Alligator mississippiensis — Southeastern US crocodilian
A three-year-old has been pulled from a crocodile enclosure at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon and has been taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with serious injuries. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and has been released on bail after being assessed as not fit for interview. The zoo has closed its Tropical House.
The Interior Department has finalized rules that require individualized protection plans for species added to the threatened list and mandate economic analyses for critical habitat. Critics warn the move could hamper wildlife recovery, while supporters say it balances conservation with development. Several species, including monarch butterflies and the grizzly bear, are cited in ongoing debates.