Pui Pui () is a female

saltwater crocodile The saltwater crocodile (''Crocodylus porosus'') is a crocodilian native to saltwater habitats, brackish wetlands and freshwater rivers from India's east coast across Southeast Asia and the Sundaland to northern Australia and Micronesia. It ha ...

captured in

Shan Pui River The Shan Pui River (also known as Yuen Long Creek) () is a river in Yuen Long, New Territories, Hong Kong. It has many tributaries, most of them starting from inside Tai Lam Country Park. It passes six villages and is joined by a few more strea ...

(山貝河) in

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

on 10 June 2004 by the

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (; formerly the Agriculture and Fisheries Department () before 2000, of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for agriculture and fisheries in Hong Kong, conservation projects and issu ...

(AFCD) officers of Hong Kong. She was first transferred to

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) (), formerly known as Kadoorie Experimental and Extension Farm (), or Kadoorie Farm (), was originally set up to aid poor farmers in the New Territories in Hong Kong. It later shifted its focus to promote ...

before being moved permanently to the

Hong Kong Wetland Park Hong Kong Wetland Park is a conservation, education and tourism facility, located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai, in Yuen Long. It was to be an ecological mitigation area (EMA) for the wetlands lost due to Tin Shui Wai New Town developmen ...

on 15 August 2006. The crocodile has become a local celebrity since being spotted at Shan Pui River, Yuen Long on 2 November 2003. After several weeks of unsuccessful attempts by Australian crocodile hunter John Lever, and months of effort on the part of mainland Chinese experts to capture it, the reptile was trapped by Hong Kong's AFCD staff on 10 June 2004. The crocodile saga aroused wide public interest in wetland and wildlife conservation in Hong Kong.

Name

After a territory-wide naming contest with 1,600 entries, the crocodile was named "Pui Pui" – "the precious one", which is also a reference to Shan ''Pui'' River where it was found.

In captivity

She spent two years at Kadoorie Farm while her permanent home at the

was being constructed. She moved to her home on 15 August 2006. After two weeks' observation in the indoor portion of her home, she was moved to the external pool where she could be visited by the public. Speaking after the arrival of the Pui Pui in the Wetland Park, the Hong Kong AFCD Assistant Director Mr Lay Chik-chuen said there was no need for people to rush to the Park to see her, as she was here to stay. "As a celebrity croc, we believe Pui Pui's exhibition in the Wetland Park will promote public awareness of

wetland conservation Wetland conservation is aimed at protecting and preserving areas of land including marshes, swamps, bogs, anfensthat are covered by water seasonally or permanently due to a variety of threats from both natural and Anthropogenic hazard, anthropoge ...

," he said. Hong Kong Wetland Park also sells stuffed crocodiles called "Pui Pui" as part of their merchandise.

Pui Pui's Home

On 29 August 2006, she was moved into her landscaped enclosure and can be easily viewed by the public. Pui Pui's Home was designed to provide the reptile with a healthy and comfortable living environment. The outdoor enclosure is about , of which 70% is pool area. With a maximum depth of one metre, the pool is landscaped with plants to provide sheltered areas, hiding places and basking areas for the reptile. Outdoor facilities include infra-red heaters, a heat pad and a weighing scale. Water in the pool is continuously circulated through a filtration system.

Age and size

Pui Pui was estimated to be about 4 years-old when she was captured in 2004, therefore suggesting that she was born in 2000. Measuring and weighing when she moved to her permanent home in August 2006, Pui Pui will grow to three metres when fully matured. The 72-meter² outdoor enclosure in the Hong Kong Wetland Park is designed to accommodate her as she grows larger.

Popular culture

In October 2004, a bilingual children's book "The Crocodile who wanted to be famous", which is based on the life of Pui Pui, was published by Sixth Finger Press and attracted widespread interest in both the Chinese and English media.

References

External links

{{Commons category, Pui Pui (crocodile), Pui Pui
Hong Kong Wetland Park

No Stone unturned for Pui Pui's new home
Individual crocodiles