Posted 2 April 2013
In another first for Melbourne Zoo’s herpetofauna team, the Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) has been bred at Melbourne Zoo. This marks another significant achievement in Zoos Victoria’s conservation partnership for this most threatened of the world’s crocodiles.
Our adult female laid 10 eggs on November 30, all of which were removed for incubation at two temperature settings in order to produce males and females. Like some other reptiles, the sex of crocodiles can be determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated.
The eggs were opened on March 19 as they had not shown any signs of hatching by themselves and had reached the upper limit of recorded incubation length in this species. This revealed one dead, fully-formed baby and one live but very weak baby. Of the 10 eggs laid, four were fertile, a very positive outcome as these are very challenging animals to maintain in captivity and it’s also the adult’s first breeding attempt.
The little crocodile is improving, but it will be some time before she is ready for display. Her entry into the world is perfect timing to celebrate the renewal of Zoos Victoria’s partnership with the Mabuwaya Foundation in northern Philippines, which will be brought to life at Melbourne Zoo over the coming months. This partnership will see an increase in the number of protection zones allocated to protect this species, as well as an increased focus on community conservation programs in situ.
We are only the second organisation to breed this species outside the Philippines, the other being Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas where our US partner in the global conservation and breeding program is based.
If you’d like to learn more about this incredible species, its husbandry requirements or what your organisation can do to help fight its extinction, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
‘Mabuhay buwaya’ (Long live the crocodile)
