Birth of Vulnerable African Dwarf Crocodile at Natura Viva Park in Brescia Following Buried-Egg Discovery
A baby African dwarf crocodile, listed as vulnerable, hatched at Natura Viva park, measuring 28 cm at birth. The hatch occurred 24 hours after staff recovered buried eggs, following a male crocodile surfacing one egg; zoological director Camillo Sandri participated in the monitoring and protection operations.
After securing the parents, the team located the nest and moved the egg to an incubator as signs indicated an imminent hatch. The hatchling emerged fully formed and remained one day in the incubator while a dedicated aquarium was prepared. In the early days it fed on medium-sized crickets, later adding locusts and small fish. The youngster is now about 40 cm long and weighs roughly 900 g, living in an enclosure with bark, branches and plants to support natural behaviors.
Italian Version