TORONTO SUN (Ontario) 05 November 04 What A Croc! Toronto Zoo Unveils Latest Additions To Family
They may not be supermodels, but two West African dwarf crocodiles basked in the limelight when the Toronto Zoo unveiled its newest additions yesterday.
"Now we can all see how beautiful these toothy crocodiles can be," Bob Johnson, curator of reptiles and amphibians, said at a media event to introduce the two critters.
Zookeepers have anxiously awaited the arrival of the baby reptiles, which were nurtured in an incubator for 130 days and finally hatched on Oct. 1.
"We are really pleased to have watched courtship and nest building right here in the rainforest display along with our visitors," Johnson said.
The little crocs are among 20 offspring that have been produced by proud parents Montgomery, who has lived at the zoo since it opened in 1974, and Cleo, who arrived in 1986 as a mate for "Monty."
"They're absolutely adorable," zoo spokesman Cynthia Shipley said of the hatchlings, which can grow to two metres.
Though they have not yet been named, the babies are expected to be lent to a breeding facility in the United States once permits arrive.
What A Croc! Toronto Zoo Unveils Latest Additions To Family