Newport Aquarium welcomes 3 ‘critically endangered’ critters to exhibit opening Friday
Hunted into near-extinction during the last century for their prized, scaly hides, hope for Venezuela’s fading Orinoco crocodile may lie in three hatchlings the Newport Aquarium recently welcomed to its Gator Alley exhibit.
“They may be little now, but these three babies have the potential to make an enormous impact on the world and their entire species,” Newport Aquarium biologist Erin Muldoon said in a Thursday news release.
Where once millions of these creatures filled the banks of the mighty Orinoco River in South America, there are now as few as 1,500 left alive in the wild, scientists say.
Beginning Friday, visitors to the Newport Aquarium will get the chance to see these rare creatures up close. It’s the opening weekend of a new Orinoco crocodile exhibit aimed at educating the public and saving these animals before they’re gone for good.
According to the announcement, these cute little crocs are made possible by a partnership between the Newport Aquarium and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Biologists at the Newport Aquarium will raise the animals for about two-and-a-half years, meaning guests can make return visits to watch them grow up.
Once they’re more than 3 feet long, they’ll be taken to their new home in Venezuela, where they will repopulate and rebuild their species in the wild. According to the aquarium, at one time, fully mature males could be found reaching up to 24 feet long. Now, due to shortened lifespans from illegal hunting, few grow longer than 16 feet.
“We’re honored to be a part of an effort like this, where caring for these little guys can have a direct impact on preventing extinction,” Muldoon said in the release announcing the opening of the exhibit.
The aquarium said visitors are invited to the exhibit to learn how they can help conservation efforts in ways as simple as never buying products made of crocodile skin.
You can get your tickets online at the aquarium’s website.
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This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 4:02 PM.