The management of crocodiles in captivity

by

Melvin Bolton

FAO CONSERVATION GUIDE 22

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Rome, 1989

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CROCODILES AS FARM ANIMALS:BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

2.1 Body Temperature
2.2 Breathing
2.3 Feeding and Growing
2.4 Reproduction
2.5 The Senses
2.6 The Skin

3. CHECKLIST OF CROCODILES

4. MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

4.1 Life and Death in the Wild
4.2 Captive Rearing: Increasing Nature's Yield
4.3 Captive Breeding

5. COLLECTION AND INCUBATION OF EGGS

5.1 The Optimum Time for Egg Collection
5.2 Location of Nests
5.3 Estimating the Stage of Incubation from the Eggshell
5.4 Estimating Stage of Incubation from the Embryo
5.5 Collecting the Eggs
5.6 Incubation

5.6.1 Incubation Using Artificial Nests
5.6.2 Powered Incubators

5.7 Determining Sex By Incubation Temperature
5.8 Hatching

6. CARE OF HATCHLINGS

6.1 Post Hatchling Problems
6.2 Basic Needs
6.3 Enclosures For Hatchlings

6.3.1 Dimensions and Stocking Density
6.3.2 Layout and Design
6.3.3 Water Supply

6.4 Feeding and General Care

7. CAPTURE, TRANSPORT, MARKING AND MEASURING OF YOUNG WILD CROCODILES

7.1 Capture of Young Wild Crocodiles
7.2 Transport
7.3 Marking and Taggging
7.4 Weighing and Measuring

8. ENCLOSURES FOR CROCODILES UP TO CULLING SIZE

8.1 Location of Enclosures
8.2 Pen Size and Stock Density
8.3 Fences and Fence Materials
8.4 Earth Pools
8.5 Concrete Pools
8.6 Vegetation and Shade
8.7 Feeding Surfaces
8.8 Isolation Pens
8.9 Water Supply

9. FEEDING AND GROWTH OF JUVENILE CROCODILES

9.1 Feeding
9.2 Factors Affecting Growth

9.2.1 Diet
9.2.2 Size
9.2.3 Species
9.2.4 Sex
9.2.5 Individual Variations

10 REFERENCES CITED

12 ILLUSTRATIONS