May 18, 2013 - 1 min read

Reptilian and Crocodilian Paradise

A Stroll Through Danger and Delight in Nature Land

By Michael Flemming

Community writer

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The green iguana is a strong and agile climber and swimmer

Water Monitors' native range is from the Indian subcontinent to indonesia

The Taiwan beauty snake's body is spotted black toward its head giving way to a striped tail

Let a sleeping crocodile be

American alligators have a broader nose and smaller teeth than crocodiles

The Asian forest tortoise is the largest tortoise native to Asia

The Okinawa Zoo in certainly by no means a large zoo but it does have a broad array of nearly 200 species on its hillside park. The southern most side of Japan's southernmost zoo features a swampy lowland full of crocodiles, alligators, frogs, turtles, tortoises, snakes, iguanas and lizards that will delight those not frightened by crocs, gators, and snakes. The snakes and lizards can be seen inside a reptile house after which a climb to the top of the building gives a great view of several crocodiles just below. A climb back down and beyond the reptile house leads to a path past an American alligator, the turtles and tortoises and more crocodiles. A part of the Nature Land at the Okinawa Zoo and Museum in Okinawa City, these animals are kept a safe distance away or below visitors.