Al Ain: Al Ain Zoo has yesterday announced to add a group of endangered American dwarf crocodiles in its animal collection.
The dwarf crocodiles has been classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (ICUN). The animals can be seen in an exhibit at the zoo’s Reptile House.
“Guests now have the opportunity to witness the smallest crocodiles found in the world, with adult species reaching a length of no more than 1.5 to 1.6 metres, and weighing about 30 kilograms,” said a zoo official.
Ganem Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director General of the Zoo and Aquarium Public Institution in Al Ain, said the crocodiles were brought in a collaboration with Dubai Mall’s Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. “The addition of the endangered American Dwarf Crocodiles falls directly in line with our commitment to wildlife preservation and conservation,” he said.
Programmes
The infant American dwarf crocodiles are yellow with a brown tint, turning into a dark brown colour by maturity, while their heads are orange. With a diet that consists mainly of fish, the crocodiles generally eat twice a week, and can last up to two months without food, spending weeks motionless until they get hungry.
Al Ain Zoo is home to internationally important conservation programmes that focus on captive management, conservation research, captive breeding, propagation, and the reintroduction of endangered species to the wild when possible.
