An endangered Cuban crocodile shocked itself to death at The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., after attacking an outlet a few feet off the ground in its enclosure.
The ten-year-old crocodile, which was hatched in 2012, was a longtime resident of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and part of the institute’s breeding program for the species.
In the beginning of this month, a staff member at the Reptile Discovery Center discovered the crocodile’s corpse in its enclosure.
Officials from the zoo concluded that the crocodile was attracted to a newly installed electrical outlet and attacked the electric equipment in the enclosure.
Zoo officials say a pathology investigation is being undertaken to determine the predator’s cause of death.
An endangered Cuban crocodile shocked itself to death at The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., after attacking an outlet a few feet off the ground in its enclosure. The zoo released a photograph of one of its Cuban crocodiles, however it is unclear if this is the same animal that perished.
A staff member (shown) observes one of the habitats of the National Zoo in Washington, DC.
The height of the new outlet was roughly 4.5 feet higher than the previous outlet. The crocodile apparently ripped the electrical equipment from the wall and nibbled various portions of it, unknowing that an electric current was traveling through his body and inflicting an electric shock that ultimately led to his demise.
Zoo employees do checks numerous times every day, according to zoo officials.
The final habitat check was conducted on December 16, before to shutdown.
No areas of concern were found, and the electrical circuit was intact, according to officials.
The crocodile had lived in this area for several years without incident. In 2018, the exhibit passed an examination for accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The Zoo said it will continue its investigation of the incident and are installing redundant electrical breakers throughout the building immediately to prevent a repeat incident.
Additionally, they stated that they have no intentions to place an animal in the enclosure in the near future.
In the wild, there are roughly 3,000 purebred Cuban crocodiles. The Cuban crocodile deemed ‘critically endangered’ by experts are found only in limited range in Cuba, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
One of the reptile specialists at the national zoo holds a young crocodile.
The crocodile that perished was hatched in 2012 and was a long-term resident of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI). The alligator was part of a breeding program for the species at the zoo (it is unknown if the crocodile pictured was same one that died)
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute employs zoo personnel.
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