In an unusual twist of nature and industry, Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station, just south of Miami, has become a thriving sanctuary for American crocodiles, a species once on the brink of extinction.

What started as a surprising discovery in the plant’s cooling canals in the 1970s has turned into a full-scale conservation success story. Today, roughly 25% of the U.S. crocodile population resides in this artificial habitat, benefiting from man-made nesting sites and a carefully managed environment.

The crocodile monitoring initiative began in 1978, shortly after the first nests were found in 1977, marking the start of an unexpected partnership between Florida Power & Light (FPL) and local wildlife.