Human?crocodilian interactions in Latin America and the Caribbean region

SIMON POOLEY; PABLO ARIEL SIROSKI; LUCIA FERNANDEZ; BRANDON SIDELEAU; PAULINO PONCE

Conservation Science and Practice

Society for Conservation Biology

Lugar: Washington; Año: 2021 vol. e351 p. 1 - 13

2578-4854

Mitigating harmful interactions with wildlife requires an understanding of theinteractions between predators, domesticated animals and humans. Large-scale transformations of crocodilian habitats across the Latin America andCaribbean region, alongside significant use of crocodilians as a resource, andretaliatory killing of crocodilians following (or to prevent) attacks on humansand their animals, are generating significant conservation challenges. Thismatters because this is the world´s most biodiverse region for crocodilians.Because there is little information on specific situations across this vast andcomplex region, in 2018 we initiated a biannual questionnaire survey to estab-lish a reporting network. In this article, we summarize the findings of surveysconducted in 2018 and 2020. We triangulate this fee dback with croc attackdata, and consultation with regional experts, to produc e this very prelimina ryoverview. We identify trends in negative human?crocodilian interactions atcountry level, the most reported causes of these, and identify the key speciesand regions of concern. We surveyed attitudes to management policies andresponses to negative interactions including direct action and outreach activi-ties. We acknowledge (and clarify) knowledge gaps, and motivate for improvedregional cooperation with regard to policies and management (notably moni-toring and evaluation) and data collection and sharing.