Fact Sheet
# Species: Caiman latirostris
# Age: 20 years
# Sex: Male
# Weight: 100 pounds
# Length: 6.5 feet
# Age: 20 years
# Sex: Male
# Weight: 100 pounds
# Length: 6.5 feet
Home > Animals > Crocodilians > Choppers
This guy is a male 20 year old Broad-snouted Caiman. Chopper’s is a well
traveled animal that has led an interesting life before ending up at Croc
Encounters.
As a youngster he was at the Bronx Zoo in New York. From there he
became a display animal at Wild World. Eventually Choppers ended up at
the San Francisco Zoo in California where he spent much of his life. He
was stolen from the zoo and assumed gone for good until he showed up
three months later tied to a tree.
After changes in the zoo and display animals, Choppers became an off-
exhibit animal. The zoo decided to retire this animal at Croc Encounters
where he could be in an outdoor enclosure and available for the public to
view.
Choppers is unique because he is a rarity to see even in zoo collections.
Even though he may look like an alligator with his wide snout, he is just as
feisty as other caiman. Choppers resists anytime we attempt to retrieve
him for health assessments or to transport to an education program.
In fact, he even “chomped” down on John’s fingers during one of these
grabs. You can see pics of this unfortunate event below.
Amos Buc Captain Jack Seminole Choppers JoJo
This guy is a male 20 year old Broad-snouted Caiman. Chopper’s is a well
traveled animal that has led an interesting life before ending up at Croc
Encounters.
As a youngster he was at the Bronx Zoo in New York. From there he
became a display animal at Wild World. Eventually Choppers ended up at
the San Francisco Zoo in California where he spent much of his life. He
was stolen from the zoo and assumed gone for good until he showed up
three months later tied to a tree.
After changes in the zoo and display animals, Choppers became an off-
exhibit animal. The zoo decided to retire this animal at Croc Encounters
where he could be in an outdoor enclosure and available for the public to
view.
Choppers is unique because he is a rarity to see even in zoo collections.
Even though he may look like an alligator with his wide snout, he is just as
feisty as other caiman. Choppers resists anytime we attempt to retrieve
him for health assessments or to transport to an education program.
In fact, he even “chomped” down on John’s fingers during one of these
grabs. You can see pics of this unfortunate event below.
Amos Buc Captain Jack Seminole Choppers JoJo
