Whipsnade Zoo celebrates the arrival of four baby West African dwarf crocodiles

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is celebrating the arrival of four West African dwarf crocodiles, the first to be born at the zoo in 18 years.The little reptiles broke out of their eggs just days ago and are already exploring their tropical enclosure at the zoo.

Amara and Kojo, the zoo’s 39-year-old crocodiles, last had offspring in 1998 but were spotted mating on Christmas Eve last year. In March, Amara laid her eggs, closely guarding her nest for three months until they finally hatched on June 17.

Team Leader Alex Cliffe said: “When the eggs were in the nest, we were monitoring them closely, ensuring that they were kept at the perfect temperature and humidity levels. Amazingly, even before hatching, the baby crocs can actually call to their mum from inside the egg. That means that she can help excavate them from the nest and carry the hatchlings down to the water for safety.

“We are so excited to have four tiny new additions to our dwarf crocodile group. It’s great to see them out and about in the pool, bonding with their parents and learning that crickets are tasty!”

West African dwarf crocodiles are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and the new arrivals will be added to the European Studbook (ESB) for the specie.