San Antonio Zoo Takes In 12 New Endangered Crocodiles

By THC Staff | October 13, 2016

 

Twelve newborn Tomistoma crocodiles made their debut at the San Antonio Zoo this week. Their crocodile parents, Nadia and Boris, came to the popular Texas zoo 21 years ago.

San Antonio Zoo’s Craig Pelke told MySA, “This particular clutch was a record breaker. What was really neat was the future survival program coordinator said just by hatching 12 Tomistomas, we’ve increased the North American managed population by 50 percent.” In fact, the previous record for Tomistoma crocodiles hatchlings in one clutch contained only six babies at the Bronx Zoo.

According to IUCN, Tomistoma crocodiles, or Tomistoma schlegelii, mostly come from parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. They’re thought of as “cryptic” creatures, and experts are unsure how many of them live in the wild since they nest in dense swamp forests. They average about 16 feet long and mostly eat fish which their snouts are perfect for grabbing. The name “Tomistoma” even means “sharp mouth,” Crocodilian writes.

Visitors will be able to see the dozen newborns within the next few months at the Reptile House in the San Antonio Zoo. For now, you can check on their progress via the Zoo’s Facebook page.