Cohabitating with Crocodiles

Shanelly Carrillo Balan

Wildlife Program Manager Shanelly Carrillo Balan of the Forest Department tells you what to do if there is a sighting of a crocodile in your area. 

Shanelly Carrillo Balan, Wildlife Program Manager, Forest Department

“What we have seen in the past years is that Belize City and Ladyville areas is that it is becoming frequent to have reports coming from those areas when it comes to crocodiles – not just sighting of crocodiles, but also for crocodile conflicts for example them trying to attack your pets. So the forest department does respond to those reports. Apart from responding and sometimes we remove the crocodiles, we also educate the people around. So things that we mention is for example, take care of your pets. If you live close to the water edges, it is sometimes good to invest in a proper fence just make sure that your pets are safe. Also they hunt dusk and dawn so if it is around these times, take extra precaution. Don’t be close to these areas with your pets, don’t be swimming in these areas around these times. But what we see as well is that crocodile conflicts can sometimes start because of directly or indirectly feeding these animals. A lot of times when we respond to these conflict cases and we ask the necessary questions, people have been feeding them without knowing it. So if you are cleaning your fish near the water edge, you are indirectly feeding these animals. But also garbage is something that we have to consider. Just having garbage in these areas where they can possibly start feeding off of our scraps. So that is attracting them to our homes, closer to these communities.”