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Crocodiles of the World News from Crocodiles Of The World

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by zoogiraffe, 8 Jan 2012.

  1. OrangePerson

    OrangePerson Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    BEIRUT RIVER CROCODILE FINDS A NEW HOME from Animals Lebanon

     
  2. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    It will be interesting to discover what *kind* of Nile Crocodile this animal is :) with a little luck it might be a variety I have not seen......
     
  3. Paradoxurus

    Paradoxurus Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Well, it does look noticeably different to the other Nile crocs they have here. It is a similar size to those that came from France but, I suppose, that does not reflect its age. It is a pale grey-green with black flecks and none of the dark banding and markings that the others exhibit.
     
  4. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Interesting; this raises the possibility that - assuming the animal comes from wild-caught and thus purebred subspecific stock, rather than captive-bred and potentially non-ssp hybrid - the animal might be a nominate C.n.niloticus (which comes from the part of the range nearest to Lebanon) or the split C.suchus, as I seem to recall those are the two taxa with the least distinct banding.
     
  5. DesertRhino150

    DesertRhino150 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Of the 24 eggs laid on 4th June, 16 are banded and therefore most likely fertile. The expected hatch date for these eggs would be in late August.

    Information from Facebook.
     
  6. DesertRhino150

    DesertRhino150 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  7. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Some fantastic news on Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/184879921566189/posts/699644910089685/

    It is worth noting that whether or not this brood represents the first 100% pure breeding of the species in Europe - which it may or may not be, as untested animals *have* bred on occasion in the past - it is most certainly the first EVER breeding of the species in the United Kingdom.
     
  8. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    A male Salvadori's Monitor is now on show
     
  9. DesertRhino150

    DesertRhino150 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    A trio of two-year old Australian freshwater crocodiles have gone on display, having arrived back in May. This now brings the total number of crocodilian species at the centre up to 16.

    Information from Facebook.
     
  10. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    Just thought I would post and let people know that it is now known to be after DNA testing that this animal is niloticus X suchus hybrid,which very much raises the question how and why it got where it did.My money is on it being an escape from a near by Israeli Crocodile farm!!!!
     
  11. Javan Rhino

    Javan Rhino Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Excellent news, does anybody know where they came from? My estimate would be Frankfurt as when we went in 2013 there were 3 young animals on show in a nursery section of the exotarium just opposite the adult freshies.
     
  12. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Fantastic news :D these represent a species-level lifetick for me!
     
  13. DesertRhino150

    DesertRhino150 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Something to note from the newest issue of the Colchester Zoo magazine - while the Chimp World redevelopments are taking place the two female slender-snouted crocodiles have been temporarily moved to Crocodiles of the World, and will return to the zoo once the work has been completed.
     
  14. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    They are being held in the collections very good off-show pools!!
     
  15. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    One hopes the collection gets the species in its own right down the line :)
     
  16. Bele

    Bele Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    I visited for the first time yesterday and was very impressed . There were a good number of visitors and it seems further expansion is planned , with a larger cafe advertised . The staff were very friendly . Some very impressive specimens on show - the breeding male Mississippi alligator and Siamese crocodile in particular . The Nile crocodile feeding demonstration was impressive , though I struggled with the 35C heat of the Crocodile House .

    There were 2 recently hatched African dwarf crocodiles in with their parents , one was visible on top of the nest mound . American alligator and Siamese crocodile eggs are being incubated and should hatch soon .

    The Morelet's crocodiles have been removed from the Nile crocodile enclosure and did not appear to be on show . I did not see the freshwater crocodiles , they were hiding under the wooden platform in their nursery enclosure , they cannot be very big .
     
  17. kiang

    kiang Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    6 Yacare caiman have arrived as part of a seizure of crocodilians in Canada.
     
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  18. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Have the Morelett's got another exhibit or off-exhibit for good / for now?
     
  19. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    Believe they are all off-show until the next expansion of the centre!
     
  20. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    It is getting better and better. As herpphile I am glad.

    I wish more zoos would invest in maintaining and breeding endangered crocs. It is all worth it …. Perhaps, with the current crop of crocodilian based zoos in Europe we might slowly see a change.