LIMA: A zoo in Peru yesterday announced the “birth” in captivity of four American crocodiles, an endangered species, after a successful artificial incubation.
The crocodile hatchlings were born in mid-January after 78 days of incubation from the eggs of a pair of adult crocodiles that live in the Huachipa Zoological Park, east of Lima.
“We have now shown these crocodile pups that were just born 45 days ago at the zoo,” Jose Flores, head of the zoo’s reptile area, told AFP.
“Any birth of any species that is threatened and (in) danger of extinction must be considered an achievement,” he stressed.
The hatchlings live in a special fish tank, measure 26cm, and weigh between 70g and 90g each. They have the traditional olive-green color of the species and protruding eyes, and feed on small pieces of chicken and fish.
In Peru, they are known as “Tumbes crocodiles” because their natural habitat is the mangroves of Tumbes, on the border with Ecuador.
“This species, in Peru, is in danger of extinction mainly due to the destruction of its natural habitat,” explained Flores, 39.
The small reptiles belong to the Crocodylus Acutus species and are the only ones that survived from the 25 eggs that the mother incubated.
African sanctuary opens
Meanwhile in Kenya, a mountain bongo made its first uncertain steps outside captivity as conservationists in the African nation opened a sanctuary they hope can bring the endemic forest antelope back from the brink of extinction.
A combination of disease, poaching and loss of forest habitat from illegal logging and agriculture have left fewer than 100 mountain bongos in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
But this week conservationists released five of the large chestnut-coloured antelopes, which is native to the equatorial forests of Kenya, into the 3.1 sq km Mawingu Mountain Bongo Sanctuary in the foothills of Mount Kenya.
“The mountain bongo is one of Kenya’s most important iconic animals,” said minister of tourism and wildlife Najib Balala, after cutting the ribbon at the sanctuary’s opening ceremony on Wednesday.
The bongo’s release is the culmination of a breeding and rewilding programme that began in 2004, which aims to have 50 to 70 fully rewilded bongos in the sanctuary by 2025, and 750 by 2050, according to the government.
“This is the first step in the recovery,” said Isaac Lekolool, head of veterinary services at the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Mountain bongos once roamed widely in large numbers, but the few remaining animals, whose coats are streaked with distinctive thin white stripes, live in isolated pockets of forest scattered around the country.
