. They are also held at Alexandria Zoo and the Florida Aquarium. Those are just the ones I’m familiar with. Undoubtedly there are others.
Even more precisely, in Florida (their only natural range in the continental states). In addition to the zoos listed above, I have seen them at Frost Museum of Science and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida, and Cincinnati Zoo, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, and Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo (which no longer keeps them) outside of Florida.
I guess it's pretty hard for zoos outside of the us to get their hands on these crocodiles. That's too bad I really want to see these crocs in real life
I’m not sure if you are familiar with Zootierliste, but it is a very useful website to consult for this sort of question. It lists three European zoos with the species. ZootierlisteHomepage
American Crocodiles range as far south as Peru as well as through much of the Caribbean - it would not be that difficult I expect to obtain then if there was interest.
Yes, they are in the last exhibit of Kingdoms of the Night, exhibited with alligator and common snapping turtles.
They are not wrong however; it is exceptionally difficult for collections outside the USA to get their hands on the species, due to an embargo on the export of American Crocodile which - from what I have been given to understand - was put in place by the USFWS. The dwindling European population dates back to prior to this being the case, and represents three extremely geriatric males.
In Mexico, zoomat in Chiapas breeds c.acutus on a regular basis. Other zoos where i have seen this species are Guadalajara,Morelia, Irapuato, Merida,Tabasco and Xcaret. C.moreleti are more common in mexican zoos. All crocodiles are protected under mexican law.