Population status of the american crocodile (Crocodylus acutus, Cuvier 1807) localized in the Turiamo bay, Aragua state, Venezuela.

ALVARO VELASCO; SAMUEL HILEVSKI

Santa Fe

Congreso; 25th Working Meeting Crocodile Specialist Group; 2018

Proyecto Yacare

The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is one of the five species of crocodiles present inVenezuela. As result of different anthropogenic activities, numerous human populations of theVenezuelan coastal region are diminished or extinct. Its vulnerability is considered "Endangered"by official decree and considered as "Threatened" specie by IUCN, CITES and the Red Book ofWildlife of Venezuela. The existing population in the bay of Turiamo, Aragua state, located inthe center of the northern coastal region of Venezuela (10 ° 27'17.55''N, 67 ° 50'55.22''O) isreduced, making it susceptible to stochastic and anthropogenic events that modify it. For thesereasons, studies aimed at the conservation of C. acutus are of paramount importance. Theresearch was developed with the objective of determining the population status of the Americancrocodile situates in the Turiamo bay. Between August 2015 and November 2016, nocturnalcensuses were carried out by direct counting, during the new moon phase, on footpaths alongriverbanks, and on boats along the west coast and brackish lagoon, 25 caimans were observed inthis environment and the presence of at least 38, being 11 of these individuals in class I, 14 classII, 6 class III, 1 class IV and 6 Without Classification, this being its population age. Thisinformation was compared with past censuses and a downward population trend is observed inthe numbers of individuals present in the Turiamo Bay in the last 15 years. To conclude that theprincipals age of stages in the population are the I and II. The population of American crocodileare relegate to the brackish lagoon on account of the constant war practices and survivorexercises. Although to the tendency indicate an establishment of the population of crocodiles, thisare decreasing, fact support to the decline of their individuals along the last 13 years. Under thespecie conservation, future actions are proposed that raise its population numbers, considering theshelter and the environmental impact that implies to be in an area of ​​restricted access and ofmilitary use.