Iran sets national record with birth of 70 Gando hatchlings

Addis Ababa, July 14, 2025 (FMC) — A technical advisor at Iran’s first specialised crocodile breeding centre has announced a record-breaking milestone: the birth of 70 baby Gando crocodiles (Iranian short-snouted crocodile) at a captive breeding farm, making the highest number ever recorded in the country.

According to Asghar Mobaraki, a wildlife expert at Iran’s Department of Environment, this year’s breeding season saw hatchlings from three separate nests, with 31 young crocodiles emerging from just one, setting a national record, TV BRICS reported Sunday, citing its Iranian partner media Mehr News Agency.

Mobaraki credited the success to six years of consistent support and oversight from the Department of Environment. Since the project’s inception, the breeding population has grown from an initial 20 adult crocodiles to over 200.

The initiative has not only boosted numbers but also led to the creation of a genetic reserve and population bank for the species, a national first in Iran’s conservation efforts.

Mobaraki further noted that the Iranian short-snouted crocodiles are currently listed as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and considered endangered on Iran’s national list.