Perhaps one of the highlights of the coming months will be an attempt to breed two very rare species of crocs — the Tomistoma, which hails from Indonesia and Malaysia and the African Dwarf-- with mates of their own kind. Veterinerarian Gowri walks us over to meet the Tomistoma couple for a photograph. She explains, “Just like human beings, they can’t be put together immediately and take awhile to get acquainted.” Unfortunately, for the photographer, both sides of the fence dividing the two show no signs of crocodiles, just placid moss green water. Gowri who admittedly holds quite an attachment to the female calls out her name. For a layman, what followed was certainly a tale to carry home.“Godzilla,” she yelled. A few ripples break the surface, followed moments later by a majestic green head. “Come,” she beckoned a few times and quite to one’s amazement, the Tomistoma lady atually made her way toward us. Then “Stop” and lo and behold, she obeyed!Apparently, when she had been brought to the park a year prior, Godzilla had refused to eat anything for two weeks. Gowri says, “All the keepers would wait until the end of their shift and try and feed her something, but she refused.” So moving on from fish, they attempted to feed her other meats. “The day she had some chicken,Gowri adds, “there was much jubilation among all the staff.” While it is rather difficult to get the conditions of habitat just right for the Tomistoma to breed, it seems after several months, Godzilla and her mate-to-be, Psycho (a rather fitting match one must admit) have taken to touching snouts underwater. Director Stevenson states, “This period is important because if we see any signs of aggression, that fence will stay up, however we do hope to breed them later this year, which if it happens will be very exciting.” Not to mention, a first for India.
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