Crocodilian maternal behavior is surprisingly sophisticated with welfare implications for both nesting females and hatchlings that challenge perceptions of reptile emotional capacity.
The sophisticated maternal investment of crocodilians challenges assumptions about reptile emotional capacity. Females that guard nests for months without feeding make a significant physiological investment demonstrating the behavioral importance of successful nesting. Egg collection programs that remove nests without adequate consideration of the maternal behavior pattern disturb the female during a period of intense investment. Hatchling nursery groups require maternal protection that is disrupted by human disturbance at nesting sites. Conservation programs that work around natural maternal behavior rather than replacing it with artificial incubation benefit both the welfare of females and hatchlings and improve long-term survival by maintaining natural behavioral development.