**”The Fort Worth Zoo has etched its name in history by achieving a groundbreaking milestone: the first back-to-back hatchings of gharial crocodiles in North America.
The first of these remarkable hatchlings emerged on June 16, with its sibling following just a week later. Gharials, critically endangered with only about 650 adults remaining in the wild, are a focal point for conservation efforts.
Fort Worth Zoo has now distinguished itself as the sole North American institution to have bred multiple gharial crocodiles in consecutive years. This impressive feat was achieved from eggs laid by two separate females within the zoo’s gharial group.
Vicky Poole, associate curator of ectotherms, expressed her enthusiasm on July 24, stating, “We are thrilled to see our gharial breeding success continue for a second consecutive year. The arrival of these two hatchlings is a significant step forward in enhancing the gharial population in captivity and advancing our understanding of this critically endangered species.”
Currently, the hatchlings are just over a month old and measure around 12 inches in length. Male gharials, predominantly found in India, can reach lengths of up to 16 feet and weigh nearly 1,500 pounds, with females being somewhat smaller.
For now, these tiny crocodiles will be kept behind the scenes at the zoo to ensure meticulous monitoring of their growth and development.”**