As we’ve discussed before, the Everglades is the only place in the wild where you can see alligators and crocodiles living side by side. Unfortunately, the American crocodile has been going through a rough patch lately, with water fluctuations and a decline in food sources leading to lowered population numbers. However, researchers are discovering that these numbers may be turning around very soon.
Recently, Frank Mazotti, a researcher from the University of Florida, and his team recently completed a research expedition to the Everglades to examine the crocodile population. While there, they caught and documented 962 crocodile hatchlings, nearling doubling the number (554) from last year. Mazotti and his team have been monitoring the Everglades crocodile population since 1978, when they were officially listed as endangered; needless to say, they are very excited by the slowly-improving numbers.
Initially, the American crocodile reached endangerment status after a series of canals were dug into the Everglades’ waterways. These canals drained marshlands for agricultural purposes, in turn increasing the salinity of the water, which was extremely harmful for a number of Everglades species. While a number of restoration efforts have helped to improve the quality of the water in the area, Mazotti cannot determine for sure if they have directly led to this astounding population increase. He did note, however, that they should continue to see improvements.
When you visit Wild Florida for one of our exciting Everglades airboat rides, we hope you’ll get the chance to see all varieties of creatures that call this beautiful place home. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Call us at (866) 532-7167 to book your tickets and learn more about our park.
