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If you’ve ever wandered through Tropical Discovery at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, chances are you’ve locked eyes with Daphne, our remarkable Siamese crocodile and oldest animal in our care.
Daphne is a Siamese crocodile, a species that is Critically Endangered and among the rarest crocodilians in the world. Fewer than 400 are estimated to remain in the wild today. This year, Daphne will turn 67 years old. She was hatched in the wild in 1959, arrived in the United States in 1973, and came to DZCA in 1993 after a long and successful role in a breeding program that produced more than 100 offspring. Since then, she’s enjoyed a well-earned retirement.
As a reptile, Daphne doesn’t eat the way most people expect. She consumes about five pounds of food per month, and her meals are intentionally unpredictable. In the wild, crocodiles are opportunistic hunters, so her care team feeds her on a variable schedule to keep her mentally stimulated and engaged, mirroring how she would live in her natural habitat.
A Hopeful Future for Her Species
For many years, Siamese crocodiles were believed to be extinct in the wild. Then, about a decade ago, a small population was rediscovered in Cambodia. Even more hopeful news followed in 2024, when researchers documented three nests in the Cardamom Mountains that successfully produced around 60 hatchlings. Despite losing roughly 99% of their historic habitat, the species is still surviving and reproducing in the wild. (as news, 2025)
A Long Life Ahead
While it’s hard to say how long crocodiles can live, Daphne shows no strong signs of old age. With her body condition and activity level, experts believe it wouldn’t be surprising for her to live well to 100 or beyond.
The next time you visit Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, stop by Tropical Discovery to see Daphne. She’s almost always out, always watching, and serving as a living reminder of successful conservation efforts.
