Population status of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus, Cuvier 1807) localized in Turiamo Bay, Aragua State, Venezuela

SAMUEL HILEVSKI; VELASCO, ALVARO

Santa Fe

Congreso; 25th Working Meeting CSG-IUCN. Santa Fe, Argentina.; 2018

SSC/IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group

The american crocodyle (Crocodylus acutus) is one of the five species of crocodiles present inVenezuela. As result of different anthropogenic activities, numerous populations of theVenezuelan coastal region are diminished or extinct. Its vulnerability is considered "Endangered"by official decree and considered as "Threatened" species 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 americancrocodiles situate in the bay of Turiamo. 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. These resultsare mainly associated to the behavior of the animal, the activities of the area, the experimentaldesign and errors associated to the researcher. This information was compared with past censusesand a downward population trend is observed in the numbers of individuals present in the bay ofTuriamo in the last 15 years. To conclude that the principals age of stages in the population arethe I and II. The population of american crocodiles are relegate to the brackish lagoon on accountof the constant war practices and survivor exercises. Although to the tendency indicate anestablishment of the population of crocodiles, this are decreasing, fact support to the decline oftheir individuals along the last 13 years. Under the conservation of the species, future actions areproposed that raise its population numbers, considering the shelter and the environmental impact that implies to be in an area of restricted access and of military use.