Video recently surfaced of a humongous alligator wandering around a Florida golf course, and most Floridians follow The Rule: Where there’s water, there’s most likely an alligator. But there are more than just gators lurking in Florida waters these days. Just a few weeks ago, three Nile crocodiles were captured in South Florida. How they got there is anyone’s guess, but they surely didn’t arrive without help, and there could be more out there. Gators and sharks and crocs? Oh my!
The most likely scenario is that these crocodiles either escaped, or were released by an unlicensed wildlife collector or breeder. Genetic testing on the animals confirmed that the trio were related to one another, but do not match any genetic markers found in the same species kept at Walt Disney’s Animal Kingdom or any other licensed wildlife park. Nearby Zoo Miami features exhibits of Cuban and Orinoco crocs, but no Nile crocodiles live there.
The Nile crocodile is quite dangerous, responsible for an average of 200 human fatalities per year in their native African habitat. They could also pose a threat to the balance of the natural ecosystem of the Everglades. Interbreeding with the resident American crocodile could result in a smaller, but very aggressive, hybrid. It could also spell trouble for the population of the American variety, already an endangered species, by diluting the gene pool.
Observers can tell a crocodile from an alligator by looking at the snout. Gators have a round nose, and only a few teeth will be exposed when their mouths are closed. They are blackish-green in color. Crocodiles have longer, more angular faces, and their teeth stick out even when the jaws are closed. Their hides are brown or brownish yellow.
Everglades National Park officials believe the three captured crocs are the only ones out there but who can say for sure? One hatchling and one female were kept alive and sent to licensed reptile facilities. The third, also a female, was captured inside the park and was euthanized.
Featured Image from elCarito/Unsplash
