Can natural enemies co-exist?
As far as we can remember, every time we’ve featured a story this year involving crocodiles, they were all violent. One involved a twelve year old boy who died after being attacked near his home in Belama. A second was about a man swimming in the Haulover Creek who was bitten several times in his head but lived to tell the tale. And who could forget the escape attempt in which a prisoner trying to swim to safety via the Lamanai River in Orange Walk was attacked by a croc and had to be rescued by police? Needless to say, these incidents have put crocs on the public’s hit list and environmentalists on the alert. Desperate to find a solution to this problem, authorities are putting their heads together to find a way in which both species can co-exist.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The menacing look of this animal would convince anyone to keep far from a crocodile. But what do you do when they show up in your backyard? Studies on the Morlet and American crocodiles, the two types that are found in Belize, reveal that they are among the shiest reptiles in the world. Given the recent attacks involving this species and humans, it is important to find out why crocs would stray from their normal diet and start attacking animals and humans.
Dr.Frank Mazzotti, Wildlife Ecologist
“Don’t feed crocodiles. If you don’t feed crocodiles, people and crocodiles can live together. If you feed crocodiles, you’re creating killers.”
Dr. Frank Mazzotti, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Florida, says humans and crocodiles can co exist without having to kill each other.
Dr. Frank Mazzotti
“In Florida, virtually a hundred percent of the attacks of alligators on people are associated with alligators that have been fed by humans. So that’s really the problem. Actually, the two species here in Belize, the Morlet and the American, are quite shy and are more likely to run away form you than not, unless they are fed.”
In Belize City, the Forestry Department has identified certain locations where people are living in areas that are also home to the reptiles.
Marcelo Windsor, Wildlife Biologist, Forestry Dept.
“We’ve always been living with crocodiles here in Belize City. Since we’ve actually encroached within prime crocodile habitats and we’ve actually developed these crocodiles habitats by improving these canals and so on. In Belize City, we’ve actually identified West Landivar as being a potential crocodile hazard area, the Belama areas and also the Port Loyola areas.
But recent incidents, including the death of a young boy, have created fear among those area residents, who have publicly voiced their concerns and want the crocodiles to be shot or removed. Marcelo Windsor, a wildlife biologist at the Forestry Department, says the ministry receives at least four “croc complaints” each week. Today, they have invited Dr. Mazzotti to meet with stakeholders to develop a management plan for crocodiles in Belize to keep both animal and people safe. However, before any plan is formulated, Dr. Mazzotti, who has visited a few of the local sites, says there are two specific measures that urgently need to be put in place.
Dr.Frank Mazzotti
“One, is you need to put up signs advising people that there are crocodiles in the area and how to behave around crocodiles. If you treat them with respect, they will leave you alone. The second thing is that when you do have signs that there is a problem animal around, a large animal that people have fed, then I think it is a safety factor to remove that crocodile from that area before people get attacked.”
There are about two hundred crocodiles living in the affected areas. However, it is the large male reptiles that have become a threat in the neighbourhoods. Windsor says there are plans to relocate them, but admits the exercise would only be a short-term solution to the problem.
Marcelo Windsor
“These animals are very territorial, and we might be transferring a problem from one place to the other. We need to educate all people as to how best to live along with these crocodiles.”
Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
At the end of today’s seminar, the group agreed to post several warning signs along the canals in the areas of Belama, West Landivar and Port Loyola. Problem crocodiles already identified will be relocated to another area. And in order to educate the public about the animals, several campaigns including the publication of brochures and school talks will be held countrywide.
