On March 2, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Bankers have gifted a crocodile to the Vitebsk Zoo, and today the distant relative of dinosaurs will arrive in Vitebsk from Minsk, Irina Orlova, Director of the Vitebsk Zoo, told a BELTA correspondent. The reptile, which has recently become a status symbol, lived in a terrarium at the head office of one of the banks in Minsk. However, when the pet reached 1.5 meters in length and began to show all the signs inherent in a predator, the bankers decided to transfer it to the Vitebsk Zoo. A three-meter terrarium with a pool and a platform has been prepared for the newcomer, where the animal will rest and bask under the lamp. Crocodiles are not picky eaters – as long as there is meat, but the feeding process will require skill from the zoo staff. It turns out that crocodiles should not see the human hand that gives them food, otherwise they will perceive this hand as part of their own meal. According to Irina Orlova, visitors will be able to see the new resident this coming weekend. However, a name has not yet been chosen for him. The bankers did not give him a nickname, and the zoo staff are unlikely to name their ward Gena or Dendy; they will observe his character and only then give him a name. The Vitebsk Zoological Park was founded on March 30, 1992, on the basis of an existing animal theatre in the city. Currently, 76 species of animals – over 1,000 individuals – are kept here on an area of 1.3 hectares. A significant portion of the animals were either donated to the zoo or acquired with sponsorship funds and donations from citizens. In 2010, the city authorities began implementing a project to build new enclosures and buildings for the zoo in a forest park area of 100 hectares. City enterprises and organizations joined the project implementation. As Irina Orlova noted, in the new zoo, each enclosure where animals acquired through charitable or sponsorship funds will be housed will have a plaque with thanks to the donors. -0-

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