Animal Diaries Archive

The croc boys are expecting again

26 January 2007

Well as everyone is aware, it's smack bang in the middle of nesting season for our crocodiles and alligators, and the croc boys are expectant fathers yet again with a clutch of American Alligator eggs in our incubators as we speak. Female American Alligators can lay between 25 and 40 eggs at a time. Fang 2 laid 30 eggs, with only 21 of these fertile. Fang 2's eggs were taken out of her nest without her knowing, so she is still heavily guarding her nest from any intruders.

The eggs are due to hatch in mid- to late February, with all of the boys eagerly awaiting the arrival of these new young gators. It is a good time to see the more nurturing side of the normally tough croc boys as they care for their new charges. Baby gators require constant attention when young, as they are extremely fragile until about 12 months of age. Normally in the wild the mother alligator will actually look after her babies for the first few months. Instead at the Zoo, once hatched it will be the croc boys taking them down to the water for their first swim. Stay tuned for updates on when the little fellas hatch.