noted that they were, “Anxious to
come out of quarantine to meet
visitors.”
And indeed, these crocs have
adapted well to their new home,
which lies barely out of the
Panhandle, just 65km (40 miles)
from Jacksonville and the eastern
seaboard. Their habitat is a
luxurious, bi-level freshwater
lagoon with plenty of room for a
favourite afternoon pastime –
basking in the Florida sunshine.
Here, they are surrounded by
exotic Egyptian artifacts and
colourful illustrations depicting the
ancient god Sobek, represented
by a man with a crocodile’s head.
This deity became the symbol of
the Pharoah’s influence and
autonomy.
The new Nile exhibition also
features another awe-inspiring
African species. The Gaboon
Viper (Bitis gabonica) possesses
the longest fangs (up to 5cm, or 2
inches) and highest venom yield
of any living snake. Gaboon
Vipers are primarily nocturnal and
may actively hunt prey, although
they usually lie patiently in
ambush. Exquisite diamond and
triangular patterning in shades of
cream, brown and purple permit
the adders to blend in perfectly
with leaf litter. With a striking
speed that is amongst the fastest
recorded, an unsuspecting bird or
mouse, perhaps even a rabbit, doesn’t stand a
chance. Furthermore, unlike most other snakes,
once the Gaboon Viper has envenomated a prey
item it will not let go until the animal is dead.
However, despite its fearsome weaponry, it is
famously docile and reluctant to bite humans.
Jim Darlington, Reptile Curator, explains how the
dangerous snakes are immobilized for veterinary
checks. First, a hook is used to coax each of the
snakes into a clear acrylic tube: “Once the head is
in, we grab the tube and the snake at the same
time, so that it can’t reverse. Its head becomes
stuck, like being inside a giant straw. If they need to
work on the head - anything on the face - they
would have to gas it. Last week, we had four
Gaboons and a Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis)
to be checked out.”
University of Florida veterinarians from Gainesville
(two hours away) visit the Alligator Farm every two
weeks. “There will be the main vet, a resident vet,
plus a vet tech and two or
three students. They will
have a list of animals to
be seen or that need to
get annual check-ups.”
Darlington loves his job at
the zoo. “I started here in
Above: Makara was the
first Indian Gharial to be
bred outside the species’
natural range.
Top right: Makara’s new
enclosure.
Right: Reptile Curator Jim
Darlington with a four-foot
Eastern Diamondback
Rattlesnake (Crotalus
adamanteus). Images
courtesy of St. Augustine
Alligator Farm.