Smart Reptile Monitoring with Crocodiles of the World

Crocodiles of the World is the UK’s first and only crocodile zoo, home to over 150 crocodiles, reptiles, and mammals.

Temperature and humidity are vital to the welfare of their animals and the success of their conservation programme.

We worked with their team to improve their monitoring processes, showing how wireless temperature and humidity tracking could streamline operations, highlight issues faster, and support breeding outcomes.

The Challenges

Limited Data

Their max/min therma-hygrometers didn’t show how long the desired environmental conditions were maintained. They couldn’t assess fluctuations or stability over time—crucial for breeding and animal welfare.

Slower Responses to Temperature Changes

Manual monitoring resulted in delays in spotting issues and slower reactions to rapid temperature shifts, especially during extreme weather like heatwaves.

Time-Consuming and Disruptive Manual Checks

Staff had to physically enter enclosures just to take readings. This was time-consuming during busy mornings and risked disturbing the animals.

Lack of Trend Spotting

They couldn’t easily identify environmental patterns that encourage natural behaviours—such as the conditions needed to trigger courtship in green tree pythons—resulting in missed opportunities to improve breeding.

“Although we could get adequate data from our previous instruments such as minimum and maximum values for temperature and humidity, these numbers didn’t show us how long a desired parameter was maintained for.”

Jamie Gilks, Section Leader of Lizards and Invertebrates

The Solution

Instead of relying on manual checks, ETI’s ThermaData WiFi HTD loggers record temperature and humidity at set intervals.

Data can be monitored remotely, viewed in graph or table form, exported, and shared. Users can also receive push notifications for high or low readings.

The software is free to download, with no subscription fees.

How ETI’s WiFi Loggers Improved Operations

Detailed, Actionable Data

Continuous monitoring and graphing let staff see exactly how long conditions are maintained—helping fine-tune care for species with specific needs.

Faster Responses to Environmental Changes

Remote, real-time monitoring allows staff to act quickly before small issues become big problems—particularly during unusual weather.

Time Savings and Less Disruption

Checks can now be done at a glance, without entering enclosures—saving time and keeping animals undisturbed.

Clearer Environmental Trends for Breeding Success

Staff can now spot subtle fluctuations that support natural behaviours. These insights have already helped improve conditions for breeding.

“Being able to see how quickly a temperature is rising or dropping has helped us address any potential issues before they become a problem, particularly during times of unusual weather such as a heatwave.”

Jamie Gilks, Section Leader of Lizards and Invertebrates

Summary

By switching to ETI’s WiFi loggers, Crocodiles of the World have gained more control over their environment—improving animal welfare, boosting breeding efforts, and saving valuable keeper time.

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