All travel partners, from tour guides to bus operators, are women, creating a safe space for some 'me-time'
uae17 hours ago
Dubai — Heavy dark croc eggs finally hatched amidst much excitement and anticipation.
The first baby croc thus arrived at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at The Dubai Mall. King Croc, one of the world’s largest reptiles and an example of Mother Nature’s rarities, with Queen Croc, his companion for over 20 years, are now proud parents, with more baby crocs expected to join the family in the next couple of days.
Remarkably, Queen Croc, who is more than 80 years old, demonstrated nest building behaviour at precisely the same time as the wild crocodiles in Australia. She laid 59 eggs, and the long 90-day incubation process finally came to an end, even as her extraordinary partner, King Croc eagerly anticipated the arrival of their little ones. For the last 20 years King has been a dedicated partner, showing little interest in any other female crocodiles.
The birth at Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo means that King Croc’s genes are now passed down to these special animals.
Over the incubation period, many of Queen Croc’s eggs stopped developing at various stages and only 25 remain in the incubators at this point. This is simply due to her old age and decreasing reproductive capability.
In nature, nearly 90 per cent of all baby crocs struggle for survival as they are eaten by large fish, monitor lizards and other predators.
Paul Hamilton, General Manager and Curator, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, said: “The successful hatching of the baby crocs highlights the conducive environment that Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo offers to King Croc and his companion, and how effortlessly they have adapted to their home in Dubai. As one of the most popular attractions in the city, the expansion of their family will further add to the appeal of visitors, who can gain unique insights on crocodiles.”
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, approved by the UAE Ministry of Education for school visits as part of the curriculum, has introduced a dedicated educational programme on crocodiles for students.
Apart from Humboldt Penguins and Caiman Crocodiles, the animals featured here include Piranhas, Giant Spider Crabs, Small Claw Otters, Sea Jellies and Clown fish.
reporters@khaleejtime.com
All travel partners, from tour guides to bus operators, are women, creating a safe space for some 'me-time'
uae17 hours ago
The trekkers formed a connection with the camels, and found the digital detox to be refreshing
uae1 day ago
This gesture aligns with the UAE’s broader efforts to support those affected by the crisis in Gaza through initiatives like Operation Chivalrous Knight 3
uae1 day ago
Imagine braving freezing temperatures of -25°C while running 42.2km in Antarctica and then catching flights to hit the ground again in South Africa, Australia, the UAE, Spain, Brazil, and the US
uae1 day ago
One learner was at the Sharjah International Book Fair last month, working as an interpreter; she also hosted an Arabic podcast about SIBF
uae1 day ago
'What drew me to this study was the realisation that no comprehensive fieldwork had been conducted in this area,' he said
uae1 day ago
Many residents in the UAE stressed that maintaining these regular bedtime routines can be difficult as professional lives can often be quite demanding
uae1 day ago
The UAE reaffirmed its consistent rejection of all forms of violence targeting civilians and undermining security and stability
uae1 day ago