Denver – Two West African crocodiles living in France since the 1970s will find a new home in Morocco.
The crocodiles were housed in the Tete d’Or park in Lyon for nearly fifty years. While visitors of the park were sad to see the animals move, the mayor of Lyon declared the transfer was an issue of “animal welfare.” The official assured the crocodiles would be housed in a large nature reserve in Morocco.
West African crocodiles, also known as desert or sacred crocodiles, are a species indigenous to several countries in Northwestern Africa. While the crocodiles were originally abundant in Morocco’s wild, they have since gone extinct within Morocco’s countryside. However, wild populations can be found in Mauritania, and Chad, in addition to several other countries.
The massive crocodiles can weigh up to 250 kilograms, or 551 pounds. They can also grow to a length of between 1.5 to 2.5 meters, approximately 5 to 8 feet. In the wild, the large reptiles often live to be around 45 years old, however this lifespan is significantly higher in captivity.
In 2015, Morocco inaugurated a large crocodile park in the city of Agadir. The park, spread over 4 hectares, contains over 300 reptiles. The area gives the crocodiles a safe habitat to live in within the country, while allowing visitors to learn more about the ancient animals and their unique way of life.
Crocodiles, and their alligator relatives, are an ancient species with direct lineage to the dinosaurs that lived over 65 million years ago. The animals have hardly evolved since, yet still continue to be found across Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Although subdivided into several modern species, the modern crocodiles still share a striking resemblance to their dinosaur ancestors. Primarily dwelling in freshwater bodies such as rivers and lakes, crocodiles were honored by various civilizations for their predatory skills, and are often capable of killing prey several times their size.
