Saving Venezuela's Orinoco Crocodile from Extinction
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Loading... - Gregory Jones
- 08 May 2023
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Venezuela's Orinoco Crocodile, known scientifically as Crocodylus intermedius, was hunted to the brink of extinction in the 20th century. These enormous reptiles, which can grow over six meters in length and weigh more than 400 kilograms, were primarily hunted for their skins, resulting in millions being slaughtered.
According to the Fudeci natural sciences foundation in Venezuela, only about 100 adult females remain in the country. The Orinoco Crocodile is native to the Orinoco basin shared by Venezuela and Colombia. It is one of the largest crocodiles in the world and is currently classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Although the trade of Orinoco Crocodile skins has been banned, they continue to face threats, including hunting for their eggs and meat, as well as habitat destruction caused by pollution and human development.
To address this issue, conservationists started breeding new crocodiles in captivity in 1990. Although more than 10,000 of these crocodiles have been released back into the wild, their numbers have not increased significantly. Conservationist Federico Pantin, who manages the Leslie Pantin breeding zoo with his wife Tuenade Hernandez, stated that breeding efforts alone are not enough. There must be protection, surveillance, and environmental education to save these animals from extinction.
The Leslie Pantin breeding zoo, located in the northern state of Aragua, is one of several crocodile breeding centers in the country. Recently, the zoo released 160 hatchlings, bred from a captive breeding pair, into the Capanaparo River. The eggs are incubated for about 90 days, buried in sand at a specific depth and temperature, and with a specific level of humidity.
Due to the high rate of predation in their natural environment, 95% of the hatchlings raised in captivity survive. Zoo staff also capture free-born baby crocs in the river to raise them in relative safety.
The Pantin Zoo not only conserves Orinoco Crocodiles but also works to conserve other threatened species, including the Red Siskin finch, stubfoot toad, and wood turtle. By instilling a natural stewardship mindset in visiting school groups, the zoo hopes to sow the seeds of conservation at a young age.
If locals and Indigenous communities can be convinced to view these crocodiles as a source of income through tourism, it could provide a conservational side benefit, according to Diego Bilbao, the director of Rio Verde, a company that organizes tours to witness the annual release of young crocs.
