Caution, Wild Crocodiles, Oh My!
Tara A. Spears
While Crocodile Dundee is a cool dude, the wild crocs of coastal Nayarit are not as welcoming. Last week another child was attacked in La Penita prompting a multiagency task force to be assembled to address the problem. In Mexico, between 2000 and 2021, 250 unprovoked crocodile attacks on humans were registered, with 102 cases occurring on the Pacific coast. The most common species along the Pacific coast is the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus.)
Regarding the months in which the attacks occurred, June and July present the highest number of crocodile attacks but the probability of encounters remains high until the end of the rainy season. It is uncommon for crocodiles seek out and attack and eat humans. The data reported showed that most incidents are due to a person’s intrusion into a crocodile habitat. Experts worry that unlimited land development is forcing crocodiles out of their habitat, boosting the odds of encounters that, in turn, fuel public fear and hostility against the reptiles. The process of removing crocodiles that encounter humans undermines the legal protections that crocodiles are afforded under national law. According to scientists, people are to blame for the increase in crocodile attacks.
“People insist on fishing or swimming even if there are warning signs,” says Rafael García de Quevedo, head of biological sciences at the University of Guadalajara’s University Coastal Center (CUC) in Puerto Vallarta. “This behavior has literally provoked attacks.”
These creatures have been present on the planet for some 240 million years. Crocodiles were important to the indigenous people of Mexico. In fact, crocodiles have long figured in Mexican cosmology, iconography and culture. CUC scholar Fabio Cupul says both the Aztecs and Mayans respected the creature as a vital part of Mother Earth and as a link between the mortal world and the afterworld. In modern times, the characters of Wally the Gator and Crocodile Dundee, not to mention media personalities such as the late Steve Irwin, taught vast numbers of people about crocodiles and their role in nature, Cupul says.
The presence of crocodiles on Nayarit’s beaches is increasing. Last week, several captures and sightings were reported in various tourist centers and towns along the state’s coast. Nayarit firefighters captured a crocodile that was reported to be walking along the beaches of Rincón de Guayabitos. After its capture, the reptile was taken to the fire station, where it was examined and tagged by specialized personnel. This procedure aims to ensure the crocodile’s safety and its relocation to a safe habitat for its development. The recently captured crocodiles were taken to the unpopulated wetlands of the municipality of San Blas.
Due to the recent increase in croc sightings, a multiagency team was assembled to address the crocodile issue. Alderwoman Lulu Nuez reported, ‘After a local boy was injured, members of the Directorate of Citizen Protection and the Compostela Fire Department, in coordination with federal, state, and municipal authorities traveled to the town of Peñita de Jaltemba. They captured two crocodiles, applying the appropriate maneuvers to safeguard the animals’ lives. The procedure included their extraction, identification, and relocation in accordance with established protocols for wildlife management.”
To reduce the risks of crocodile attacks and destructive push-back against the reptile, conservation advocates are proposing more public education, improved habitat preservation and greater coordination among government agencies in handling incidents.
According to data collected by a group of expert crocodile handlers and researchers in Mexico, more than 90% of documented attacks have been perpetrated by humans.