NEWS AND MORE's video: Peru zoo welcomes two baby crocodiles born through artificial insemination

Peru zoo welcomes two baby crocodiles born through artificial insemination A zoo in the Peruvian capital, Lima, is thrilled after two endangered baby American crocodiles were born in the zoo last month through artificial insemination. Zookeepers at the Huachipa zoo say the two tiny crocs, which at two weeks old weigh-in at 45 grams and measure 35 centimetres in length, are doing well after their eggs hatched on January 10. "We managed to reproduce these specimens of the American crocodile ... these animals are in danger of extinction and all the animals in our zoo are rescues from illegal animal trafficking recovered by the state," said Jose Flores, who runs the reptiles department at Huachipa zoo. The crocodile eggs were incubated for 90 days and were the only surviving two out of a total of 24 eggs. It is still too early to determine the sex of the two newborns but proud parents of the two baby crocs, "Coco" and "La Pinta," also live at the zoo and can expect to be reunited with their offspring once get stronger, says the zoo. The American Crocodile, which can grow up to 4.8 meters (16 ft), are shy and reclusive, experts say, and feed mostly between dusk and dawn. Crocodiles are still classified as an endangered species, and although the numbers of the large reptiles have rebounded in some parts of the world such as south Florida in the United States, in Peru and Ecuador, their numbers remain low. "This species is currently in danger of extinction, mainly due to the loss of its habitat, which despite being very extensive throughout the Americas, has come into conflict with the human population and the lands that belonged to the crocodiles are today agricultural or urban areas," explained Flores, who said he sees the birth of the two animals as a sign of new hope of the species in the region. The American crocodile can be found in countries including Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and the United States. (Production: Carlos Valdez, Omar Younis)