Sydney Laying Eggs & Pulled Off Nest
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park imported a pair of adult saltwater crocodiles from Australia on October 24, 2003 (Maximo and Sydney). One and a half years later, our female saltwater crocodile made the transition to our spring season, and on May 25, 2005 she laid 35 eggs. These eggs have banded (indicating that they are fertile). She laid most of the eggs on land. However, she was most unfortunately interrupted by the 15 foot male crocodile that is on exhibit with her. While she was laying her eggs, I snuck in the exhibit to video the event. The male notice me and started approaching. I attempted to push him back with a bamboo pole, but he reached up and grabbed her by the tail and pulled her in the water. She seemed pretty shocked by this, but did not let it slow her down. She laid several more eggs in the water and then crawled back to her nesting location and laid the rest of her eggs. She covered the nest as a good crocodile should and is very defensive of that entire nest location.
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