Croc is our resident Spectacled Caiman. The species gets its name from the bony ridge between their eyes, which makes it look as if they were wearing a pair of spectacles. As her name and photos may suggest, Caimans belong to the same family as crocodiles and alligators and originate from Central and South America. 

The victims of the exotic reptile trade industry, Croc was purchased as a baby and quickly became more responsibility than her owner could safely manage. Illegally and improperly kept, Fish and Wildlife intervened when her owner could no longer care for her. Fish and Wildlife contacted Popcorn Park and we had just the right place for Croc in our reptile house. Croc arrived in 1987 and has happily called Popcorn Park home ever since! 

Since Caiman's require warm temperatures and a high level of humidity to survive, Croc spends the colder winter months in our climate-controlled Reptile House, complete with a warm pool and UV lights. In the warmer summer months, Croc lives in Caiman Corner, a special outdoor pond where she can swim in the warm water and bask on the rocks in the sunshine.   

While they may seem like a unique and interesting pet to have, Caimans have very strict feeding and living conditions that make them very difficult for the average person to properly care for. People often purchase Caimans when they are small and cute, not realizing that they can grow quite large and require a significant amount of specialized care. Croc is around 3-4 ft in length and as a predatory species, she also has long, sharp teeth which can make Caimans a dangerous animal to keep as a pet. 

Our experienced and knowledgable reptile staff makes sure Croc recieves everything she needs to thrive. From climate controlled housing, carefully cultivated, natural outdoor habitat, and specialized diet, we make sure that Croc recieves the very best care. She is one of our long-time residents and we could not be happier to have her here.

Croc is one of the lucky ones, finding sanctuary in the safety of Popcorn Park. However, her story is sadly all too common. Many of our reptiles find their way to us for very similar reasons. We hope that through sharing Croc's story, we can raise awareness and educate people about the difficulties of keeping an exotic animal, like caimans, as pets. 

Your sponsorship makes a world of difference to keep Croc happy, healthy, and thriving and to help us spread awareness. Please consider sponsoring Croc today!