Best Crocodile enclosure in the Benelux

Best Crocodile enclosure in the Benelux?

  • Total voters
    27
  • Poll closed .
felis silvestris

felis silvestris

Well-Known Member
This is just a bit of fun to judge the general consensus on the best enclosure for Crocodiles in the Benelux. I have added a few photos from the gallery to make it easier for members to compare the different exhibits. If anyone wants to make an argument for a particular enclosure, please feel free to do so. Also, I would encourage people to list the enclosures in order of what they think is best.

If there are any outdated photos, collections that no longer hold them or people have photos for exhibits not in the gallery or with poor photos please let me know.

Merivelleux (Morelet's)

full


AZ Leeuwarden (Nile)

full


Rotterdam (Nile)

full


Pakawi (Phillipine)

full


Rotterdam (Slender Snouted)

full


Beekse Bergen (Southern Nile)

full


Photo credits to @Hvedekorn @felis silvestris @KevinB @MennoPebesma
 
I assume we're keeping the dwarf crocs for another thread then? ;)

For me, it's a tossup between Blijdorp and Aquazoo.

Aquazoo is the only zoo with active enrichment for their crocs, as they have a waterfall they like to lie in. They also have the most horizontal space, multiple basking lamps and some darker areas if the crocs want it.

Blijdorp's crocs, on the other hand, have nice "natural" sunlight, way deeper water, and a lot of Tilapias accompanying them.

Beekse Bergen is in third place for me, as they also have natural sunlight and okay depth water, but not as deep as Blijdorp and not as much land space as Aquazoo's.

I think I'm voting Aquazoo, for having the enrichment bonus.
 
Mr Gharial said:
I assume we're keeping the dwarf crocs for another thread then? ;)

For me, it's a tossup between Blijdorp and Aquazoo.

Aquazoo is the only zoo with active enrichment for their crocs, as they have a waterfall they like to lie in. They also have the most horizontal space, multiple basking lamps and some darker areas if the crocs want it.

Blijdorp's crocs, on the other hand, have nice "natural" sunlight, way deeper water, and a lot of Tilapias accompanying them.

Beekse Bergen is in third place for me, as they also have natural sunlight and okay depth water, but not as deep as Blijdorp and not as much land space as Aquazoo's.

I think I'm voting Aquazoo, for having the enrichment bonus.
Click to expand...
Yup, the dwarfs are next.
 
I'd say AZ Leuuwarden for it's size. While it may not have the best theming, compared to the gorgeous Rotterdam enclosure, it has a large pool, decent land space and allows the crocodiles to swim long lengths rather than round in a circle. It also has an outdoor area.
 
ZooTripper365 said:
I'd say AZ Leuuwarden for it's size. While it may not have the best theming, compared to the gorgeous Rotterdam enclosure, it has a large pool, decent land space and allows the crocodiles to swim long lengths rather than round in a circle. It also has an outdoor area.
Click to expand...
No idea where you got that from, but AquaZoo does not have an outdoor enclosure for the crocodiles.
 
I am surprised that this isn't a shoe-in for the nile crocodile enclosure in Blijdorp, which in person is easily the most impressive of the lot with good viewing options (especially compared to the awkward viewing options of the slender-snouted crocodile enclosure it is adjacent to), plenty of space and an underwater view.
 
I also think that Blijdorp's enclosures are prettier and better to view, but I wouldn't say that makes them the better enclosure.

And though I agree the deep water is nice, I wouldn't say it's that much of a priority for the crocodiles. Aquazoo's enclosure might actually have a nicer water area, because the crocs have both an area for them to fully submerge themselves in, and a shallow area where they can lay semi-submerged. I don't think the croc really cares about how it lies when underwater (horizontal in AZ or diagonal in Blijdorp)
 
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