Beirut resident keeps pair of young crocodiles at his home Daily Star staff
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 
BEIRUT: Firas Abu Fakher finds it very interesting to raise exotic animals at his home in Beirut, including two crocodiles "despite the great danger they may pose as they grow up."
"I love raising special animals at home," he told The Daily Star on Tuesday. "I have raised a monkey and several birds that we don't normally find in Lebanese homes."
Abu Fakher said the crocodiles he owned belonged to the Nile species.
"I love being special in everything I do," he added. "Many of my friends [say] I am insane."
Abu Fakher said that he bought the two animals nine months ago.
"I found them by coincidence at the store where I buy food for my fish," he said. "They were 30 centimeters long at the time. Today, Champ, the male, is 87 centimeters long while the female, Stella, is 90 centimeters."
Abu Fakher said he learned how to care for his crocs through "exhaustive" research over the Internet that lasted for more than one month.
"My crocs are living in a water basin that I have placed on the rooftop of my house, while providing it with water heaters in order to keep it warm," he said. "The water temperature needs to remain at 26 degrees Celsius."
"As for the food, they consume more than 1 kilogram of fish per week," he added.
Asked about the differences between the two predators, Abu Fakher said the female's eyes were wider than the males.
He also cautioned that while the female appeared to be more ferocious in interaction between the two, the male "is more fierce with humans."
He also said that he liked to build a "friendly" relationship with his animals. "I try to spend some time with my crocs whenever I am free. I also encourage my 2-year-old son to do so," he added.
Beirut resident keeps pair of young crocodiles at his home -
5th November 2008
