Did you know that it’s currently Croc-tober at the Brookfield Zoo?
That means there’s special attention on Krackle, the zoo’s 42-year-old African dwarf crocodile. It also means that guests can learn directly from animal care specialists at noon this Friday (Oct. 16) and next Friday (Oct. 23) during “Habitat Africa: The Forest” events.
Krackle, weighing in at 70 pounds and measuring 5 feet long, has been swimming and crawling on Earth since the 1980s, but his ancestors have been roaming the planet since dinosaurs were still alive. Today, the continued existence of Krackle’s species is under threat.
The Brookfield Zoo, noted that it is “listed as Vulnerable, according to the IUCN Red List, due to hunting and habitat loss.” With their large, bony scales and impressive jaws, crocodiles can be scary, but they also help balance food systems and create healthier freshwater ecosystems, the zoo added.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Krackle, the Brookfield Zoo's African dwarf crocodile.
African dwarf crocodiles like Krackle are usually found in the fresh waterways of sub-Saharan Africa and they are the world’s smallest crocodiles. Don’t underestimate him though – they can still swallow prey whole. When Krackle and other African dwarf crocs are on the hunt, eyes are positioned on top of their head and their bodies remain stealthily hidden under the water.
You can check out Krackle’s moves at the Brookfield Zoo and learn more about African dwarf crocodiles here.
