Critically-endangered Cuban crocodile electrocutes itself to death after attacking power outlet in National Zoo
WASHINGTON, DC: A critically-endangered Cuban crocodile, that had reportedly gotten its teeth into some electrical equipment, was discovered dead in its enclosure at the National Zoo on December 17. The 10-year-old male crocodile, which was born in 2012 as a part of a breeding program at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, was "attracted to a replacement electrical outlet and attacked the electric infrastructure in the habitat."
“The new outlet was approximately 4.5 feet off the ground, higher than the original outlet,” the National Zoo reportedly explained, adding, “Known for their aggressive behavior, the crocodile pulled the electric equipment off the wall and bit various pieces," per Daily Mail.
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According to zoo officials, staffers perform checks throughout the day at various intervals. The habitat had its final assessment at closing time on December 16. The crocodile had been residing in the enclosure without incident for a number of years, and daily inspections revealed nothing alarming. A pathology report will be used to determine the cause of death as the zoo investigates the occurrence, New York Post reported.
The zoo announced that in order to avoid the tragedy from recurring, it will immediately install redundant electrical breakers throughout the entire facility and continue its investigation into the incident. Additionally, they stated that they had no immediate intention to house another animal in the enclosure.
As per the outlet, there are only about 3,000 purebred Cuban crocodiles in the wild, making them a critically endangered species. Their natural habitat is on Isla de Juventud and the Zapata Swamp in Cuba, where wild American crocodiles have begun mating with them recently.
On November 15, two Andean bears were born in the Smithsonian zoo. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, only 2,000 spectacled bears, also known as Andean bears, are thought to still exist in the wild, making the birth of these cubs all the more noteworthy. The cubs were born to first-time parents; a three-year-old female named Brienne and a nine-year-old male named Quito, according to the zoo. The two cubs are "active and vocal," according to the keepers, who are "cautiously optimistic" that they will thrive, as per CBS News.
The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are at the forefront of the organization's global efforts to protect animal species and ecosystems, and develop the next generation of conservationists. The Smithsonian Institution, the greatest network of museums and research centers in the world, including the zoo, was founded in 1889. More than 2,000 animals, including some of the most seriously endangered species on the earth, call its two institutions home.