MAYAN KNOWLEDGE OF CROCODILES IN MEXICO: A CASE STUDY IN THE EJIDO OF XHAZIL

ZAMUDIO FERNANDO

Crocodile Specialist Group Newletter IUCN - World Conservation Union, Species Survival Commission

Charles Darwin University, Australia

Lugar: Sanderson NT 0813 Australia; Año: 2006 vol. 25 p. 5 - 8

The main goal of this communication is to continue with the diffusion of local people knowledge about crocodiles (e.g. Local knowledge about crocodiles in Palau. Newsletter 2005, vol. 24 Nº2). The results shown in this communication were extracted from the author Masters Thesis. What follows, is the summarized information gathered from the interviews to the Mayans crocodiles hunters of the ejido of Xhazil. The communication describes Xhazil?s Mayan ex-crocodile hunters knowledge about 1) history of crocodile hunting in the region; 2) distribution, habitat, and behaviour of crocodiles; 3) hunting practices and techniques, and 4) hunting strategies. Hunting by Mayans of Xhazil was based on their social organization forms and on their knowledge about crocodiles habitat and movements during the dry period. This knowledge is relevant because of its specificity at a local scale. Hunters contributed with relevant information about a poorly studied environment, with restricted physical access. The role assigned by Xhazil?s hunters to caves inside ?pozas? (holes) and mangrove islands should be evaluated, as few references exist about this habitat. Studies about crocodiles holes (alligator holes) in the Everglades in Florida can be replicated for comparisons. Belize?s hunters informed about recurrent crocodile killings in a same cave, and also helped finding these caves for scientists, as Xhazil?s hunters did in my study. Knowledge of local people should be considered in further studies about crocodile?s behaviour and habitat in Mexico. Local participation is necessary in decision making strategies on crocodile?s conservation and management.