Crocodile Zoo, Falster

Crocodile Zoo
Date opened June 2000 (2000-06)
Location Gundslevmagle, Falster, Denmark
Coordinates 54°51′50″N 11°54′35″E / 54.86389°N 11.90972°E / 54.86389; 11.90972Coordinates: 54°51′50″N 11°54′35″E / 54.86389°N 11.90972°E / 54.86389; 11.90972
Website www.krokodillezoo.dk

The Crocodile Zoo (Danish: Krokodille Zoo) is a zoo on the Danish island of Falster. It is located just to the southwest of Gundslevmagle, northeast of Eskilstrup, towards the northern centre of the island. Established in 2000, the zoo has the world's largest collection of crocodilians (crocodiles and relatives) with all 23 existing species on display (same as St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park).[1][2] This include the only Orinoco crocodiles outside the Americas, which are part of a breeding program involving US zoos and the Venezuelan government.[1] Their male black caiman is the largest crocodilian in Scandinavia. Their Nile crocodile Samson, which currently is on loan to Bergen Aquarium, formerly held the record.[3]

History

Founded by Rene Hedegaard,[4] it is the largest museum of its kind in Europe. Developed in cooperation with Bøgecentret, the museum opened to the public in June 2000.[5]

Exhibits

Although the exterior of the zoo is not striking, located at an old farm in the countryside, its exhibits are more impressive. It provides a good opportunity to see the difference between crocodiles, alligators and all the other species. Crocodiles are inactive most of the time but with so many variants, at least one of them is likely to be active during a visit.[6] A portion of each sold admission ticket is contributed towards conservation projects conducted by the Crocodile Specialist Group.[5] All crocodiles in the zoo come from prior captivity.[5] All the larger crocodiles are housed in well designed surroundings with plants and artificial cliffs which they share with turtles and lizards. The smaller breeds have spacious terrariums at their disposal, allowing them to be seen close up.

The visit starts with the huge Nile crocodiles and the slightly smaller gharials, before proceeding down a long corridor lined with crocodiles on either side. At the far end, there is a pit with large turtles. Around the walls there are smaller terriums with other reptiles such as snakes, including a green anaconda.[5][7] The visit ends in a small tropical house where large alligators can be seen from a footbridge. There are red lories, green iguanas, and marmosets as well as small terrariums for baby crocodiles and alligators.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Folketidende: "Zoo har nu alle verdens krokodillearter". (Danish) Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  2. ↑ Sol og Strand: "Krokodille Zoo". Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  3. ↑ Krokodille Zoo: "Mød vores dyr". (Danish) Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Snyder, Trish (24 July 2006). Alligator & Crocodile Rescue: Changing the Future for Endangered Wildlife. Firefly Books. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-55297-920-4. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Kørvel, Henning (September 24, 2012). "Krokodille-Zoo med succes på FALSTER" (in Danish). BT. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Krokodille Zoo", zoos.dk. (Danish) Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  7. ↑ DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Denmark: Denmark. Dorling Kindersley Limited. 1 June 2010. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-4053-5311-3. Retrieved 16 December 2012.

External links

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