THE CITIZEN (Auburn, New York) 12 February 06 American croc in Costa Rica (Anne DeMarco)
Jordan: Set to embark upon the first ever census of the reptiles in the virgin rainforest region of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, guest speaker Matthew Harris regaled group members with an account of his preliminary explorations of the region.
The Upstate Herpetological Association held its monthly meeting recently at the Jordan-Elbridge Community Center to discuss the crocodile census of Costa Rica.
“It's one of the biological hot spots of the world,” Harris said. “They're still finding species of life there that have never been described before. And no biologists have ever gone in there and studied crocodiles.”
The crocodile hobbyist and researcher, a member of the Albany chapter of the association, was presented a $1,000 grant by Upstate treasurer Bob Cunningham to be used for the five-year project he is spearheading later this month.
His adventure began innocently in 2002, when he traveled to the area on a field trip. Soon, he met tour guide Mike Boston, as well as a multitude of American crocodiles.
“I never dreamed I'd get involved in this when I first went there,” said Harris, explaining his time with Boston,” who looks and acts very much like (movie character) Crocodile Dundee. Subsequent revelations about the peninsula, evolved into a realization the study should be done.
Classified as an endangered species, the American crocodile only numbers between 10,000 and 20,000 worldwide, he said during the presentation, with its small vertebrae producing a fine leather that entices poachers to cross the northern border from Nicaragua to obtain their bounty to sell on the black market. It is the southwestern border of the Osa that remains pristine, due to its difficult terrain, with its ecosystem intact, Harris explained.
“It might hold 10 to 15 percent of the population of crocodiles in the world,” he said. It also holds the longest tract of what little rainforest is left: the northern part of Costa Rica having been developed by coffee and pineapple plantations.
It is the possible residual threat caused by pesticides used by the fruit companies, together with further proposed land development, and their effects on the reptiles that inspired Harris to begin to put together the study in 2003.
Help came from biologists at the Turkey Point Nuclear Station whom Harris, a nuclear engineer, knew, together with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and crock expert Mike Boston.
With a grant from The Evergreen Foundation in March 2004, the initial survey, and adventure, began.
“There's nothing that will wake you up more than hitting a floating coconut at 40 mph in the night,” he said, describing a trip upriver through a maze of mangrove canals by motorboat. “A spinner dolphin jumped up 8 feet in front of the boat, and you know if one landed in the boat it would tip over.
“It just adds to the excitement of the project,” he said, adding he had nothing but praise for the local guides.
“They've got navigational skills like I've never known,” he said. “They can go 40 mph up a river by moonlight and suddenly take a turn, and do it expertly.”
The trick to counting crocodiles, according to Harris, is to go upstream so the boat does not overtake the reptiles, and to do it at night, by shining a light over the water and looking for eye shine. Also by not flipping the boat over.
“Crocodiles can be dangerous, and they can scare you. But bull sharks, pound for pound, are the most deadly on earth,” he said.
Daytime tabulations, he explained can be aided by walking on foot, looking for tail drags in the sand and mounds or holes along the beach for nesting areas.
The project has recently received notoriety in the Crocodile Specialist Group newsletter, which Harris expects will generate further grants from organizations. The team intends to employ student interns and to possibly include an investigative tourism division.
“These mangroves are excellent for anyone looking for tree boas,” he said, presumably to promote volunteers.
American croc in Costa Rica