Crocdile Smiles

We went to the Crocopark. They clearly have enough crocodiles; at least a few hundred.It is owned by a French concern with links to a similar venture in Djerba, Tunisia, where all the Agadir crocodiles were sourced.

Apparently there were naturally occurring crocodiles in the Draa delta until the 1970s but they have now died out. The Crocopark is a conservation initiative but I don't think there are plans to re-wild any, particularly as all the crocodiles are just the one species of Nile Crocodile which is the fiercest and most aggressive of the sixteen true crocodile species extant today.

Crocodiles can't control their body temperature except by utilising external factors, basking in the sun, or immersing themselves in water.  They like to be at around 30C and it was only in the low 20s so  all very lethargic lying in the sun, trying to warm up. It probably means we saw more crocs than if we'd visited in the height of summer because they'd have dived into the water to cool off and they can stay under water for hours without needing to breath.

The park has a lab area where they were raising babies. The female lays eggs in sand and guards the area for 3 months whilst they incubate and then helps them to water. The tiny lizards are vulnerable and there is a 90% attrition rate in the wild.

Interestingly they don't seem to have  sex chromosomes to determine gender. The determinative factor in deciding the sex of a hatchling is the temperature at which they incubate. If it is below 30C they will be female; if it is over 32C they will be male; intermediate temperatures produce a mixture of gender

The park is well designed for children. There are two main playgrounds, one near the cafe. Various question boards round the park  impart basic information in a fun way (and in three languages). The cafe offers burgers, pizza and ice-cream and a daily adults' special . Then there is adult interest in the setting of Botanic Gardens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HkBW_FgobM