Crocodiles at Berlin Zoo » Berlin Zoo

Crocodiles at Berlin Zoo
24-08-2008

Before we visited Berlin last September, I noticed on the website, in the Aquarium gallery section, that they had photos of Cuban, Nile and Orinoco crocs plus a false gavial! I couldn't wait to visit, particularly to see the Orinoco croc! I was really gutted when we visited that all they had in the crocodile hall was a Nile croc, albeit a VERY large nile croc. Does anybody know if they actually had the species shown in the gallery, and when they disappeared from the zoo?

25-08-2008

According to the german site zootierliste (zoo animal listings) the Orinoco crocodile(s?) was shown at the Berlin Zoo/Aquarium, but the dates are missing. Perhaps a german zoo enthousiast knows more...

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26-08-2008

3 years ago they had niloticus, novaguineau, rhombifer and a 3rd species that seems to have slipped my mind. no tomistoma though (false gharial)

so they had quite a variety of species. but I have no idea on the actual situation, I'm visiting the zoo next month, so I'll surely keep an eye open.

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27-08-2008

Thanks forumbully.

17-09-2008

When I visited Berlin Zoo for the first time in 2000, I still saw 6 species in the crocodile hall: False gharial, Spectacled caiman, Cuban, New Guinea, Nile and "Orinoco" crocodile. In 1987 15 species were kept, but afterwards the collection was fortunately reduced as a consequence of lethal aggressions. During my visit in 2000 I saw one specimen with a large bite (I think it was the caiman).
Several crocodile specialists agree that the "Orinoco crocodile" recently kept there was just an American crocodile (okay, still a rare species in Europe). The only places where I saw real Orinoco crocodiles were several zoos in the southern U.S.
The False gharial went to Tierpark Berlin in 2003, the New Guinea crocodile to a private holder in 2006 (after being exhibited at Tierpark for a few months), the Orinoco/American and the Cuban crocodile probably died. At the moment only Nile crocodile and Spectacled Caiman are left (apart from the Dwarf caiman which is kept in a normal terrarium).
Tierpark Berlin still keeps a considerable collection, including a large False gharial, Chinese alligators and breeding Dwarf crocodiles. The largest collection in Germany is meanwhile kept at the aquarium in Zella-Mehlis, where 10 species can be found, including Siamese, Morelet's and Mugger crocodile.

17-09-2008

ok so it was the american orinoco croc, I couldn't remember.
either way it's good they don't keep the mass anymore. the exhibit isn't really fit for it.

allthough it's a shame they only got the "standard" nile croc now.

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17-09-2008

I still have a picture of the American crocodile (labelled as Orinoco) from August 2005, so it probably died in early 2006.

Hopefully Berlin Zoo will use its crocodile hall for conservation purposes after the death of the Nile crocodile. I would like the idea of keeping pairs of both highly endangered Asian Crocodylus species in the two enclosures of this hall.

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18-09-2008

At least it's most impressive beast I ever saw.

But overall I agree, zoos should phase out Nile crocodiles for other species.

18-09-2008

I disagree, but that's probably because I've seens several 1000 nilecrocs in my life.

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27-09-2008

Thanks for your info guys The Nile at Berlin is certainly the largest I've ever seen.

28-09-2008

I wish for many reptile collections to get serious about crocs. (West) Berlin Zoo is a sad example of a zoo that used to have a mish-mash of rare crocs, but never any plans to breed. All rare crocs have moved on or died and now we are left to look at a glorious NILE CROCODILE!

Please transfer and bring in Cubans or Siamese crocs or gharials from India! Now, I will go and write to the EAZA croc expert from Germany to see how things are moving ...

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