SAN PEDRO SUN (Ambergris Caye, Belize) 24 July 08 Crocodile relocated to new home
Crocodylus acutus (the American crocodile) is one of two species of Crocodilians found in Belize. Feared and yet admired, these magnificent creatures are endangered throughout their range predominantly due to habitat destruction and exploitation. For some time now the Belize Forestry Department (BFD) in the Ministry of Natural Resources has received complaints in regards to the crocodiles that are found living in the lake across from Banyan Bay, south of San Pedro Town. After accessing the situation, BFD determined that based on the increased population of people in the area, and eminent development, it was in the crocs’ and the community’s best interest to relocate them. The Department enlisted the help from a team of biologists from the American Crocodile Endangered Sanctuary (ACES) located in Punta Gorda (PG), Toledo to implement the task of trapping and transporting the creatures back to the sanctuary in PG. The team consisted of ACES Executive Director and Biologist, Cherie Chenot-Rose and Croc Behaviorist, Vincent Rose along with Marisa Tellez, a Zoologist from the LA Zoo in California, USA and a Crocodilian Parasitological Research Student at UCLA.
Although the population of crocs vary in the small lake, during the five days of trapping only one was spotted. It seemed that their goal would go unrealized when on their final day on the island, Saturday, July 19th, the team went to gather their man-made trap, designed by Steve Erwin, and realized that the crafty creature had taken the bait of chicken and was securely captured in the tented net that made up the trap. After the careful process of securing the reptile, and with much help from the local community, the animal was finally loaded on a boat where it was transported to Belize City. From the City, the ACES team drove the crocodile to PG where the croc is now adjusting well to her new home.
Permitted by the Fisheries Department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, one of ACES’s objectives is to conduct research and collect data. With this recent catch, the biologists wasted no time to learning all about their new resident to the sanctuary. Their findings show: the American Crocodile was an eight foot two inches adult female with a weight of approximately three hundred (300) pounds. A health assessment was conducted which shows that the Crocodile was obese and was one hundred pounds overweight which is primarily due to the chicken feedings. The crocs tail scutes (horny plates or thorny scales), were battered, torn and some missing, whilst a spear gun hole was also noticeable on the left side of her dorsal scute midbody. Marisa Tellez determined that the croc suffered from bacterial infections on her skin indicating that the water in the lake that she came from is extremely unhealthy. Tellez exclaimed, “If an animal with the strongest immune system in the world is showing ill signs from water contamination, just think what that water could do to people!”
Biologist Cherie Chenot-Rose, Executive Director of ACES explained that since her relocation, the crocodile has adjusted well and is on a strict diet of fish, shrimp and crab. “She lays out basking almost everyday, a behavior we had not seen her do the days we were there (on Ambergris Caye) or the days Marisa previously observed her, it seems she was severely abused. Injuries sustained included osteoderm damage (upright scutes being entirely crushed) due to rocks and lacerations on the snout from sticks, a spear gun hole and a possible small caliber gun shot wound. She now appears relaxed, happy and is not fighting with the other two crocs at all as anticipated,” explained Rose.
Currently residing in the canal of the sanctuary is one adult female, about nine feet long and weighing approximately 350 pounds, an injured adult male estimated at 12 feet in length, a yearling born in June 2006, and two recently rescued sub-adult American Crocodiles. Plus the addition of its newest resident, the female American crocodile from San Pedro.
It is important to note that this crocodile relocation mission was under the request of the Belize Forestry Department. In an interview with The Sun, Andre Lopez, Conservation Officer for BFD stated, “we are happy to catch this crocodile and the Department will continue to monitor the situation much closer. We remind the public that is it illegal to feed or harass wild animals and it is also against the law to keep any wild animals as pets such as monkeys and snakes. We will work in collaboration with ACES to try to relocate these problematic crocs and also to educate the general populace of the detrimental environmental consequences of ignoring the situation and find ways of enforcing the Belize Wildlife Protection Act.”
Chenot-Rose writes, on behalf of ACES (American Crocodile Endangered Sanctuary): “Special thanks go out to Mr. Jim Jensen of the Liquor Box for all his time, support and generosity in arranging and financing the transportation of the captured problematic crocodile to the mainland. Roberto Castillo for use of the boat and Captain Marcos, Joe and Rhonda of Pelican Reef Villas for the use of their truck, the San Pedro Police Department and Chief Arnold for extra patrols and crowd control, Banyan Bay for use of a kayak to scout the lake, Reef Radio and the Morning Show for the air time to express our concerns and help educate the public about the impacts of the situation and all the residents of the lake for allowing us access through their properties. We thank the San Pedro Lions Club for allowing us the use of their den for our public presentation and we appreciate all the local support and hope that those opposed have opened their minds to see the importance of not feeding wild animals. The eight foot crocodile has been named ‘Debbie’ as a constant reminder of the necessity to protect Belize’s endangered and threatened species and not to exploit them. ACES’s encourages everyone to do their part in protecting Belize’s wildlife by obeying the Belize Wildlife Protection Act and reporting those who do not to the Belize Forestry Department at 822-1524. Problematic animals can also be reported to the BFD. Finally, a gracious thank you to Tamara Sniffin of The San Pedro Sun, whose time and dedication to protecting Belize’s Wildlife is truly making a difference.”
Crocodile relocated to new home