Population boost for iSimangaliso crocs
Sixty hatchlings were released into the Eastern Shores section of the wetland park
THE thousand-strong population of Nile crocodiles in St Lucia’s estuary system has been further boosted after 60 juveniles were recently released.
They were released into kuNkazana Stream in the Eastern Shores section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site.
The hatchlings, measuring 30cm, were born about 12 months ago to crocodiles in captivity at the St Lucia Crocodile Education Centre.
‘Those of the released hatchlings that survive to adulthood can reach up to five metres in length, eventually weighing more than 500kg and could survive as long as 100 years,’ said Mpume Ngcobo, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Conservation Manager at the St Lucia Crocodile Education Centre.
PHOTO: iSimangaliso
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Established in 1979 as a research facility for the study of crocodiles, the centre has since evolved into an educational, conservation and tourist facility.
The Nile crocodile is Africa’s largest freshwater predator and iSimangaliso boasts one of the most significant populations in southern Africa.
In a recent aerial count, the density of basking crocodiles in one section was recorded as the equivalent of 99 individuals per kilometre.
Crocodiles are threatened by habitat removal, illegal killings, destruction of nesting sites and human disturbance.
Although they are referred to as being of ‘least concern’ on the IUCN Red List, they are nonetheless listed as one of the country’s ‘Threatened or Protected Species’ (TOPS).
Studies on crocodiles by former Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife ecologist Dr Xander Combrink revealed some interesting finds.
This included discovering that a tagged crocodile removed from the lower reaches of Lake St Lucia and released at the False Bay section, turned up back on his ‘home turf’ after many weeks of determined navigating.
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