Tropical Reptiles with Outdoor Access

Marcus A.

Marcus A.

Member
Welcome to the first of several threads on animal temperature management in captivity by animal group that I’m planning to create. In these threads, I aim to reach out to the community to share their observations and experiences—whether they are trained professionals or avid zoo-goers like myself—on how their local zoos or zoos they have worked at manage certain groups of animals during seasons that these animals typically do not encounter in their natural range.

In this thread, we will explore the outdoor access and management of tropical reptiles that are often or sometimes given outdoor access in the institutions where they are exhibited.

For Zoo-Goers: What observations have you made regarding the outdoor access and seasonal management of tropical reptiles in your local zoo or any other zoo you frequent? Which species are given seasonal or year-round outdoor access? How are their habitats designed? What behavioral observations have you made? Were there any days or circumstances where the species in question were off-exhibit or kept fully indoors?

For Trained Professionals: What can you share about the outdoor access and management of tropical reptiles in the institutions you have worked at? What guidelines did you follow? How did these vary between species? What behavioral observations have you made that differ between various species of tropical reptiles? Which species were more eager to go out on cooler days? Feel free to omit the names of institutions if desired.

For reference and brainstorming, below is a list of tropical reptiles that I’m aware of that potentially receive outdoor access. Of course, information on other species is certainly welcome:
  • Crocodilians: Gharial (Indian, Malayan), Crocodile (Saltwater, Nile, American, Cuban, Orinoco, Slender-Snouted, etc.), Caiman (Spectacled, Broad-Snouted, Cuvier’s Dwarf, etc.)
  • Testudines: Tortoise (Aldabra Giant, Galapagos Giant, Sulcata, Leopard, Radiated, Asian Brown, Red-Footed, Yellow-Footed, etc.)
  • Squamates: Varanid (Komodo Dragon, Nile Monitor, Asian Water Monitor, Crocodile Monitor, Perentie, etc.), Iguana (Rhinoceros, Grand Cayman Blue, Green, etc.), Tegu (Black-and-White, Red)
While I couldn’t come up with examples of tropical freshwater turtles or snakes exhibited outdoors, feel free to share your experiences on these as well.

I’ve excluded temperate species in the description, but if some members have experience with these, please share. However, experiences and information on tropical species are more relevant in the context of this thread.

Thank you in advance for your contributions!
 
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Hello,
Before answering to you, I would like to know what's the climate you think about.
Of course the definition of "cold" isn't the same in Western France or in Canada, for example.
 
Marcus A. said:
Welcome to the first of several temperature tolerance threads by animal group I'm planning to create. In these threads, I aim to reach out to the community to share their expertise or experiences—whether they are trained professionals or avid zoo-goers like myself—on how animals cope with temperature extremes in the zoos they have worked at or visited, with a focus on the protocols, guidelines, and cutoff temperatures followed for these species by the zoos themselves. Names of institutions can be left out if desired.

In this thread, we will look into the cold tolerance of tropical reptiles that are often or sometimes given outdoor access, at least in warm temperate regions.

If available, please share the temperature protocols for these species, particularly the cutoff temperatures where the animals are still allowed to choose whether to stay outside (with indoor/heating access) and the temperatures at which they are not allowed outside at all (lock-in). Any behavioral observations for a given temperature, as well as comparisons between similar species (in behavior or guidelines), are also welcome. Additionally, information on heated pool temperatures for semi-aquatic species and how cold it has to get for pool heating to turn on is also appreciated.

For reference, below is a list of tropical and subtropical reptiles that I'm aware of that potentially receive outdoor access, but of course, information on other species is certainly welcome:
  • Crocodilians: Gharial (Indian, Malayan), Crocodile (Saltwater, Nile, American, Cuban, Orinoco, Slender-Snouted, etc.), Caiman (Spectacled, Black, Cuvier's Dwarf, etc.)
  • Testudines: Tortoise (Aldabra Giant, Galapagos Giant, Sulcata, Leopard, Radiated, Asian Brown, Red-Footed, Yellow-Footed, etc.)
  • Squamates: Varanid (Komodo Dragon, Nile Monitor, Asian Water Monitor, Crocodile Monitor, Perentie, etc.), Iguana (Rhinoceros, Grand Cayman Blue, etc.), Tegu (Black-And-White, Red)
While I couldn’t come up with examples of tropical freshwater turtles or snakes exhibited outdoors, feel free to share your experiences on these as well.

I excluded temperate species in the description, but if some members have experience with these, please share. However, experiences and information on tropical species are more relevant in the context of this thread.

Thank you in advance for your contributions!
Click to expand...
In France the summer display of Tortoises (Aldabra, Sulcata, Yellow-footed, Red-footed...) is a common standard. But all these animals stay in heated quarters in winter.

Some zoos display large crocodilians in outdoor enclosure, ponds and lagoons in summer too (Le Pal, Sigean, until recently Lyon and in a remote past in the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes too). But it's only for the most common and hardy species (Nile Crocodile, American Alligator...) and for the summer months. The defunct Zoo du Cap Ferrat used to have both species in not-heated exhibits (a cage, then a small lagoon) but it's a very special case regarding to the local climate, practically without freezing.
The summer display of freshwater turtles in outdoor enclosures is likely in some places, as for the crocs.

I don't know outdoor exhibits for lizards (except perhaps one or two places that kept Green Iguanas in outdoor aviaries along with small monkeys and birds), for me the main problem isn't the climate directly but the ability of most species to climb and to escape from the enclosures.
This problem is probably the same for the exotic snakes, explaining their absence in outdoor exhibits in France.
 
At their old site in Clifton Bristol Zoo had Aldabra tortoises and Rhinoceros iguanas sharing an outside site. They were shut in in especially cold weather and at night - their inside quarters were basically a heated conservatory - but they had access most of the year with an inside basking lamp. The tortoises in particular would go out even when it was fairly cool, and during the summer the iguanas would happily bask. The enclosure was sheltered and caught a lot of sun, and was backed by a retaining wall which reflected heat.
 
In the UK the only reptiles I can think of seeing that had outdoor sections to their enclosures have been various tortoises and Chinese alligators (Crocodiles of the World when they had them).
 
NMM said:
In the UK the only reptiles I can think of seeing that had outdoor sections to their enclosures have been various tortoises and Chinese alligators (Crocodiles of the World when they had them).
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American alligators too at Thrigby Hall and I believe also the slender-snouted crocs at Colchester.
 
Cotswold Wildlife Park allowed their Alligators to use an open-air enclosure that was attached to the tropical house in warm weather.
Birmingham Conservation Centre allows the Komodo Dragon to use it's outside enclosure,again in warm weather.
Exmoor Zoo, allow their African Spur-Thighed Tortoise outside in warm weather.
 
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I sometimes seen large reptiles outdoor, but I am afraid they are underheated. Recommended temperature for things like sulcata tortoise or green iguana is over 26oC-32oC at daytime and over 21oC at night, with still warmer basking areas. In the climate of e.g. Germany night time temperatures reach this level only maybe a week in the year, and midday temperatures maybe for few weeks total.
 
Haliaeetus said:
The defunct Zoo du Cap Ferrat used to have both species in not-heated exhibits (a cage, then a small lagoon) but it's a very special case regarding to the local climate, practically without freezing.
Click to expand...
This is quite interesting, especially for the crocodiles. In parts of their range, alligators can survive even when the water freezes over, but for crocodiles, it is quite intriguing due to the risk of drowning when water temperatures dip below a certain threshold (empirically, husbandry manuals usually define a generic safe water temperature for crocodiles as above 15°C). For instance, an ex-pet Nile crocodile released in a reservoir in Crete did quite well in summer but died in winter, despite the balmy weather. The animal was a large juvenile or small subadult and probably not well acclimated. Additionally, the part of Africa from which the animal was sourced also matters, as some parts of their range can get quite cold.

In light of this, my question to you is whether you are aware if at least the pool was heated and if the crocodiles were kept outdoors throughout the year. The answers to these questions could provide insights into the species-specific cold-hardiness of this particular species compared to many other crocodiles.

Zoovolunteer said:
The tortoises in particular would go out even when it was fairly cool, and during the summer the iguanas would happily bask.
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By "fairly cool," do you mean cool summer/spring days or winter cool? I'm asking since you mentioned they had access unless it was particularly cold.

Fallax said:
American alligators too at Thrigby Hall and I believe also the slender-snouted crocs at Colchester.
Click to expand...
Do you happen to know whether the slender-snouted crocs have/had a heated pool? I'm asking again because of the risk of drowning mentioned in husbandry manuals for crocs, as explained above.

Strathmorezoo said:
Birmingham Conservation Centre allows the Komodo Dragon to use it's outside enclosure,again in warm weather.
Exmoor Zoo, allow their African Spur-Thighed Tortoise outside in warm weather.
Click to expand...
Would you say they get access throughout the summer or only when it is particularly warm outside? UK summers can sometimes be a bit chilly by tropical standards.

Jurek7 said:
I sometimes seen large reptiles outdoor, but I am afraid they are underheated. Recommended temperature for things like sulcata tortoise or green iguana is over 26oC-32oC at daytime and over 21oC at night, with still warmer basking areas. In the climate of e.g. Germany night time temperatures reach this level only maybe a week in the year, and midday temperatures maybe for few weeks total.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t worry much, as long as both species have access to heated indoor spaces with proper ambient and basking temperatures within the defined ranges. These ideal bounds are determined by their preferred body temperatures (PBT), which are crucial for proper digestion, immune function, and other metabolic activities, rather than by their tolerance range. For instance, in South Florida, introduced green iguanas can tolerate rare cold spells in winter that approach freezing conditions, and the same is true for their range in parts of Mexico. Sulcatas might also occasionally experience near-freezing temperatures during winter in parts of their native range, but they likely stay inside their burrows during temperature extremes.
 
Marcus A. said:
This is quite interesting, especially for the crocodiles. In parts of their range, alligators can survive even when the water freezes over, but for crocodiles, it is quite intriguing due to the risk of drowning when water temperatures dip below a certain threshold (empirically, husbandry manuals usually define a generic safe water temperature for crocodiles as above 15°C). For instance, an ex-pet Nile crocodile released in a reservoir in Crete did quite well in summer but died in winter, despite the balmy weather. The animal was a large juvenile or small subadult and probably not well acclimated. Additionally, the part of Africa from which the animal was sourced also matters, as some parts of their range can get quite cold.

In light of this, my question to you is whether you are aware if at least the pool was heated and if the crocodiles were kept outdoors throughout the year. The answers to these questions could provide insights into the species-specific cold-hardiness of this particular species compared to many other crocodiles.


By "fairly cool," do you mean cool summer/spring days or winter cool? I'm asking since you mentioned they had access unless it was particularly cold.


Do you happen to know whether the slender-snouted crocs have/had a heated pool? I'm asking again because of the risk of drowning mentioned in husbandry manuals for crocs, as explained above.


Would you say they get access throughout the summer or only when it is particularly warm outside? UK summers can sometimes be a bit chilly by tropical standards.


I wouldn’t worry much, as long as both species have access to heated indoor spaces with proper ambient and basking temperatures within the defined ranges. These ideal bounds are determined by their preferred body temperatures (PBT), which are crucial for proper digestion, immune function, and other metabolic activities, rather than by their tolerance range. For instance, in South Florida, introduced green iguanas can tolerate rare cold spells in winter that approach freezing conditions, and the same is true for their range in parts of Mexico. Sulcatas might also occasionally experience near-freezing temperatures during winter in parts of their native range, but they likely stay inside their burrows during temperature extremes.
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The croc pool of the Cap Ferrat zoo was probably heated. I haven't got more precision because my records are 30-year old, but they used to have 3 or 4 young Nile crocs in an outdoor lagoon year-round.
Currently there isn't any zoo that displays this species outdoor year-round in France.
 
Rohin said:
This is an interesting photo:
Sulcatta Tortoise having fun in the snow - ZooChat
Click to expand...
This was probably a very closely monitored short-term access. Correct me if I’m wrong. Yes, as I mentioned before, it’s likely that sulcatas have a lower tolerance threshold compared to many tropical tortoises due to their range extending close to the subtropics, but I doubt they would tolerate freezing conditions for long.
 
Marcus A. said:
I wouldn’t worry much, as long as both species have access to heated indoor spaces with proper ambient and basking temperatures within the defined ranges. These ideal bounds are determined by their preferred body temperatures (PBT), which are crucial for proper digestion, immune function, and other metabolic activities, rather than by their tolerance range. For instance, in South Florida, introduced green iguanas can tolerate rare cold spells in winter that approach freezing conditions, and the same is true for their range in parts of Mexico. Sulcatas might also occasionally experience near-freezing temperatures during winter in parts of their native range, but they likely stay inside their burrows during temperature extremes.
Click to expand...

The problem is that these zoos had very basic closed shelter or the winter area was not connected, so reptiles could not freely move to their preferred temperature. I felt they were simply underheated, not enough to kill them, but enough for substantial stress. When a reptile spends practically all the time basking under a lamp, this is not a normal time budget.

About Galapagos tortoises I read also something else - if a reptile is caught and transported between a winter and summer area, it is stressful for it, which for Galapagos tortoises can block egg production for several years (!).
 
Jurek7 said:
The problem is that these zoos had very basic closed shelter or the winter area was not connected, so reptiles could not freely move to their preferred temperature. I felt they were simply underheated, not enough to kill them, but enough for substantial stress. When a reptile spends practically all the time basking under a lamp, this is not a normal time budget.

About Galapagos tortoises I read also something else - if a reptile is caught and transported between a winter and summer area, it is stressful for it, which for Galapagos tortoises can block egg production for several years (!).
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I agree. What I was referring to applies to cases when the animals have proper standalone indoor housing, with outdoor access within an acceptable temperature range as a bonus. Based on what you just described, this apparently isn't the case in this example.
 
Marcus A. said:
This was probably a very closely monitored short-term access. Correct me if I’m wrong. Yes, as I mentioned before, it’s likely that sulcatas have a lower tolerance threshold compared to many tropical tortoises due to their range extending close to the subtropics, but I doubt they would tolerate freezing conditions for long.
Click to expand...
According to the poster @zoogiraffe : "It spent long enough forcing the door open".
 
Marcus A. said:
This is quite interesting, especially for the crocodiles. In parts of their range, alligators can survive even when the water freezes over, but for crocodiles, it is quite intriguing due to the risk of drowning when water temperatures dip below a certain threshold (empirically, husbandry manuals usually define a generic safe water temperature for crocodiles as above 15°C). For instance, an ex-pet Nile crocodile released in a reservoir in Crete did quite well in summer but died in winter, despite the balmy weather. The animal was a large juvenile or small subadult and probably not well acclimated. Additionally, the part of Africa from which the animal was sourced also matters, as some parts of their range can get quite cold.

In light of this, my question to you is whether you are aware if at least the pool was heated and if the crocodiles were kept outdoors throughout the year. The answers to these questions could provide insights into the species-specific cold-hardiness of this particular species compared to many other crocodiles.


By "fairly cool," do you mean cool summer/spring days or winter cool? I'm asking since you mentioned they had access unless it was particularly cold.


Do you happen to know whether the slender-snouted crocs have/had a heated pool? I'm asking again because of the risk of drowning mentioned in husbandry manuals for crocs, as explained above.


Would you say they get access throughout the summer or only when it is particularly warm outside? UK summers can sometimes be a bit chilly by tropical standards.


I wouldn’t worry much, as long as both species have access to heated indoor spaces with proper ambient and basking temperatures within the defined ranges. These ideal bounds are determined by their preferred body temperatures (PBT), which are crucial for proper digestion, immune function, and other metabolic activities, rather than by their tolerance range. For instance, in South Florida, introduced green iguanas can tolerate rare cold spells in winter that approach freezing conditions, and the same is true for their range in parts of Mexico. Sulcatas might also occasionally experience near-freezing temperatures during winter in parts of their native range, but they likely stay inside their burrows during temperature extremes.
Click to expand...
I'm afraid that I have only spoken to the staff at Exmoor and Cotswold and they both gave similar responses, in that the animals would wander back in if they needed to seek extra heat. As far as Birmingham is concerned, I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if the same thing happened there
 
I saw on video on youtube that cuban crocodile was kept outside in a danisch zoo,
source:
it kinda shocked me, did not look at the details do
 
Could a moderator please update the title and description of this thread with the following edited version? I've made some adjustments, similar to what I did with the primates thread, to make it more ZooChat-friendly:

Title: Tropical Reptiles with Outdoor Access

Welcome to the first of several threads on animal temperature management in captivity by animal group that I’m planning to create. In these threads, I aim to reach out to the community to share their observations and experiences—whether they are trained professionals or avid zoo-goers like myself—on how their local zoos or zoos they have worked at manage certain groups of animals during seasons that these animals typically do not encounter in their natural range.

In this thread, we will explore the outdoor access and management of tropical reptiles that are often or sometimes given outdoor access in the institutions where they are exhibited.

For Zoo-Goers: What observations have you made regarding the outdoor access and seasonal management of tropical reptiles in your local zoo or any other zoo you frequent? Which species are given seasonal or year-round outdoor access? How are their habitats designed? What behavioral observations have you made? Were there any days or circumstances where the species in question were off-exhibit or kept fully indoors?

For Trained Professionals: What can you share about the outdoor access and management of tropical reptiles in the institutions you have worked at? What guidelines did you follow? How did these vary between species? What behavioral observations have you made that differ between various species of tropical reptiles? Which species were more eager to go out on cooler days? Feel free to omit the names of institutions if desired.

For reference and brainstorming, below is a list of tropical reptiles that I’m aware of that potentially receive outdoor access. Of course, information on other species is certainly welcome:
  • Crocodilians: Gharial (Indian, Malayan), Crocodile (Saltwater, Nile, American, Cuban, Orinoco, Slender-Snouted, etc.), Caiman (Spectacled, Broad-Snouted, Cuvier’s Dwarf, etc.)
  • Testudines: Tortoise (Aldabra Giant, Galapagos Giant, Sulcata, Leopard, Radiated, Asian Brown, Red-Footed, Yellow-Footed, etc.)
  • Squamates: Varanid (Komodo Dragon, Nile Monitor, Asian Water Monitor, Crocodile Monitor, Perentie, etc.), Iguana (Rhinoceros, Grand Cayman Blue, Green, etc.), Tegu (Black-and-White, Red)
While I couldn’t come up with examples of tropical freshwater turtles or snakes exhibited outdoors, feel free to share your experiences on these as well.

I’ve excluded temperate species in the description, but if some members have experience with these, please share. However, experiences and information on tropical species are more relevant in the context of this thread.

Thank you in advance for your contributions!
 
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