Malaysia finds a wife for a rare crocodile

The crocodile named Jantan, belonging to the Malay crocodile, is allowed to choose its own mates. Jantan is taken from the Melaka Zoo in South Malaysia to meet four crocodiles in the same conservation center in the state of Selangor."Jantan is at an inspiring stage, so we are full of hope," Zainal Zahari, who cares for Jantan, told the Associated Press news agency .

Harmless

There are only about 2,000 false gharial crocodiles left in Southeast Asia (Photo: BBC)

Zahari said that breeding for this crocodile is difficult, requiring an environment similar to where they live. The Malay crocodile, also known as 'false gharial' crocodile, lives in the natural riverine wetlands and tropical forests in Malaysia's Borneo and Sumatra regions.

According to Malaysia's Ministry of Nature and Wildlife Conservation, the Tanzanian Crocodile is 4.7m long and weighs 470kg, belonging to the largest gharial crocodile family on Peninsular Malaysia. Jantan, about 25 years old, has joined the Melaka Zoo, South Malaysia since 1995, before being taken to the breeding center on April 24.

Malay crocodile is harmless, mainly eating fish. There are still about 2,000 crocodiles of this species still living in Southeast Asia. The crocodiles lay about 16 eggs at a time and often around to protect eggs within a radius of 3-4m.