PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: ST. AUGUSTINE ALLIGATOR FARM

Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition is proud to partner with various rescues, organizations and sanctuaries around the world. These organizations dedicate their efforts and resources to the safety, preservation and health of exotic and endangered animals.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm is a Florida institution. Founded in 1893, the zoological park has an extensive history in exotic animal husbandry and serves as an essential contributor to research and worldwide conservation efforts.

SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN

Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs began in the 1980s as a collaborative effort to conserve and maintain healthy populations of selected species. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is instrumental in the SSP programs of 27 different species, including reptiles, mammals, and birds, most of which are critically endangered.

CROCODILES

Crocodilian eye peering above water
Siamese crocodile – critically endangered
Indian gharial – critically endangered
Philippine crocodile – critically endangered
Cuban crocodile – critically endangered
Chinese alligator – critically endangered
Malayan gharial – vulnerable
Orinoco crocodile – critically endangered
OTHER REPTILES

Galapagos tortoise – endangered
Malaysian giant pond turtle – endangered
King cobra – vulnerable
MAMMALS

Red-ruffed lemur – critically endangered
Cotton-top tamarin – critically endangered
Ring-tailed lemur – endangered
Goeldi’s monkey – vulnerable
Prevost’s squirrel – least concern
Geoffroy’s marmoset – least concern
BIRDS

Bali myna – critically endangered
Blue-billed curassow – critically endangered
Edward’s pheasant – critically endangered
Hooded vulture – critically endangered
Blue-throated macaw – critically endangered
Cape griffon vulture – endangered
Golden conure – vulnerable
Hyacinth macaw – vulnerable
Victoria crowned pigeon – near threatened
Curl-crested aracari – least concern
Toco toucan – least concern


Critically endangered species face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild and the SSP programs at St. Augustine help combat the declining numbers. The conservation and research programs help caretakers and wildlife experts better understand the habitats, behaviors, nutrition, and general physiologies of the various species.

MAZURI® DIETS AT THE ST. AUGUSTINE ALLIGATOR FARM

Mazuri® researcher Dr. Troy Tollefson and a crocodile at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm
Balanced diets are vitally important for species participating in SSP programs. Balanced diets and nutrition contribute to reproductive ability and success. Mazuri® is proud to have partnered with the St. Augustine Alligator Farm a few years ago during the development of Mazuri® Crocodilian Diets.

Crocodilians aren’t picky eaters, but they still need a balanced diet to stay healthy – especially the breeding species participating in SSP programs. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Mazuri® worked together to create alligator biscuits – a floatable diet used for training and visitor interaction. While some crocodilians may occasionally eat some vegetation and berries, they are truly carnivores, with fish and other prey species as their primary diet. The alligator biscuits may be used as the sole source of the diet, but may also be fed in combination with other natural feedstuff

Mazuri® continues to work with organizations like the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and with other researchers to develop and improve diets for a variety of species including alligators.

After more than a century, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm continues to instill appreciation and understanding of crocodilians and other wildlife through education and conservation. For more information, visit www.alligatorfarm.com.

Want to learn about Mazuri’s industry partnerships? Check out this article about the Center for Great Apes.