Snowleopard's Mammals: A Lifetime List of Species Mammalian and Non-Mammalian

[EagleScout610]

The RainForest building at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) has also contained Dwarf Crocodiles for a very long time. That structure is currently closed for an upcoming expansion.

I'm not sure if the dwarf crocodiles or this exhibit will be returning after the RainForest reopens next year. I hope they do, though. I always enjoyed seeing them there.

 

[snowleopard]

The 6th most common crocodilian species I've seen is the Spectacled Caiman at 28 zoos. That's about half as common as Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman, but more than any other type of caiman. I enjoy analyzing the trends and seeing a Spectacled Caiman was a rarity for me as in my first 400+ zoos I only ever came across the species on a dozen occasions. Then I saw the species 9 times in a month in Europe!

1- Greater Vancouver Zoo (Canada) – Spectacled Caiman – 1998
2- Newport Aquarium (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2012
3- Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2012
4- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2012
5- RAD (Reptile & Amphibian Discovery) Zoo (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2014
6- Sea Life at Mall of America - Minnesota (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2014
7- Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2014
8- Alligator Alley (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2014
9- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2015
10- Out of Africa (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2015
11- Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2018
12- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2018
13- Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
14- Reptielen Zoo Iguana (Netherlands) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
15- Zoo Antwerp (Belgium) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
16- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
17- Mondo Verde (Belgium) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
18- Zoo Neuwied (Germany) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
19- Aquazoo Lobbecke Museum (Germany) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
20- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
21- Osnabruck Zoo (Germany) – Spectacled Caiman – 2019
22- Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) – Spectacled Caiman – 2022
23- Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Spectacled Caiman – 2023
24- Khao Kheow Open Zoo (Thailand) – Spectacled Caiman – 2024
25- Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia) – Spectacled Caiman – 2024
26- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – Spectacled Caiman – 2024
27- Taman Buaya Crocodile Park (Malaysia) – Spectacled Caiman – 2024
28- Taman Rama-rama (Melaka Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary) (Malaysia) – Spectacled Caiman – 2024

Here's a fantastic shot of a Spectacled Caiman:

@KevinB

Around 15 years ago, Newport Aquarium (USA) had a 'Gator Alley' exhibit that ran for a few years and many of the exhibits were pitifully small for the animals. In my last post, a dreadful Dwarf Crocodile enclosure was highlighted and here's what the Spectacled Caiman tank looked like.

@Moebelle

A standard exhibit at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA), with Spectacled Caiman and various turtles in 2012.

Here is the current Spectacled Caiman exhibit at Sea Life Minnesota (USA):

@Dhole dude

I took this photo of a Spectacled Caiman and an American Alligator together (!!) at Wildwood Wildlife Park (USA) in 2014.

Yet another abysmal Spectacled Caiman exhibit, this time at Alligator Alley (USA). The number of third-rate zoos in America is astonishing.

Arizona is a hot, arid state and so perhaps the Spectacled Caiman there stay out year-round at Out of Africa Wildlife Park (USA).

You can see several turtles and Spectacled Caiman at Landgoed Hoenderdaell (Netherlands) in the zoo's Tropical House.

Antwerp Zoo (Belgium) had a spacious Spectacled Caiman exhibit inside its Reptile House when I was there in 2019. There was even a loud thunderstorm at certain times throughout the day with loud noises, flashes of light and a tree branch then 'falls' from the sky.

The Exotarium inside Zoo Neuwied (Germany) has a walkway that goes directly over the Spectacled Caiman exhibit.

One Spectacled Caiman and a couple of Green Iguanas were in this exhibit at Jyllands Park Zoo (Denmark) in 2022.

A very deep pool for Spectacled Caiman can be found at Khao Kheow Open Zoo (Thailand).

With an additional overhead viewpoint with visitors looking down at the tank that is well stocked with fish.

A really scenic Spectacled Caiman exhibit can be found at the Lost World of Tambun (Malaysia).

This is an overhead view of the Spectacled Caiman exhibit at Melaka Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary (Malaysia).

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 50 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos

 

[snowleopard]

Chinese Alligators are the 7th most common crocodilian I've seen, and I've come across this species at 24 zoos. The obvious trend with these guys is that about 80% of the zoos have been in the United States, with a lot of facilities in both the north and the south of the country having the species. I only saw Chinese Alligators in 2/60 zoos in Southeast Asia and 3/120 zoos in Europe.

Looking at Zootierliste, there are approximately 30 zoos in Asia with the species (mainly in China), 30 zoos in North America, and only 18 in Europe. I was a bit surprised to see the species still completely absent from Australia.

1- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2008
2- Knoxville Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2008
3- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
4- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
5- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
6- Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
7- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
8- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2011
9- Potawatomi Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2012
10- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2012
11- Reptile Gardens (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2014
12- Peoria Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2014
13- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2015
14- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2015
15- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2015
16- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2017
17- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2018
18- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Chinese Alligator – 2019
19- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Chinese Alligator – 2019
20- Parken Zoo (Sweden) – Chinese Alligator – 2022
21- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2023
22- Monsters Aquarium (Thailand) – Chinese Alligator – 2024
23- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – Chinese Alligator – 2024
24- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2025

Seeing Chinese Alligators for the first time was not a positive experience, as the exhibit at Cincinnati Zoo (USA) is ghastly. Visitors can walk all the way around the shallow pool, with a fake-looking tree trunk in the middle and the photo below shows a modern image of the enclosure as it was actually renovated since my 2008 tour of the zoo. The building itself is the oldest operating zoo building in the country, but this exhibit should hold a few turtles instead of rare gators.

@Moebelle

A far superior exhibit can be found at Sedgwick County Zoo (USA), one of the better zoos in America, and I saw 4 turtle species with the Chinese Alligators in 2010.

You can see a pair of Chinese Alligators in my photo from Saint Louis Zoo (USA), in a quite delightful outdoor exhibit attached to the historic Herpetarium.

A Chinese Alligator can be seen resting at the back of its indoor exhibit at Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) inside the Aquatic & Reptile Center.

The Chinese Alligator exhibit at Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) is likely not around anymore, or at least it's been repurposed for a different species.

The same goes for the Chinese Alligator exhibit at Audubon Zoo (USA). Does it still exist? I have a close-up image of a gator and a trio of photos of the enclosure from my 2010 visit, but no one on ZooChat has uploaded anything since then of this species at Audubon Zoo.

I saw a Chinese Alligator at Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) in 2011, and I believe the zoo still maintains this species in an outdoor enclosure.

@Zebraduiker

Here's a cracker of a photo of a Chinese Alligator at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA).

@Andrew_NZP

A really shoddy, downright puny exhibit for Chinese Alligators at Reptile Gardens (USA) in South Dakota.

A nice boardwalk leads up to the Chinese Alligator exhibit at Peoria Zoo (USA).

Dallas Zoo (USA) had Chinese Alligators in this exhibit when I was last there in 2015, with an extensive rocky backdrop and an interesting choice of fencing on the side of the enclosure. This famous Reptile House usually contains circa 120 species at any given time, plus there's a substantial number behind the scenes as well.

Deep down in Louisiana, Alexandria Zoo (USA) has a chain-link outdoor yard for Chinese Alligators.

Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) has a glass viewing area surrounding its Chinese Alligator exhibit.

There are many fantastic crocodilian exhibits at San Diego Zoo (USA), including this one for Chinese Alligators in the Reptile Walk section of the park.

@Coelacanth18

I recall this next example having a major issue with glare from sunlight, and here is the Chinese Alligator exhibit at Pairi Daiza (Belgium).

@vogelcommando

The pool is just an average to small size, and you can see a Chinese Alligator in the water to give it a sense of scale, but the yard is huge at Phoenix Zoo (USA). Does anyone know if this was another Komodo Dragon enclosure at one point?

A couple of really young, juvenile Chinese Alligators at Monsters Aquarium (Thailand).

Chinese Alligator exhibit at Singapore Zoo (Singapore):

For a facility with the reputation of Bronx Zoo (USA), this Chinese Alligator exhibit feels mediocre.

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 50 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos

 

[NNM.]

The Chinese Alligator exhibit at Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) is likely not around anymore, or at least it's been repurposed for a different species.

The latter is true, it’s now inhabited by North American river otters, which uprooted the original motif of the exhibit complex “Australasia,” now called “World of Adaptations.”

 

[birdsandbats]

The latter is true, it’s now inhabited by North American river otters, which uprooted the original motif of the exhibit complex “Australasia,” now called “World of Adaptations.”

I would argue Chinese Alligator doesn't really fit Australasia, either.

 

[DJD Zoo Pals]

The pool is just an average to small size, and you can see a Chinese Alligator in the water to give it a sense of scale, but the yard is huge at Phoenix Zoo (USA). Does anyone know if this was another Komodo Dragon enclosure at one point?

I believe the enclosure was initially designed with Komodo dragons in mind, but the zoo quickly coopted the smaller of the two dragon enclosures after they acquired their Chinese alligator from the now closed Las Vegas Zoo. There are photos of Komodo dragons utilizing that half of the enclosure in the Zoochat gallery which postdate the Chinese alligator acquisition, so maybe they rotate occasionally? I've personally not seen this happen, as every time I've visited their smaller dragon is confined to an indoor area.

 

[EagleScout610]

Chinese Alligators are the 7th most common crocodilian I've seen, and I've come across this species at 24 zoos. The obvious trend with these guys is that about 80% of the zoos have been in the United States, with a lot of facilities in both the north and the south of the country having the species. I only saw Chinese Alligators in 2/60 zoos in Southeast Asia and 3/120 zoos in Europe.

Looking at Zootierliste, there are approximately 30 zoos in Asia with the species (mainly in China), 30 zoos in North America, and only 18 in Europe. I was a bit surprised to see the species still completely absent from Australia.

1- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2008
2- Knoxville Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2008
3- Sedgwick County Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
4- Saint Louis Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
5- Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
6- Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
7- Audubon Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2010
8- Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2011
9- Potawatomi Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2012
10- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2012
11- Reptile Gardens (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2014
12- Peoria Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2014
13- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2015
14- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2015
15- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2015
16- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2017
17- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2018
18- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Chinese Alligator – 2019
19- Berlin Tierpark (Germany) – Chinese Alligator – 2019
20- Parken Zoo (Sweden) – Chinese Alligator – 2022
21- Phoenix Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2023
22- Monsters Aquarium (Thailand) – Chinese Alligator – 2024
23- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – Chinese Alligator – 2024
24- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Chinese Alligator – 2025

Seeing Chinese Alligators for the first time was not a positive experience, as the exhibit at Cincinnati Zoo (USA) is ghastly. Visitors can walk all the way around the shallow pool, with a fake-looking tree trunk in the middle and the photo below shows a modern image of the enclosure as it was actually renovated since my 2008 tour of the zoo. The building itself is the oldest operating zoo building in the country, but this exhibit should hold a few turtles instead of rare gators.

@Moebelle

A far superior exhibit can be found at Sedgwick County Zoo (USA), one of the better zoos in America, and I saw 4 turtle species with the Chinese Alligators in 2010.

You can see a pair of Chinese Alligators in my photo from Saint Louis Zoo (USA), in a quite delightful outdoor exhibit attached to the historic Herpetarium.

A Chinese Alligator can be seen resting at the back of its indoor exhibit at Milwaukee County Zoo (USA) inside the Aquatic & Reptile Center.

The Chinese Alligator exhibit at Roger Williams Park Zoo (USA) is likely not around anymore, or at least it's been repurposed for a different species.

The same goes for the Chinese Alligator exhibit at Audubon Zoo (USA). Does it still exist? I have a close-up image of a gator and a trio of photos of the enclosure from my 2010 visit, but no one on ZooChat has uploaded anything since then of this species at Audubon Zoo.

I saw a Chinese Alligator at Santa Barbara Zoo (USA) in 2011, and I believe the zoo still maintains this species in an outdoor enclosure.

@Zebraduiker

Here's a cracker of a photo of a Chinese Alligator at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA).

@Andrew_NZP

A really shoddy, downright puny exhibit for Chinese Alligators at Reptile Gardens (USA) in South Dakota.

A nice boardwalk leads up to the Chinese Alligator exhibit at Peoria Zoo (USA).

Dallas Zoo (USA) had Chinese Alligators in this exhibit when I was last there in 2015, with an extensive rocky backdrop and an interesting choice of fencing on the side of the enclosure. This famous Reptile House usually contains circa 120 species at any given time, plus there's a substantial number behind the scenes as well.

Deep down in Louisiana, Alexandria Zoo (USA) has a chain-link outdoor yard for Chinese Alligators.

Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) has a glass viewing area surrounding its Chinese Alligator exhibit.

There are many fantastic crocodilian exhibits at San Diego Zoo (USA), including this one for Chinese Alligators in the Reptile Walk section of the park.

@Coelacanth18

I recall this next example having a major issue with glare from sunlight, and here is the Chinese Alligator exhibit at Pairi Daiza (Belgium).

@vogelcommando

The pool is just an average to small size, and you can see a Chinese Alligator in the water to give it a sense of scale, but the yard is huge at Phoenix Zoo (USA). Does anyone know if this was another Komodo Dragon enclosure at one point?

A couple of really young, juvenile Chinese Alligators at Monsters Aquarium (Thailand).

Chinese Alligator exhibit at Singapore Zoo (Singapore):

For a facility with the reputation of Bronx Zoo (USA), this Chinese Alligator exhibit feels mediocre.

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 50 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos

I remember Akron having Chinese Alligator years ago in both the old Tiger Valley and Komodo Kingdom exhibits. They may have still been there when you visited.

 

[snowleopard]

The 8th most common crocodilian for me has been the Nile Crocodile at 23 zoos. The trend here is that 17 of those sightings were at American zoos and 6 were in Europe. Zero in Canada, zero in Australia and zero in Southeast Asia.

The European zoos demolish the North American ones in terms of the quality of the exhibits.

1- Zurich Zoo (Switzerland) – Nile Crocodile – 2003
2- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2008
3- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2008
4- Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2008
5- Philadelphia Zoo (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2010
6- Dallas Zoo (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2010
7- San Antonio Zoo (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2010
8- Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2011
9- Newport Aquarium (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2012
10- South Carolina Aquarium (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2012
11- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2012
12- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2012
13- Reptile Gardens (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2014
14- World Aquarium (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2014
15- G W Exotic Animal Park (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2015
16- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2015
17- Capital of Texas Zoo (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2015
18- Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary (USA) – Nile Crocodile – 2018
19- Diergaarde Blijdorp (Netherlands) – Nile Crocodile – 2019
20- Cologne Zoo (Germany) – Nile Crocodile – 2019
21- TerraZoo (Germany) – Nile Crocodile – 2019
22- Beekse Bergen (Netherlands) – Nile Crocodile – 2019
23- Tierpark Hagenbeck (Germany) – Nile Crocodile – 2019

My photo (from last month) is dark, but you can clearly see a Nile Crocodile in its deep pool within the Madagascar! building at the Bronx Zoo (USA). This cave-like setting was better than I remembered it to be, although not huge, and the croc was very active during my visit, which is rare with any crocodilians.

Disney's Animal Kingdom (USA) has one of the most realistic and downright spectacular Nile Crocodile exhibits I've ever seen, with lots of big crocs and these days there's even a bridge that visitors can go over on special tours. There are at least 15 crocs in this photo.

@Mr.Weasel

The Reptile & Amphibian House at Philadelphia Zoo (USA) had Nile Crocodiles when I was there in 2010. It was merely an adequate enclosure.

A spacious pool with a lush background was the Nile Crocodile exhibit at Dallas Zoo (USA) when I was there in 2010 and 2015.

The Africa Live complex at San Antonio Zoo (USA) had a Nile Crocodile exhibit in 2010, with fake mudbanks as a backdrop.

A rather more sterile Nile Crocodile enclosure can be found at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park (USA), a zoo with circa 90 aquatic exhibits in its 4 Aquarium buildings.

@SwampDonkey

The infamous Gator Alley at Newport Aquarium (USA) had this tank with a Nile Crocodile shoved into it like a ragdoll. How was this even legal for years? There's literally no land inside this tank. Welcome to 'Merica folks!

@Moebelle

Of course, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) had Nile Crocodiles when I toured that facility in 2012 and here was one of the exhibits for that species. It's quite small.

Edge of Africa at Busch Gardens Tampa (USA) has some amazing animal exhibits amidst the rollercoasters. Here's a Nile Crocodile resting while a Common Hippo can be seen in the background in a separate enclosure.

@geomorph

Not quite on the subpar level of Newport Aquarium, but the Nile Crocodiles at Reptile Gardens (USA) have a small outdoor yard and then this indoor area for the majority of the year. Ugh.

@Dhole dude

The now closed World Aquarium (USA) in St. Louis had an all-indoor Nile Crocodile exhibit when I toured the establishment in 2014. The animal husbandry at this place was questionable to say the least.

The also defunct G W Exotic Animal Park (USA) had a much nicer Nile Crocodile exhibit, and it was a large outdoor yard. This was the 'Tiger King's' zoo.

This is a neat sign at Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) with visitors able to peer down at Nile Crocodiles in a lagoon-like setting.

A surprisingly simple yard for a Nile Crocodile at Capital of Texas Zoo (USA):

Off to Europe! Blijdorp Zoo (Netherlands) may have fallen on hard times lately, but the Nile Crocodile exhibit there is a real crowd-pleaser. The deep pool is set inside a warm greenhouse structure. It's spectacular.

@Mr Gharial

A similarly fantastic indoor Nile Crocodile can be found at Cologne Zoo (Germany). There's nothing in North America on the scale of the indoor exhibits for crocs as can be found in the Netherlands and Germany.

@FunkyGibbon

A smaller indoor area for Nile Crocodiles is at TerraZoo (Germany), a specialist reptile zoo with some choice species and also Ring-tailed Lemurs at the entrance!

@LegoOwl

I love this photo of a Nile Crocodile chilling on some grass at Beekse Bergen (Netherlands). Here's another vast indoor croc hall that you don't see anywhere else outside of Europe, the world's best continent for zoos.

Saving the best for last, Tierpark Hagenbeck (Germany) has a stunning Nile Crocodile exhibit inside its Tropen-Aquarium building. My word, this croc habitat is jaw-dropping, with some massive creatures lurking in the water.

@twilighter

@Daniel Sörensen

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 50 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos
Nile Crocodile = 23 zoos

 

[snowleopard]

The next crocodilian on the list is the Siamese Crocodile, and I've seen this species at 23 zoos. This was an extremely rare animal for me, with only 8 sightings ever up until 2015 and that's including a hybrid specimen in Las Vegas. Then I went almost a decade with not seeing a single Siamese Crocodile (other than in San Diego) until I came across a bounty of them at 14 Southeast Asian zoos. Just like False Gharials and Saltwater Crocodiles, Siamese Crocodiles are VERY common in Southeast Asian zoos. By contrast, at 120 European zoos I never once saw the species, and I wonder if there are some zoo nerds from that continent who have perhaps never set eyes on a Siamese Crocodile.

1- Detroit Zoo (USA) – Siamese Crocodile – 2008
2- Utah’s Hogle Zoo (USA) – Siamese Crocodile – 2010
3- Newport Aquarium (USA) – Siamese Crocodile – 2012
4- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Siamese Crocodile – 2012
5- Denver Zoo (USA) – Siamese Crocodile – 2012
6- Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) – Siamese Crocodile – 2015
7- Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (USA) – Siamese Crocodile – 2015
8- Shark Reef Aquarium (USA) – ‘Golden Crocodile’ (Saltwater Crocodile x Siamese Crocodile) – 2015
9- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Siamese Crocodile – 2023
10- Peuan Deratchan Zoo (Thailand) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
11- Sriayuthaya Lion Park (Thailand) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
12- Lopburi Zoo (Thailand) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
13- Pattaya Crocodile Farm (Thailand) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
14- Khao Kheow Open Zoo (Thailand) - Siamese Crocodile – 2024
15- Monsters Aquarium (Thailand) - Siamese Crocodile – 2024
16- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
17- Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
18- Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
19- Safari World Bangkok (Thailand) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
20- Taman Buaya Crocodile Park (Malaysia) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
21- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
22- Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia) – Siamese Crocodile – 2024
23- Taman Mini Indonesia Indah: Reptile Park (Indonesia) – Siamese Crocodile– 2024

A Siamese Crocodile with gaping jaws at Detroit Zoo (USA):

@team tapir

A bare bones, mediocre exhibit for Siamese Crocodiles at Utah's Hogle Zoo (USA) attached to the Small Animal Building.

Another god-awful example from Gator Alley at Newport Aquarium (USA), with a Siamese Crocodile showcased in a tiny pool.

@Moebelle

In truth, quite a few of the exhibits at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) are a little small and sterile. Here's my photo of the Siamese Crocodile enclosure in 2012:

Denver Zoo (USA) has a Tropical Discovery building that is literally a zoo-within-a-zoo and one reason why Denver is arguably a top 10 American zoo. Inside the tropical house can be found 102 exhibits, including this one for Siamese Crocodiles.

@geomorph

A tiny pool for Siamese Crocodiles at Ellen Trout Zoo (USA) in 2015.

I then didn't see a single Siamese Crocodile for years, in a period when I visited hundreds of new zoos. In 2019 and 2022 I went on two European zoos trips, and I didn't see any Siamese Crocodiles anywhere, but in 2024 the species popped up again in Southeast Asia.

An absolutely abysmal exhibit for Siamese Crocodiles can be seen at the ultra-tiny Peuan Deratchan Zoo (Thailand), and two crocs can be seen in my photo.

Lopburi Zoo (Thailand) has a more spacious, yet rather stinky, pool for Siamese Crocodiles.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo (Thailand) is one of many Thai zoos with Siamese Crocodiles.

The jungle is forever growing around many animal enclosures in tropical Southeast Asia, including this Siamese Crocodile exhibit at Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand).

If you take the Predator Prowl tour at Chiang Mai Night Safari (Thailand), then you will see this Siamese Crocodile exhibit from the tour bus.

Songkhla Zoo (Thailand) has a sprawling network of outdoor croc yards, including ones for Siamese Crocodiles.

You can see a big Siamese Crocodile on the left within its spacious exhibit at Safari World Bangkok (Thailand). This zoo has some terrific crocodilian enclosures.

A long outdoor hallway of crocodilian exhibits at Singapore Zoo (Singapore) house both Siamese Crocodiles and Chinese Alligators (separately, of course).

A rather small, dirty Siamese Crocodile exhibit can be seen at Surabaya Zoo (Indonesia).

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Indonesia) has a Siamese Crocodile with a damaged mouth in this glass-fronted exhibit.

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 50 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos
Nile Crocodile = 23 zoos
Siamese Crocodile = 23 zoos

 

[snowleopard]

The 10th most common crocodilian species I've seen is the Smooth-fronted Caiman at 16 zoos. Sometimes signed as Schneider's Dwarf Caiman, I've seen this species 6 times in North America, 6 times in Europe and 4 times in Asia.

1- Tulsa Zoo (USA) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2010
2- National Aquarium in Baltimore (USA) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2010
3- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2012
4- RAD (Reptile & Amphibian Discovery) Zoo (USA) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2014
5- San Antonio Aquarium (USA) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2015
6- Austin Aquarium (USA) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2015
7- Dortmund Zoo (Germany) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2019
8- Krefeld Zoo (Germany) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2019
9- Dierenpark de Oliemeulen (Netherlands) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2019
10- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2019
11- Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2019
12- Randers Regnskov/Randers Tropical Zoo (Denmark) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2022
13- Monsters Aquarium (Thailand) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2024
14- Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2024
15- Zoo Negara (Malaysia) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2024
16- Taman Rama-rama (Melaka Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary) (Malaysia) – Smooth-fronted Caiman – 2024

The first time I recall seeing a Smooth-fronted Caiman was at Tulsa Zoo (USA) in 2010. One of that zoo's most notable structures is a Rainforest complex with massive fake jungle roots everywhere.

@geomorph

Here's a close-up view of a Smooth-fronted Caiman at the National Aquarium in Baltimore (USA), one of the 'big 5' aquariums in the USA alongside Shedd, Georgia, Monterey Bay and Tennessee.

@RatioTile

A nice grassy yard awaits a Smooth-fronted Caiman in its pool at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA).

While at San Antonio Aquarium (USA) in 2015, I saw a juvenile Smooth-fronted Caiman in this tiny tank.

Here's a Smooth-fronted Caiman and a Redtail Catfish hanging out together at Austin Aquarium (USA):

Off to Europe and here's a Smooth-fronted Caiman exhibit at Dortmund Zoo (Germany). I think I might have the only photo of this enclosure in the ZooChat gallery.

Krefeld Zoo (Germany) also has Smooth-fronted Caiman on-show to the public.

@vogelcommando

The rather obscure Dierenpark de Oliemeulen (Netherlands) has an eclectic collection of animals, including Smooth-fronted Caiman.

@vogelcommando

This is a neat underwater shot of a Smooth-fronted Caiman at Berlin Zoo (Germany), in the legendary Aquarium.

@JigerofLemuria

A rather lush Smooth-fronted Caiman exhibit awaits visitors at Allwetterzoo Munster (Germany) and notice the woodchips outside the enclosure.

I only saw Smooth-fronted Caiman at one zoo on my trip through Scandinavia in 2022 and it was within the cavernous South American Dome at Randers Regnskov (Denmark). Here's an example of the pathway in this structure, the largest of three huge domed ecosystems.

Being situated in a jungle, Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand) can afford to have its Smooth-fronted Caiman outdoors and open to the elements. This exhibit is very nice and has excellent signage as well.

A similarly lush-looking exhibit for Smooth-fronted Caiman can be found at Melaka Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary (Malaysia).

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 51 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos
Nile Crocodile = 23 zoos
Siamese Crocodile = 23 zoos
Smooth-fronted Caiman = 16 zoos

 

[snowleopard]

I've seen Freshwater Crocodiles at 13 zoos, which breaks down to 6 zoos in Australia, 5 zoos in the USA, 2 zoos in Europe and 0 zoos in Asia. In recent times, this has been an incredibly rare species for me to see in captivity.

(On a side note, I wonder if Melbourne Zoo had the species when I toured that establishment in 2007? I couldn't find any evidence as of the time of writing.)

1- Perth Zoo (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 1987
2- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2006
3- Sydney Aquarium (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
4- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
5- Crocodylus Park (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
6- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
7- Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
8- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2008
9- National Aquarium in Baltimore (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2010
10- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2012
11- Reptile Gardens (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2014
12- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2019
13- Aquazoo Lobbecke Museum (Germany) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2019

These crocs are quite rare outside of Australia, so seeing one is always a thrill.

@WhistlingKite24

At various times, in different sections of the grounds, San Diego Zoo (USA) has had Freshwater Crocodiles over the years. Both Tiger River and Discovery Outpost has held the species at various times.

@Blackduiker

Sydney Aquarium (Australia), now a Sea Life, held Freshwater Crocodiles when I visited the facility in 2007. There's a juvenile croc in this image.

@Baldur

Freshwater Crocodiles have been part of Taronga Zoo's (Australia) collection for decades, probably continuously.

@Hix

Here's a whole pile of Freshwater Crocodiles at Crocodylus Park (Australia). Apparently, this species is relatively harmless to swimmers in billabongs in Oz.

@LaughingDove

This is a stunning portrait of a Freshwater Crocodile at Healesville Sanctuary (Australia):

@Goura

Here's another excellent photo of a Freshwater Crocodile, this time at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA). Is this species still present there?

@Ituri

Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes is an entire pavilion at the National Aquarium in Baltimore (USA), with a superb array of Aussie wildlife including Freshwater Crocodiles. You can see a croc resting on land in my 2010 photo.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) still definitely has Freshwater Crocodiles in their Land of Crocodiles zone as this is a recent photo.

@Moebelle

Freshwater Crocodiles are part of the huge collection of herps at Reptile Gardens (USA).

@Zoological Point

Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) has a building that is half Aquarium (bottom floor) and half Reptile House (top floor) and known as the Exotarium. I saw Freshwater Crocodiles there in 2019.

@JigerofLemuria

Here's my shot of the Freshwater Crocodile exhibit at Aquazoo Lobbecke Museum (Germany) in Dusseldorf. I have seen this species at 2/120 zoos in Europe.

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 51 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos
Nile Crocodile = 23 zoos
Siamese Crocodile = 23 zoos
Smooth-fronted Caiman = 16 zoos
Freshwater Crocodile = 13 zoos

 

[komodoskar]

I've seen Freshwater Crocodiles at 13 zoos, which breaks down to 6 zoos in Australia, 5 zoos in the USA, 2 zoos in Europe and 0 zoos in Asia. In recent times, this has been an incredibly rare species for me to see in captivity.

(On a side note, I wonder if Melbourne Zoo had the species when I toured that establishment in 2007? I couldn't find any evidence as of the time of writing.)

1- Perth Zoo (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 1987
2- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2006
3- Sydney Aquarium (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
4- Taronga Zoo (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
5- Crocodylus Park (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
6- Adelaide Zoo (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
7- Healesville Sanctuary (Australia) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2007
8- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2008
9- National Aquarium in Baltimore (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2010
10- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2012
11- Reptile Gardens (USA) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2014
12- Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2019
13- Aquazoo Lobbecke Museum (Germany) – Freshwater Crocodile – 2019

These crocs are quite rare outside of Australia, so seeing one is always a thrill.

@WhistlingKite24

At various times, in different sections of the grounds, San Diego Zoo (USA) has had Freshwater Crocodiles over the years. Both Tiger River and Discovery Outpost has held the species at various times.

@Blackduiker

Sydney Aquarium (Australia), now a Sea Life, held Freshwater Crocodiles when I visited the facility in 2007. There's a juvenile croc in this image.

@Baldur

Freshwater Crocodiles have been part of Taronga Zoo's (Australia) collection for decades, probably continuously.

@Hix

Here's a whole pile of Freshwater Crocodiles at Crocodylus Park (Australia). Apparently, this species is relatively harmless to swimmers in billabongs in Oz.

@LaughingDove

This is a stunning portrait of a Freshwater Crocodile at Healesville Sanctuary (Australia):

@Goura

Here's another excellent photo of a Freshwater Crocodile, this time at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA). Is this species still present there?

@Ituri

Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes is an entire pavilion at the National Aquarium in Baltimore (USA), with a superb array of Aussie wildlife including Freshwater Crocodiles. You can see a croc resting on land in my 2010 photo.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) still definitely has Freshwater Crocodiles in their Land of Crocodiles zone as this is a recent photo.

@Moebelle

Freshwater Crocodiles are part of the huge collection of herps at Reptile Gardens (USA).

@Zoological Point

Frankfurt Zoo (Germany) has a building that is half Aquarium (bottom floor) and half Reptile House (top floor) and known as the Exotarium. I saw Freshwater Crocodiles there in 2019.

@JigerofLemuria

Here's my shot of the Freshwater Crocodile exhibit at Aquazoo Lobbecke Museum (Germany) in Dusseldorf. I have seen this species at 2/120 zoos in Europe.

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 51 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos
Nile Crocodile = 23 zoos
Siamese Crocodile = 23 zoos
Smooth-fronted Caiman = 16 zoos
Freshwater Crocodile = 13 zoos

This post made me check my own captive lifelist, and, sure enough, I also saw Freshwater Crocs at Frankfurt without ever realising

 

[snowleopard]

Hot on the heels of seeing Freshwater Crocodiles at 13 zoos, I've seen Gharials also at 13 zoos. It was tricky to figure it out, as between False Gharials, Gharials and Tomistomas as headings in the photo gallery, and some misidentification from various posters, it was a tad confusing at times, but I think I've got an accurate listing below.

1- San Diego Zoo (USA) – Gharial – 2006
2- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Gharial – 2008
3- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Gharial – 2008
4- Fort Worth Zoo (USA) – Gharial – 2008
5- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA) – Gharial – 2010
6- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Gharial – 2012
7- Los Angeles Zoo (USA) – Gharial – 2017
8- Pairi Daiza (Belgium) – Gharial – 2019
9- Berlin Zoo (Germany) – Gharial – 2019
10- Monsters Aquarium (Thailand) – Gharial – 2024
11- Singapore Zoo (Singapore) – Gharial – 2024
12- River Wonders (Singapore) – Gharial – 2024
13- Night Safari (Singapore) – Gharial – 2024

An absolutely gorgeous Gharial pool can be found at San Diego Zoo (USA) and the large trees in the background add to the illusion that this exhibit is a slice of wilderness.

It's entirely indoors, but the spectacular Gharial exhibit inside JungleWorld at Bronx Zoo (USA) can be stunning from certain angles.

I also saw Gharials at Smithsonian's National Zoo (USA) in 2008.

@Ding Lingwei

Fort Worth Zoo (USA) has Gharials in the stunning MOLA (Museum of Living Art), hailed by some as arguably the zoo world's greatest Reptile House.

In Fort Worth, you can dine and watch Gharials via massive underwater viewing windows.

Inside The Rainforest building at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (USA), I saw Gharials in 2010. Hopefully those crocodilians will be included in the upcoming transformation of that complex.

When I visited St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) in 2012, the Gharial exhibit consisted of a series of interconnecting pools. It is one of the better crocodilian exhibits at that zoo.

Los Angeles Zoo (USA) is the 7th American zoo where I've seen Gharials.

@Julio C Castro

I saw a few juvenile Gharials at Pairi Daiza (Belgium) in 2019, in a small tank in the boat-shaped Reptile House.

@Fat-tailed dwarf lemur

The Gharials eventually graduated to this larger exhibit:

@KevinB

I saw two juvenile Gharials in this tiny terrarium at Monsters Aquarium (Thailand).

Singapore Zoo (Singapore) has an enormous pool with False Gharials at the entrance and also this exhibit for Gharial further into the park.

@RatioTile

Terrible glare spoils an otherwise spacious Gharial pool at River Wonders (Singapore).

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 51 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos
Nile Crocodile = 23 zoos
Siamese Crocodile = 23 zoos
Smooth-fronted Caiman = 16 zoos
Freshwater Crocodile = 13 zoos
Gharial = 13 zoos

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

I find it interesting that tomistomas are present in most Indonesian zoos but seems like there's never been a gharial in a single indonesian zoos. I guess natural range plays a big part why?

 

[biggest_dreamer]

Finally caught up on all the croc posts! I really miss the tomistoma and dwarf caiman at Riverbanks, as they were both phased out during the ARC renovation a few years ago.

On the subject of dwarf crocodiles being primarily at AZA facilities, that's certainly been the case for most of the times I've seen them. The one outlier is the rather obscure Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, SC, which hardly even advertises its animal collection but still manages to have a surprisingly compelling small assortment of herps.

 

[DaLilFishie]

Look at all those fish (Tilapia?)

Yes, they appear to be a leucistic form of Oreochromis. Unsure which species of the genus they are, hybrids are a possibility too.

 

[snowleopard]

I've seen Cuban Crocodiles at 11 zoos and this species has been an extreme rarity for me over the years. The first 8 zoos on the list are all in the United States, but that's still only 8 out of 400+ North American establishments where I've seen these crocs. I've then seen Cuban Crocodiles at 0/20 zoos in Australia, 0/60 zoos in Asia and only 3/120 zoos in Europe, which seems astonishing but that's just the way things have worked out. Interestingly enough, the 3 European zoos where I've come across the species have been obscure ones that hardly anyone on this site has visited.

1- Bronx Zoo (USA) – Cuban Crocodile – 2008
2- Smithsonian’s National Zoo (USA) – Cuban Crocodile – 2008
3- Zoo Miami (USA) – Cuban Crocodile – 2008
4- Louisville Zoo (USA) – Cuban Crocodile – 2010
5- Houston Zoo (USA) – Cuban Crocodile – 2010
6- Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) – Cuban Crocodile – 2010
7- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – Cuban Crocodile – 2012
8- Reptile Gardens (USA) – Cuban Crocodile – 2014
9- Sea Life Hannover (Germany) – Cuban Crocodile – 2019
10- Kolmarden Tropicarium (Sweden) – Cuban Crocodile – 2022
11- Den Lille Dyrehage/The Small Zoo (Norway) – Cuban Crocodile – 2022

I saw Cuban Crocodiles at the Bronx Zoo (USA) in 2008 and then again at that same zoo last month. Unfortunately, the exhibit there is substandard and far below the usual levels of the Bronx.

This image shows just over half the Cuban Crocodile exhibit at Smithsonian's National Zoo (USA).

@Coelacanth18

Florida is legendary for its balmy weather, which allows Zoo Miami (USA) to house Cuban Crocodiles in a spacious outdoor exhibit.

@Pleistohorse

All indoors, with a mural that dominates the room, sits a Cuban Crocodile at Louisville Zoo (USA) in 2010.

I saw Cuban Crocodiles at Houston Zoo (USA) in 2010, and I'd be interested if the species is still present at the zoo.

@jbnbsn99

It's not the most aesthetically pleasing exhibit, like loads of the enclosures at Gladys Porter Zoo (USA) as a huge bulk of that facility opened in the 1970s, but it was nice to see Cuban Crocodiles outdoors there in 2010.

A standard pool for Cuban Crocodiles at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) in 2012. I saw all 23 species of crocodilians at this facility during my visit, back when there only were 23 species!

Welcome to Reptile Gardens (USA) in South Dakota, where I saw SIX Cuban Crocodiles all together in this puny indoor enclosure.

Imagine my surprise when I visited loads of top tier European zoos, only to see my first Cuban Crocodiles on that continent at Sea Life Hannover (Germany). It was quite unexpected.

Tropicarium Kolmarden (Sweden) had a pool with juvenile Cuban Crocodiles when I toured that excellent facility in 2022.

And that leaves Den Lille Dyrehage/The Small Zoo (Norway) as the 11th and final zoo where I saw Cuban Crocodiles. They are housed in a huge greenhouse tropical building.

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 51 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos
Nile Crocodile = 23 zoos
Siamese Crocodile = 23 zoos
Smooth-fronted Caiman = 16 zoos
Freshwater Crocodile = 13 zoos
Gharial = 13 zoos
Cuban Crocodile = 11 zoos

 

[carlos55]

Hybridation with american crocodiles is a big problem for the survival of the Cuban crocodiles. At the Havana zoos I was told that the many specimens were all pure bred. I suspect that various so called Cuban crocodiles held in zoos outside the island have turned out to be mostly American crocodiles, so the species is on decline in animal collections. By the way the Cuban crocodiles in Sweden are descended from a pair that was given by Fidel Castro to Moscow zoo. Here is link to this unusual story. Fidel Castro's crocodile bites man at Swedish aquarium

 

[Jana]

Most Cuban crocodiles kept at European zoos has been geneticaly tested for purity and only non-hybrids are part of the studbook. Crocodile zoo Protivin breeds the species regularly, but must regulate number of babies that are allowed to hatch because interest of zoos in this very aggressive and agile species, that needs more secure housing than other crocodile species, is not big. But whoever in Europe with permits wants to start with Cubans, that is one reliable source.

 

[snowleopard]

I've never seen American Crocodiles anywhere in Australia, Europe or Asia, and even in North America they've been rarities. I've seen the species at 10 zoos and 4 of those sightings were in Florida in a single month in the summer of 2012 and 4 other sightings were in 2008. It's kind of amazing to think that I have not seen this species at a new zoo in a full decade, even though I've certainly visited loads of zoos in that time period! I'm guessing that for zoo nerds living in Florida, then perhaps American Crocodiles are relatively common.

1- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (USA) – American Crocodile – 2008
2- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) – American Crocodile – 2008
3- Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago) – American Crocodile – 2008
4- Disney’s Animal Kingdom (USA) – American Crocodile – 2008
5- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) – American Crocodile – 2012
6- Brevard Zoo (USA) – American Crocodile – 2012
7- Busch Wildlife Sanctuary (USA) – American Crocodile – 2012
8- The Florida Aquarium (USA) – American Crocodile – 2012
9- Reptile Gardens (USA) – American Crocodile – 2014
10- Alexandria Zoo (USA) – American Crocodile – 2015

Here's a full body shot of an American Crocodile:

@Austin the Sengi

The first time I ever saw some American Crocodiles was inside the Manatee Springs complex at Cincinnati Zoo (USA) in 2008.

@Andrew_NZP

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (USA) has long had American Crocodiles in with snapping turtles in the brilliant Kingdoms of the Night nocturnal complex.

@Dhole dude

I visited the terrible Emperor Valley Zoo (Trinidad & Tobago) in late 2008 and I saw a single American Crocodile in a pool with very shallow water.

Disney's Animal Kingdom (USA) used to have American Crocodiles in the DinoLand U.S.A. section of the park. Hardly any other live animals were in this area of the zoo.

@geomorph

American Crocodiles were mixed with Red-footed Tortoises at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park (USA) when I toured that facility in 2012.

A gorgeous, swampy exhibit for American Crocodiles can be found at Brevard Zoo (USA).

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary (USA) had a couple of American Crocodiles in simple pens with wooden 'slides' into the shallow pools.

I saw American Crocodiles at a 4th Florida zoo in the summer of 2012 while touring Florida Aquarium (USA). The species is held indoors there, but within a large greenhouse-style structure with loads of skylights.

Continuing the trend of appalling crocodilian exhibits at Reptile Gardens (USA), here's their American Crocodile enclosure.

You can see an American Crocodile in its pool at Alexandria Zoo (USA), with a significant amount of lawn space for the species at this establishment.

Crocodilian List:

American Alligator = 145 zoos
Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman = 51 zoos
False Gharial = 38 zoos
Saltwater Crocodile = 35 zoos
Dwarf Crocodile = 34 zoos
Spectacled Caiman = 28 zoos
Chinese Alligator = 24 zoos
Nile Crocodile = 23 zoos
Siamese Crocodile = 23 zoos
Smooth-fronted Caiman = 16 zoos
Freshwater Crocodile = 13 zoos
Gharial = 13 zoos
Cuban Crocodile = 11 zoos
American Crocodile = 10 zoos