Fun facts about local conservation centre

Since 1985, Crocworld Conservation Centre has established itself as a landmark on the mid-South Coast, with visitors coming from all over to meet this tourist attraction’s iconic and charismatic residents, including the ever popular Henry the oldest known Nile crocodile in captivity.

“Education is central to our daily operations here so we thought it a good idea to educate the public a bit more about Crocworld through some fun facts,” said centre manager, James Wittstock.

What many people do not know is that the centre is a member of the international NPO, Species360 – a global conservation entity that facilitates information collection from 1 200 aquariums, zoos, and universities, as well as research and governmental facilities worldwide across 99 countries on six continents. Members like Crocworld curate the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), the world’s most comprehensive database of knowledge on more than 22 000 species, for the global fight against extinction.

A number of crocodiles call the centre home, but none are quite as renowned as Henry. At the ripe old age of 122, Henry is considered to be the oldest known Nile crocodile in captivity and has been a resident of Crocworld since its inception in 1985. While not quite 123 years of age, Colgate’s 90-something years on the planet makes him another must-see resident. He’s not only the second-oldest croc at the centre, he’s also the second-biggest croc, weighing in at around 650kg.

The conservation centre also has a team on hand to assist locals in the area with snake removals as well.