More than three meters long and 350 kilos: this is the male Nile crocodile that recently arrived at BIOPARC Fuengirola

27 October 2023

More than three meters long and 350 kilos: this is the male Nile crocodile that recently arrived at BIOPARC Fuengirola

A large number of animals played important roles in ancient Egypt. Some, like big cats, were turned into exotic pets, becoming emblems of royalty, others, like hippos, were feared and adored in equal measure and the same thing happened with crocodiles.

These large reptiles were revered for their strength and danger, which made them position themselves as a great religious and mythological symbol: the god Sobek. An animal worshiped in the pharaonic empires that continues to be a symbol of the country today.

This adoration did not prevent the large populations of crocodiles that lived in the Nile riverbed from disappearing due to uncontrolled hunting in the first half of the 20th century. Now the protection provided, the implementation through different national legislations in Egypt and international trade conventions such as the recognized CITES, The recovery of the species is a reality.

Although the IUCN catalogs the Nile crocodile As a “low risk” species, the illegal trade of this reptile is still being combated as one of its main threats, along with climate change.

Outside Egypt there are many centers that work on the conservation of this species, protecting it from a new disappearance. BIOPARC Fuengirola is working on this, a park that has recently received Kraken, a new male specimen of this amazing reptile.

At 350 kilos and 3,30 meters long, Kraken forms a group with two respected females: Úrsula and Lucifer. Both have earned these names due to their character and continuous confrontations. Now the arrival of this male has managed to calm the relationship between the two and the group lives together completely peacefully.

Nile crocodiles are not part of any conservation program coordinated by EAZA, but The species is part of Appendices I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Through this, the trade of this reptile is regulated, its purchase and sale, use for meat and skins. At the moment, Climate change, desertification of the areas in which they live and illegal trade are their main threats. “If the sea level continues to rise, the mouths become salinized, the scarce rains and the increase in average temperatures increase the evaporation of fresh water masses (rivers, lakes that are increasingly less extensive) and the marshy areas become desertified. To these phenomena, we have to add the uncontrolled exploitation of river ecosystems by humans”explains Rosa Martínez, veterinarian at BIOPARC Fuengirola.

“The species should have the same years of evolution left as it has on the face of the Earth. It is a prehistoric species. Everything will depend, as always, on how harmful human beings are in their natural habitat.”

A special device for transport that involves the entire team

As with any animal transfer, BIOPARC Fuengirola activates a device with which, at all times, guarantee the well-being of the animal. From the previous preparations of the entire team, to accompanying them throughout the trip, providing them with the care they need, arrival at the park or activation of protocols.

"Moving a male of this size always involves many means, both human and technical. We need the help of the entire park team. Furthermore, this transfer was even more delicate, since we had to use a crane with the capacity to move the large box and the weight of the crocodile. It was quite a challenge,” explains Milagros Robledo, head of Herpetology.

Kraken adapted perfectly to the facilities and the rest of the group. Now the technical team continues to observe his behavior, as well as those of Ursula and Lucifer to ensure that everything is going well. The main difficulties in caring for crocodiles are usually conflicts and maintaining a stable temperature in their facilities. It is essential that the water temperature is maintained during winter as well. “They are cold-blooded animals and do not regulate their temperature. For this reason, In winter we must keep its estuaries heated between 22 and 23 degrees.”

The Nile crocodile is just one of the two hundred species that inhabit BIOPARC Fuengirola. Of these, more than forty are part of EEP coordinated by the EAZA through which the animal park works to protect and conserve species in danger of extinction.