CROCODILES 7th Meeting r984 SpecialReprintof the Proceedingsof the 7th working Meeting of th€ CrocodileSpecialistGroup of the SpeciesSurvivalCommisionof IUCN- The World ConseruationUnion convenedat Caracas,Venezuela21 - 28 October'1984 (Uneditedand Unreviewed) IUCN- The World ConservationUnion RueMauverneyey28, CH-l196, Gland,Switzerland Reprinted2002 by Taxon Media,Inc. POBox 192 Lanesboro,MN 55949 rucx lbl&tXktd.tX& CROCODTLES 7th Moeting 1984 nre t'edgnrlld|l ol g{ogrrytllcrl e!!tl€5 ia rtgboalr"rld the pie*rtruon of tfta ,}alrrtrt, do rt! l'r|p0 tir lrFr€*trn of..ry ogtnts.rwiat$€var o|| th6 F3rtof tUCi ort on at€dhsdeerrirg ths *tal3iitsr ot.ny oountrt t |tftrrt aa,rsr, or ofl!, asttloritirj, of ca.rEs.|llng tia drll|nlt ttoo ot Lc t or$.r. or bcofilarlg. tbe !i€r,v, errEss€d tn thii psbtlxtirn ds not ne<er6a:llt .€ftect t|se Of tuctt or T.ren l.ledr. OrQinrllt p{bliCtad tt luctl, G|cn4 gwtrz+rUrd rnd CarnbrHg+ uk R€rrided witt pcnnissionby Trxon l'tdla, !.nd€re, t{|{ irgA €ortfight @Odob€./ l9&t1 In!€..atiorirt Unior for Csnservatiooqt Hatureard tjlrt{lral Resonrcea Rcplgdllctlon Ol tii$ Oubllcrfon fcr ad{erUlrll 0r gl||q, inn.ctinnr.l(lrl!tmo!.: b {uiigri.ed wltlro{t prror w.itten psnlrdo.r Fs|n tte (lpt'irht hqtdc. $qdded tte ro{rce b frlil rrkn{*l€.lg.d " n.prodocdon of thlr p{tb|kNttronfor rri'|! or otlrEr cdr|fiardal popca.3& tmhlbllld wkfrolt prbr |{ttted teimb*t|n ly t a coglrtght holde., qt tio||: Authot {d.|{}. ?It s, lC . ekn4 Swit srlrnd r6d C.]ntr*dt{, t t(, * + xx pp. ISS : l€95109-30-il Cor[r d!6rEnbyr Dan B€fi&r Ewe. Photart Way.le Xi.rg Altlltbbfro|nr TrronHldb POBox191 4{t3 F5d.w.y trv. ,.n.*boro. t,ttl 35il0, ldr (5071'l6t'671'3; F.x: t50?'l a6r.AAs e-.nai} 0ade|58trxo,nnedir.aom CoverCredit: Caimancrccodiluscrocodilus,Stectael*dCaim*r Pholo by F WayrteKing,eopyright @1996 IUCN PUBLICATION NEW SERIES CROCODILES Proceedings of the ?th wolking Meeting of the Ctocodile Group of the species Sulvival commission of specialist Union fo! Conservation of nature and the International Natural Resources COCODFILOS lrtemori.is de Ia s€ptima Reuni6n de Trabajo alel Grupo de Especialistas en cocodrilos ale la comisi6n de SuPerviven cia ale Especies de fa Uni6n Intelnacior:al para la Conser vaci6n de 1a Naturaleza y de los Recursos Natural-es. Caracas-Venezuela 21 al Union International Resources Iucli. Fundaci6n para Universidad Ministerio la for 28 de Octubre conservation Defensa de la Experinental de1 Aabiente New York Nature Naturaleza de Los I,lanos y de fos lvluseun (U. S. A. ) Socl.ety (u.s.I'.) Zoofogical State 1. 986 anC }latural FUDENA. Occidental-es Recursos MARNR. Fforiala of Ce 1984 Naturales UNELT,Ez. Renovables The publlcation of by funding SSC/IUCN, fron these La publicaci6n de estas financiamiento de la Proceedings has been made possible TRAIFTC USA-, and FUDENA memorias ha sialo posible comisi6n de sobrevivencia gracias al de Especies IUCN. TRAFFIC USA, y FUDENA. Las opiniones de fos autores necesariamente reflejan expresaalas en estos aquellas docurentos no partiale 1as organizaciones ciPantes. CROCODILES Ploceedings croup of Union for uopyrlgnc of the the Seventh Meeting Species Survival Conservation of the Crocodile Cornrnission of of Nature and Natural the Specialist International Resources. -^^- Fundaci6n para }a Defensa de Ia Naturaleza FUDENA rvdb rnternational Union for conservation of A_a.u!e Fesources (IUCN). and liatural I rsBN 2-88032-306-1 Available from IUDENA Apartado 70 376 Caracas IUCN Publicaticn Avenue du llont L07lA-venezuela Services Blanc Cri-1196 Gland switzerland Cover photo Foto Portada WI^1Flrians Dossenbach Spectacled Caiman : cover design Diseio Portada nnifio Fuentes Caracas - venezuela Cainan sclerops The Internationaf Unlon for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) vras founded in 1948, and has its headquarters Switzerfandr in Gland, it is an iDdependent international body whose menbership conprises states, irtespective of thetipolltlcal and social systems, government departnents, and private institutions as well internationaf organizations. It represents tbose \dho are concerned at manrs noalification of the natural envirorunent thlough the rapidity of urban a!1d inalustrial development and the excessive exploitation of the earthrs natural- resources, upon which rest the foundations of his survival. lUCNrs nain purpose is to prolrote or support action whlch will ensure the perpetuation of t/rild nature and natural resoulces on a world-wide basis, not only for their intrinsic cultural ox scientific vafues but also for the long-term econonic and social welfare of rnankind. Ahis objective can be achieved througb active conservation prograns for the $rise use of naturaf resources in areas where the flora antl fauna are of particular irportance and wbere the Ianalscape is especially beautiful or striking, or of historical, cultural, or scientific significaltce. IUCN believes that lts aims can be achieved nost effectively by lnternational effort in cooperation \rith other inteinational agencies, such as UNESCO and FAO. The world qildlife Fund (I^IV,lr') is an international chalita!:le for foundation saving the world's wildlife and v'ild places. It vTas established in 1961 under swiss lat{, and at present jointly shares headquarters with those of IUCN. Its aiF is to support the conservation of nature in all its forns (landscape, soil, water, flora al]d fauna) by raising funds and allocating them to projects, general public by publicity, and by education of the and young peop.le in garticular. For all these activities it takes scientific and technical advice frotn the IUCN. Although l^lWFnay occasionally conduct its own field opetatlons, it tries as much as possible to v/ork throuqlr corpetent sPecia.Iists or loca 1 organizaLions. Anong lrvlF projects financial support for IUCN anil for the (TCBP) has highest fnternational Council for Biral Preservation priority, in order to enable these bodies to build up the vital scientific ancl technical basis for world conservation anC projects. specific Other projects cover a very wide range from education and ecological studies and surveys to the establishnent parks and reserves and and nanagenent of areas as national emergency prograns for the safeguaralinq of animal anC plant species threatened with extinction. 1'rF fund-ralsino and pubficity activlties are mainly carried out by National Appeals in a nulrber of countries, and its governing body is nade up of prominent personalities international in rnany fields. TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD. . .. . ,. . VII SUMMARYOF THE MEETING..... IX DECTSTONSOF THE CROCODILE SpECTALTST GROUP.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX L I S T O F P A R T I C I P A N T S. . . . . . . . . - .......... xxIII Medina Padilla, Venezuela. VENEZUELAI,I REPORTS G. La Administraci6n de pauna Silvestte en Uago de Perez, Y. Convenci6n sobre el Comercio Internacional ale Especies Ahenazadas de Flora y launa (CITES), su Aplicaci6n en Relaci6n a los Clocodflidos eD Venezuela. 5 Rivero Blanco, C. y B. DrAndria, E1 Estado Actual y 1as Ten dencias de la Investigaci6n sobre 1os Crocodtlidos en Seijas, A.E. y Babillas Situaci6n Actual de las poblaciones de Babas (Caiman crocoalilus) en Ia Regi6n Norte-Coste I ra de venezu6lEll. -: *.......... Gorzula. S. y A. Pao1illo, O. La Ecologta y Xstaalo Actuaf de los Aligat6ridos de la cuayana Venezolana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,,Babos en Bateas,' Una naneRivero Bfanco, C. y B. DrAndria, ra de Parecerse al Alligator de F1orida...... Rivero Blanco, C., y B. D,Andria. Censos de Caiman crocoalj lus una variaci6n Metodol6gica. . . . . . . . . . . -::.: . . .:; Rodriguez Arvelo, c., y M.D. Roblnson. Estudio del Clecimien to en Cautiverio de la Baba, Caiman crocodifus, durante sus Primeros Meses de vtda....l -. ...-ll Boede, 8.O., M-E. P6!raga, N.S6nchez de Boede, N. uedina ale L6pez, y H. Castaio. Un caso de Caquexia en una Baba caiman crocodilus) del zoof6gico Las Delicias de ltaracay, Estado EeAue, Ve-nezuela.- - -... Seijas, A.E. Situaci6n Actual del CainSn de la Costa. glgggltlus acutus, en Venezuela.... ......:...-:. Rano, C., y B. Busto. Censo A€reo de Caimanes (Crocodvlus intermedius (lortuguesa-v6iE-zue en el Rfo Tucupido Ia) con o6EEiiEEiones sobre su Actividad de S;teamiento... ...... Thorbjarnarson, .1., and T. Blohm. captive Rearing of Orinoco Crocodiles on Hato Masaguaral - Venezuefa.. ........... .. 3j 55 59 BO 96 fOg 120 CENTRAL AND NORTH A.I,IERICANREPORTS Brisbin, I.L., C.A. Ross, M.C. Downes, and B. canunon. The Compilatlon of a Cross-ihdexeC Topical Bibliography for the American Alligator. A Study of Tlends in the l-iterature Concerning and Endangered Species Hines, T., C. Abercrombie, F. percival, and C. Woodward. Fforida Alfigator: Economics, Harvest, antl Conservation. Hope, C.?\., and C.L. Abercrornbie. Hunters, Ilides, Dollars and Dependency: EcoDomics of Wildlife Exploitatlon in 132 143 Nest Floodlng Jacobsen, T., and J.A. KushLaD. Alliqator a Methodology for in the Southern Everglades: Management..... and PopulaJoanen, T., and L. McNease. Classification '... tion status of the American Alligator... Joanen, T., L. McNease, G. Perry, anil D. Richaral. -.... M a n a g e m e n tP r o g r a r - . . . . . . . Louisiana's Alligator Population Btology and Kushlan, J.A., and F.J. Mazzotti. Status of the Amelican Crocoalile in South Florida.... of J. The Present Status antl Distribution Thorbjarnarson, of tlispaniola Island caribbean on the acutus cr;codvlus -soci;fBehavior of the Anerican Affigator... vliet;K:4. 153 16l 115 188 195 203 AFRICAN AND AUSTRALASIAN REPORTS of the and Utilization conservation Blake, D.K., Status, Nile crocodile in zinbabwe..... Examination of Crocodile !,1,. A Prelimlnary Hollantls, 1981-1984" fron New Guinea Trends in PaPua Population w.J. Green, and r.c. onley' Messel, H., G.c. vorticek, polosus - A Ten Year Overview: the Populaion Crocodvlus lloef-i;a-rfiFo;Eice of "D!y wet" season anal status, Management and Recovery. . . . A.G. we11, w.J. Green, and T'c' Messel, H.' G.c. Votlicek, crocodylus porosus, July 1984-, in the Status of onley. Fegion and rn the Tidal waterways of the Alligator Becovery Australia of Northe.n Adelaide River System Under WaY. . . Crocoalile Distributions Ross, C.A. Comrnents on Tndopacific Singh, L,A.I(., S. Kar, and B.C. Choudhury. India: Status of wild crocodiles. Stngh, L.A.K., S. Kar, anC B.c. ChouChuiy. Indian a 1o-Year Review of l'tanagement. . . ' ' ' ' ' ' ' arocodilians: Crocodylus niloticus K. Status of l-flican Van Jaarsvelait, (Botswana, Mafawi and Mozanbique) Populations an Update.. '.. Whitaker. R. Status of Asian Crocodiliatls: TRADE, CCNSERVATIONAND }'4ANAGEMENT llide P. An Assessnrent cf the Current Croco'lilian Brazaitis, and Product Market in the united states..' Techniques: New Too]s for the P. Biochenical Brazaitis, Eides and -of Crocodilian Forensic lndentification Products........ and Growth of P. Management, Reproduction Bra?aitis, Ycrk Zooloojcal Parl N e w Caiman crocodilus vacare at the c r o c o c lle skjn Trade since T l ' e . J . c a T d \ , , , e l 1 Hen]ey, c., and 1979............. Lut(moore, R.A.. J.G. BarzCo, S.R. Broad, and D'l!' Jones l' Farming . . . . . . . . . . ' ' ' ' ' : ' ' : World Survey of Crocodilian Population of Crocodilian Peculiarities The Maonusson, -Dynamics W.E: fol Managenent InPortance Possible and their Strategies. CrocoCile Bank'''''''''''' Whitaker, R. The International and commercisl conservation clutching: R. Multiple wfrii":..t, Implications VI 242 239 307 349 355 372 376 379 384 389 398 434 443 445 FOREWORD A-s,a private olganization. member of IUCN and affiliate FUDENAwas honoured to host the 7th ,rorking session of SSC-crocodi,le s-pECIAL-ISTgroup in Venezuefi in October cnarreo by Dr. wayne xinq. of t{Wp tt" fUCf,fT lgg4t _' As. FUDENA's major objetives are conservation of species and _ habitats and environmental education and venezueli bavinq five and possibly six species of crocodilians, it seeneC o=p"6i.tty appropriate that nre host the group's first meetinq in Latin A;6 On behalf of all the countties represen tative s , FUDENAwoutat _ llke to tbank the participants foi their coopetation anc vatuable exchange of ideas and hope that tre can all continue _ to work towards the comrnon goal. We niould also like to acknowledqe the tr'enezuelan AuCultron S^.iAlv for their assistance and the enthuslastic parttcipati"" of the I':ational Crocodile Specialist group_ coordi;ateC by"";-;;i; FUDEUA, vr. Ivan Darlo Maldonado, Dr. Jos6 Ayarzaguena, Tcm6s Blohm, and Dr. Pedro Urriola, Dr. ledro ,r6uregui, and Cristina Ramo frcm the Western Ll-anos University {UNEI_LEZj generously hosteC the field trips to llato Ef Frfo, Hato lUasaguaral and N6du1o Expertmental _ UIiELLEZ wl.r:chaCded greatty tc the enjo)rment and experience ot the par!lc,LpanLs. _ _The supncrt of foreign and ]ocat organizetions -Lrke the Florida State Museun, New york Zooloqical SccictV, UNELLEZ and the directions of fnformation and pesearch (DGIII-). Adninlstra_ (DGAA), lntexnationaf tion (ODEPRI), and the National _ Affairs Wildlife Service fron the Venezuelan, It,inisterio det Ambiente y de los Recursos Naturales (MARNR) ccrt i}'ltEd Renovabfes to make lne meeting a success. OD behalf of a1l the participants a major vote of gratituCe nust be extended to Cecifia Blohm, assisteC by r,upe Chdiez for tnerr year_of hard working efforts to organize and cooralinate this ,neetinq, finafly special thanks are ctue to ihe !"inistry of the Fnvironnent and Natural Resoulces for opening the nreeting by the Director ceneral Dr:. ArnalCo }lorales ,fattal. and the closinq Cere.orrv by- Inq, Fafael_ Vjloria Dlaz, Director of AdninistrFtion ot U,rpl\.tn-_ This report on the !,rork of the IUCN/SSC CrocoCife Speciafist is deCicateC to FeCerico Iedetn lrho died on the 1st MFy 1994. croup Dr. lieden was born in Latvia to Baltic,/cerman parents. Ee obtaineal his doctorate fron the Humboldt University of Berlin. In 1950 be travelled to Colonrbia at the invitation oi or. llario Laserna of the Universidad de los Andes in Bogot6. He adopted Col.onbian citizenship in 1985, Dr. lieCen L'as the author of more than 90 - VII publications, but he is best knov,tn to the IUCN/SSC Crocodlle crocodilians. croup for his work with South lmerican specialist in South of crocodilians decfin€ Iiis concern for the overall rucN,/ssc and the lvith the deep involvement 1ed to his Amerlca vice_President. Fund, of ithich he became a legional world l,fitdlife biologists by his robust and couotless Dr. Itleden stimulated deneanor, his useful counsef anC his constant alesile to affable learn nore about the world which surleoundetl hin. In the nords of for Copeia: "Is was a Lamar, who wrote his obituary Willian me that one can age ani who showed to have known Fred, Privilege anC that one can be youthful wonderi sense cf a r;tain still erninently aware of the l'astness cf that which Iearned anC ren;in one ioes not know". FUDENAhopes this \^tork contributes we have afI undertiiken to the conservaticn Rafael Tueela R. PresiCent FUDElil. VIII efforts SUMI{APJ OF THI] I.,IEETING The 7th Vrorking yeeting of the Crocod.ite Specialist croup (CSc) ltas convened ftori 21 to 28 October 1984 in Venezuela, unde! the sponsorship of tbe Fundaci6n para la Defensa de 1a Naturaleza (FUDENA), anal in collaboration vTith the Sociedad Conservasionis ta Audlubon de venezuela (SCAV), the t'ntversidad NacionaL Experf mental de l,os l,lanos Occidentales Zanora,, (L'NELIEZ) ,"Ezequiel and the Ministerio de1 Atnhiente y de fos Recursos Natulafes Renovables (llARNR). The first four days of the $orking l.leeting were filled with the presentation anil discussion of formal papers -- the first day's presentations focused entirely on the situation in Venezuela, anil the remaininq sessions covered -- anal with the crocodilians and progra.rns in other regio;s business meeting. A fieldtrip occupied the last three days. fhe tneetings vrere open to anyone actively involved in crocoalilian conselvation, as reflected in the pa).tictpation in the meetings of nore than 60 research biologists, wildlife lranagers. crocodilian farrnets. goverDnent officials, and hide inCustry experts floln 16 nations. As at previous neetings. the agenda of the neetinq sras olganized arountl four topics: 1) teports on the conservation status of the species and populations of crocodifes in various parts of the vrorldi 2) reviews of nanagenent practices and oplions r l) devefopments in reseatcht and 4) deci6ions and priorl.ties arising out of the business neetlng. A total of 48 papers irere presentealr those that were subnitted for pubtication appear below. At the business neeting, the Crocodite Specialist croup revielred a nurnber of conservation issues, inclualing the crocodilian program of the Venezuelan nanagenent government, and proposafs fron several nations to change the listing of their crocodlle on the Appenalices of the Convention on International Populations Txaale in Endangereal Species of l/tild Fauna and Etora (CITES). The decisions arising from the review, and the priorities set for conservation action and for research are surrr!'arized here. This voluFe rras edited by Stefan corzula Berlaty aDa Cladys Toc.h€nund€r *e .rrrdinntjcn and typed by Armanda cf .-4-cjlja da Bfoh'". DECISIONS RECOUTEIIDATIONSTO T:IE VENEZUET,ANGOVERNME\IT The CSG comrenaled the yinisterio de1 Anbiente y Ce los Recursos Naturales Penovables (MAFNR) for the tine and effort they have put into developing the progtam for conservation managemant of particularly Venezuela's crocodifians. noteworthy is the initation of a large and varied research program that proviales Without is based' the data cn which the nanagenent s:rategy the finest intc plogram is develoPing questior the uAINR -program in Latin Lmerica and coulc conservition lrocodilian serve as a nodel for other nations in the henisphere' questionea the MARIiRestimate of 3'000'000 Severaf participants ba inan crocodj.lus , present in the -Venezuelan 1la!""*"" of "!i"u", counted a !ota1 lt-pntqR staff eiFIETned-TIa€ corzula nos. hectaes of 234'000 survey in a cainans subadult and 42.715 adult for factor-of-1'29 Using a correction of habitat in the lianos. of 55'000 ploCuce a totaf the caimans not seen in the survey caimans cr between 18 anci 24 cainans per square kifcneter'. of 2O calnans/Km2' Other inaepenaent studies yiefded estimate; covels habitat suitable naps indicate and topographic vegetation 20 denslty cf so a flanos, in the 1O8.9OO square kiiorneters of 2.179.000 adult and subcainans/(nr2 yielals an estimated total cai[,ans. aduft the hunt explained that IiAB}]R plans to restrict Gorzula further dc not grot't fenales tctal length; 1.8 neters ovei cainan nale to and adult of the 20s caiman that Lalge representec i.tq.itt.l reporteC Dixon anC Staton by UAFNR. sampleal sJacr:lt-population Basec study popr:laticn' 18t of their r.presettt"d ttt.l n a l e s 4 3 4 ' 0 0 0 .". two salrQlas, there should be 390.600 to o n t t 1"ir"'.i... progran The I{ARNP the llanos. fenqth in cvet 1.8 meters totaf of 195'300 to 217'000, of a1lolt nore than 5ot, a naxinum riii '"'r'i1 ?ssure reproduction in " . t This be killeC. to tr,ales tfrese targe year's During tiris is not hindered. the wild populations harvest the quota ni11 be far fewer' experinental was carlos Eivero Blanco exFressed concern that the Iq1'RllPstaff pLior to the 'tiic either the censusin| lopulationsnol iaeq"atefy the if to see checking was not cr aiterward, irunts exp"rin.ntat onry the 1ar.qe na1es, and was not accuratelv killins ;;;; ;;;;;;; Tom6s Plohn exPressec the sale anc export of hices. .""ii"tl"g the sarce worries. the throughout urgeC the governnent to establish Peter Brazaitis al1 in.dl^ich sanctuaries and oi national ; systen r\arks ;;;;at cen be I)rotected eoequaIer:'' oi Venezuela's crocooili"ns the thet iespite Professor l{esse1 and several others indicated in meters l'8 less than caimans on l(ilIing I'I\RNR restrictions vtay The only be killed' will ienales . number of smaller f."itn, present staff have N?'FNR to is are kil1ed r'any holr'/ to ;etermine a;; cainLans are- skinnec. so they can be sexed anc neasuiec' ;;.; the chairnan aiiscussicn, adalitional After for inProvins ii';-;t;;;';-;;;.mnendations progran develoPec bY I"IARIiR: x of the csc sumnarized the alrea{]v exceptional 1) A major effort should be rnaale to census, both before each hunt anal afterwards, alf the areas that are openeal these counts, it will be inpossible to hunting. llithout the effect hunting is having on the wild to aletermine populations to the in time to nake aaljustments Prior next open season. 2) MARNR staff shoulal be present on the ranches vrhen many of the caimans axe skinned 5o they can be neasured, sexed, anal other biological alata gathered. Also on each of the ranches that participates in the hunt, MARNR the lequireal should train one or more persons to collect data when the !,|ARNRstaff cannot be present. fron killing 3) Hunters anil ranches shoulal not profit fength or front caimans smaller than 1.8 meters total exceeding the quota set by MARNR. Undersized antl over the quota hides should be confiscatecl. governlng the hunting of caimans 4) Laws and regulations the nust be rigorously enforced in order to protect critically endangered crocotliles. crocoaylus acutus and crocodylus intermedius. A hunter ma-g6E-not m;ke-erare crocodiles,but Iiving hunting only the increaslngfy the continueil slaughher. of caiman hunting can subsidize the few lemaining clocodiles. If he can sell its hide penalty, without a comrnercial hunter earning aalequate pay by legal-Iy hunting caimans, will kil1 every crocoalile he chances to find, shoulal be n'atle of urannounced inspections 5) Periodic, \^tarehouse to monitor every tannery anil every dealel's hides. In addition. since hides are traale in illeqal by airfreight, I'IARNRshoulal shipped internationally bl11s of monitor exports by checking the cargo records, AlI of the varj.ous airlines. laaling, and air waybtlls packages are weighed prior to loading, so the airfreight average v/eight of a tanned hide or crust can be used to estirnate the number of hides in a shipnent. protected 6) r..tARNR shoulal estabfish sanctuarles for crocoalilians in regions and suitable habitats that parks or equivale$t protectetl presently lack nationaf This syster\ of enclaves v/ould assure that aleas. geographically widespread and genetically diverse populations of crocoalilians r^rouId be protected in venezuela in the event that hunting is not adequately controfled elsewhere. TO THE CITES SECRETARIAT RECOMMENDATIONS The Australian rosus torn Pr al to Transfer fts II. PoDulation of Croc As at the meeting of eCSGinA a two years ago, Goff T,etts led the aliscussion of the Australian submission. His presentation the CSG had nade of the adalressed many of the criticisns governnent earlier submissioD, which the Austialian in Botswana, withdrew at the CITES Conference of the Parties After a thorough tliscussion by the various participants, Professor Messel spoke for the entire audience in government for correcting the conglatulating the Australlan rrajor shortcomings of the prevrous pxoposed managem.ent planI{e then called on the CSG to endorse the preseot proposal. (evin van Jaarsveldt, David Blake. Lala Singh, Gorilon crigg. anal others asked that the CSG seek assurances that the of Australian authorities \^rill not allow the collection parks in order to stock crocodile farmst eggs flom national not a1lon the safe of hides or meat from crocodifes will netst will close the rivers and estuaries dlownetl in fishing of Kakadu National Park to net fishingr and will support by nonltoring of the Australian crococlife populations Goff Letts. t{arry 8ut1er, and independent researchers. present at the meeting other Australj.an representatives they would urge the and indicated accepted the suggestions governnent to give these assurances. They also Austtalian to kill or capture the governnent's intention cfarified around centers of human up to 100 saftvrater crocodiles Approximately to People. habitation where they pose a threat will come fron Daf\^tin Harbor, 80t of these nuisance clocoaliles and 5? fron the rest of the 15t fron the Daly River, that Northern Terrj,tory. Any of these nuisance crocodiles have to be kept alive farrn will are placed in a crocodile on the farm for a minlmun of one vear before thev can be killed. submitted to the rUcN Is nas agreed that draft resolutions General Assenbly by varlous groups opposing or supporting the present Australian submission to crTEs would be endorsingthe resolutio[ withalrawn ln favor of a joint for the assurances inalicated above. subtnission but calling It was furthel agreed that the csc chairman would the endorsment of the proposal, conditionaf collrunicate the assurances sought, to the CITES upon receiving prior secretariat to the CITES Conference of the Parties Gordon Grigg anal Kevin van in Buenos Aires in April 1985. to draft the joint resolution, Jaarsvefdt were enlisted which \^tas carried to the General Assenibly by the chairman to the CITXS Secretariat in an I anal later transmitted ):I I trCONSERVATIONOF THE AUSTFA],IAN POPUT,ATIONOF CROCODY',USPOROSOS" "Aftex carefulfy exarnining the 1984 Australian proposal to CITES to tlansfer popufatlons the Australian of C. porosus to Appenalix II of CITES anal noting that the proposal aadr;EGEd-nunber of criticisms raised in respect to an earlier application, population concerning crocodile protected status, areas, aborlginal consultation, details of ranching anal other aspects of managenent. the IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist croup, meeting in Catacas in October 1984, expresseal its support for the proposal, believing that it will have benefits for the conservation of the species without detrlment to the A.ustralian population: saltwatet crocodile at this conclusion, the Crocodile "In arriving Specialist croup, expressedl concern at the continuing conmerciaf netting for barramunali fish in the estuaxies of Kakadu National Park, to the detriment of C. porosus \^rhich are an important part to the park ecosystem, anal lequests the Australian Managenent Authority, in conjuction with the Northern Telritory Authorities, to cortect this situation as soon as possiblerr. rrThe Crocoalile Speciafist Group, accepted assulances from the government representatives Austraflan that egg harvests wilt be restricteil to flooal-prone sites and harvest of live crocodiles s/ill be carried out strictly in accordance with the proposal and management planrt. Specialist croup also, accepted assurances that "The Crocodife the Northern Territory Conservation Conunission would cooperate person or persons noninated by the Australian with a suitable Management Authority to act as intlependent monitors of field survey operations and data as required',. rrThe Crocodife Specialist croup commends the Aust).a1ian auttDrities for the inpr:oved policies, progranmes and updated information which have enabletl this positive step to be taken, and recognizes the valuable contributions rnade to the programme by the University of Sydney over the past 13 years. and urges the Australian governtnents to encourage indepenalent researctr such as that of the University of Sydney". Progra!fies al from Mala\^ri in Behalf of lus niloticus from Various ixf African States to to Appenalix IT. professor neeting participants. After the dlscussion, Messef proposed that the CSG oppose the weakening of justified protectlon by hard Clata. The CSG concurred anal parties indicated it vrould like to support the African but population cannot for lack of information on trends in the lriId poputations. The CSC chairmai ;as lnstructed to comnunicate the decision of the Group to the CI|FS Secretarlat, which was alone in an I january 1985 letter: YIIT .The primary justification for the Mala\ti submission on in the nations that participated behal-f of the African in A STATEMENT setninar seens to be set forth Brussels PR.ESENTEDBY MALAWI ON BEHA],F OF THE AI'RICAN GROUPON and presented at THE NrLE cROCoDllE that was drafteil the false Plernise rt sets forth the Brussels seminar. nere not proalucing nations of Africa that crocodile placed on w a s n i l o t i c u s present or consulted when C. the species on pIa;;ne;E-6F that T of CITES, ippe"aix T was alone on the basis of "armchail conservation eiiendix antl not by peoPle cognizant of on_the- ground siiategies", This same false prenise ls repeated almost situations. verbatlm in section 7.3 of the Malalri submission tocrTEs' The use of catch-Phtases such as "adaPtive wildlife Positrve leeoManagementthat rely (sic) on a sensitive, between the humans and the back loop of the inleractions and does nothingr submission to the no alata adals animals"_ Ahe nations' African in specific the situation to clarify premise siilply is wrong. nations partici'pated crocodile-producing "The African on CITES ApPendix I at the fullv in placinq C. niloticus that wrote lhe cTTES'The l9?3 Pl enipoteni i a ry--onTEi6frce participated in that conference: detegates lfrican following - H'E' Alqeria : S.A. Hadi-Mokhatar, A' !4ekidechet Botswana M a g enge' F 6 l j x An6s M. Dan-be,Samuel A.Mpuchanet Burundi FrancoisH.E' Nkuo, Thaaldeus Cameroon Michel Kos Epanque, - H'F' vjchef iirrier rcrto'.tngu; Cential Afrjcan Republic Candide Ahouansou' Saturnrn soglo: Adana-Tanboux; Dahoney Mohaned Salamt Ghana - pnthony Ahned T. Khalil, EqvDt A.O. Adede, A.li. Changawa, D'Gichero, Kenya K;;;ah-Dickr P . Olindot Madagascar _ II'E' Henrr H.E.L.O. Kibinge, M' Bernardin Rajonhanes; Malawi - calfisto Raharijaona, Niger Lahlou, Abdelhaq omar Belkora, Khona; Iaorocco Y o u s o u f o u t. G ' o u n a r o u 1 4 ' H a d i z a , H.E. ibdoulaye DialIo, - Jean-Marje P w a n d a o s e n i ; l . M . O n u e k w u s i , G , N Niqerja Gafabazi; Senegal - H.F:. Andre Cou1bary, Birma FaIl' Momar J-'J. PaLmer, claudius l,aone - H.E. Philip Fal1; sierra Hey' Douglas Botha, S.R. Hohan H.EThohas r South Africa _ Gadir AbdelMamoun Dawooal, Ahmed Sudan Pfessist S.S. alu Mohamed osman Abu EI Payah oner, Ilassalrafia, Yousif, Absalom v' Mamba, B. l,ukhele, Seneinai Svtaz-i],and Malachia - Martin A' Kivumblt T a n z a n i a S u k a t i t M s i n d a z w e H.E.S.T. Dagba, H'E' Epiphaoe Ayi Parfait Togo - William Adjoyi, I uppex Ghodbane, Moncef Riahii hbdelaziz Tunisia Ma;ussii zambia Yaguibout Teleshpore H.E. Dorninque B. Sisso, volta Eeralanand E. Mwanza". chad observers participated: "In aatalition, ttle folfowing _ H.E. Timothee NiGuetta H.F. Lazare Massibei lvory Coast Nouama". Emmanuel Batigne, Jean Ahoua, he "At that meeting, Botswana proposed that c' nilgticul P o o l e Y's a n d o f C o t t b a s i s t h e O n I T . Iisted on append.ix IUCN Pub]' New Series' survey (Crocodiles, 1971 African Suppl. PaPer I! 33), the u.S.A. recollllnended Placehent on IIV Appenallx- I. That placenent was suppoited by (enya and neaily every other Aftlcan nation that spoke on the issire. Mohaneal Osman of Sudan eloquentfy pointed out that r,rhlle the llile crocoalile had been decimated in surrouding nations, the spectes renained abunalant in the Sud; nevertheless in a gesture o-f cooperation with its neighboring states the Sudan supported an Appendix I.-listing. The delegates voted to place-lhe spectes on Appendix Iri. rrThe first meetlng of the conference of the parties in Berne, Sq'itze!}antl, in 1976, $/as attended by alelegates from: chana, 2 alelegates; yadagascar, 2r Morocco, 1; Nigeria, 1, South Aflrca, !, Zaite, 2". "Observers 1". were ptesent irorn: Cameroon, 1t l,ibya, 2, anal Sudan, 'rAt this neeting the U.K. delegation proposed anendnents krhich would have put all crocodilians on Appendix I. Jt wa6 defeateal,'. proposed sevetaf "The Swiss delegation anendments \^rhich removed subspecies fron the Appendices. This ri/as approved as \ras the replacernent of all crocodilians individuallt Iisted on Appenalix II $/ith the inclusive taxa, Crocoalylidae and All iqatoridaa,' . "Madagascar proposed a number of animals aDd plants for and deltsting, but made no mention of any crocoalifian',. "Morocco proposetl S":-*+:+:I9, transferring all three African listing crocoaliles. q.- 9e!3!!I9- ctus,. and ostg-olaenustetrasqis,-to a.e, FPPenor). rr but offered no s'-pportlnq data. l4f,rocco is not natidr that produces or trades in croc.odiles for tire international r.epLile teather trade, t rt lt does ha\,'es ties with lyance, one of the laioest ixForters of docodile hiCes. The lYbroccn Drcposal \'as not approved by tlle pal.Li;s',. "Houever, the Partles did recognize that sotne species needed to be transferred fron one appenatix to another, or to be delisted altogether. They afso recognized that additions, deletions,anal transfers without supporting data would lead rapidly to political decisons overriding the purpose and provisions of the Conventaon. I"or this reason, the Parties drafted and approveal the Berne cfiteria for addition and deletion of taxa; criteria based on best available data. The parties also were particularly sensitive to criticism that woutd resutt if species wer.e listed without consulting with the states in irhich they occurreal. It \^7as decided that all future ploposats for fisting and alelisting would be circulated to rande states for thei; comments prior to consideration by the parties t'. "To address the problen of revlewing the appropri.ateness of fisting on the Appendices, the parities schedufea a speciat session of CITES to be convened one year later to review the species Irstangs. During the year, all the parties were expected to gather data on listed taxa that occurred withj.n their national borders or under their jurisdictioo',. in Geneva 'Ire$t Parties "The 19?? SPeciaI Wo.king Session of theyailagascal, 1t 2; Nigella 1 delegatet Ghana, participant; from: 3 " . A f r i c a , south "No proposal on crocodilians wele offereal or considere'lrr' realized of the Geneva meeting, the Parties "At the conclusion so theY that not alf the listing Problems haal been alealt with, fol consi'Ieration species gather on the alata agreeil to continue to at the next Conference". in Costa Pica ha'I "The 1979 CITES Conference of the Parties 1; Garbia J'i Ghana 1 F4y3i, 2 alelee'at€st Botswana' participants fron: 1:Senegal, 1t Nigeria Niger, li 1t l,orocco, ienya 4_; vadagascat. 4 " . Z a i r e , 5 i T o g o 1 i A f r . i c a , 1t South "Observers attenaletl fion: Liberia, 2i lar.zaiiat2i zambia, 1". fron APpendix I C. niloticus "Bots\^rana proposetl tlansferrlng though it was note'I no h'rd Eata, to Appendil r-r, but offered irecent of over 100 total produced a counteil counts seiial that clf r n Iight a l o n e . . . . u R i v e r t h e o k a t a n g o o n breeiling females (conducted in the okavango delta coren Biomberg's fielalstudies of the and Pooley's docunentation as part of an FAO project) did Parties the in Botswana, ;xploitation of crocodile hisiory ' the transfer" not apptove 'The U. s. A. proposed transf erring nissi-ssiPpiens-is Al ligator poputatron ol t h e U . s . T T ' a n d from Appendix I to Pppendix Both I. to APpendix II ApPendix from acutus Crocodiius Both were aPprowed documanted with data. o-posals 'ra;lerf Ly the ea::ties". q. porosus from Appendix rr transferring "lnalia also pxoPosed tttat proPosal also_waF acconpanied by infornation to Appendix i. Rased on range states. status in indiviatual on tiE species' g. from all to transfer agreeal the Parties those dala, 99I99!g populations were Guinea Papua New that the I. except Appendix left on Appendix II". recognizeal that the task of revie\^ting the "Again the Parties had not been completed, of Appendices listings apiropriateness be nade to antt alain they requested that a special effort job at the next conference". conplete the "The 1981 CITES Conference of from: Bots\tana, 2 delegations 1r Kenya, 2i lliger, n.pr]ili", 3r Tanzania, 1t Togo. Af;ica, ,,Obsetvers attended frcn: Uganila, 1t zinbabvie, 3r'. India,drew in Delhl, the Parties African Centlal delegates, senegal, 1t south 1i Nigeriia,2i zanbia,1"' 1, Tunisia, 1t Zai're,3, A-Lgeria,3r xl'T sonaIia,2; sudan, It "PaDamA and the U.S.A. proposed transferring afl the rsnaining populations of C. acutus fron Appendix tI to A_ppendix I (remember the U.S.A. populations rnete transferred in Costa Rica). Again data were suppfied on status in individual range states. The Parties approveal the transfer. In adalition, Zimbabwe naale the Parties ah'are of its intention to request a transfer of its populatlon of C. niloticus fron Appendix I to Appendix rI at the next meetinq of the Parties',. noteal that the next CITES Confer.ence would be the "The Parties lo-year anniversary of the Convention and $rould be an appropriate occasion upon lrhich, once and for a-LI, to clean up the Appendices listings. (continental) It was agreed that regional meetlngs would be helal to pool data anal develop positions on species listed from those regioDs. The Europe, North Anerica, Asia, anal Australia/Oceania neetings were held early enough to rePort the results to the Parties. The Latin America neeting \^tas helal after urging by the CITES Secretariat. The African meeting was convened in Nairobi after United Nations funding was found to reiniburse the travel costs of delegates". nThe 1983 CITES Conference of the Parties in Botsrlrana delegations from: Botswana, 29 delegatest Caneroon, lt Gambia, 2i Xenyi, 2; Liberia, 1r Madagascar, 1r Malawi, 2t lfozamt'ique, 1r Rsranda, 1; Senegal, 1r South Africa, 3i Sudan, 2i aogot It Zanbia, 1t zinbabwe,3". "Observers were present fron: Congo. 2tr. "Madagascar, Mozambique, Togo, Zambia, and Z inbablre all submitted ploposals for the transfel populations of their of C. niloticus from Appendix I to Appendix II. Only the Zimbab\^reproposal was accompained by hard data and a complete description of its program for the species. conservation The proposal \das overthelmingly approved by the Parties. The Madagascar , Mozanbique , and Zarriia proposals were not approveal, and Togo withdrew its proposal " . "Unfortunately, it was in Botswana that some of the African Parties first volced the opinion that nany of the .Pfrican species had been pfaced on the CITES App€ndices by northern nations and not by African nations. The criticism from resulted, in palt, the unhappiness over the Nife cr.ocodile proposals that were turned down by the Parties, but more directly from heatetl alebate surrounding the proposed transfer of the leoparal from Appendix I without hard data. The clains were Fatle largely by delegates who were unfamiliar i^'ith lhe history of participatlon by the various African nations recordedin the minutes of past CITES neetings. They also ignoreal the past actions of the Parties to protect the interests of the ranqe states and to encourage development of data on the appropriateness of the species listings", producing nations "By any measure, the crocodile paxticipate q. lilqticus in putting on Appendix I of CITES, anal X\III in the decade that has passeal since that time they have had to generate data on the status of their ample opportunity populations". is it has aspeci: of the whole incident "The nost unfortunate data on the status produced a lot of rhetoric anal vely lil:tle effort would Even mininal of the species under question. have produced adequate data in the 1o-years since CITES was to gather data on the status of vrritten. It is not difficult lrhich is the in river, Iake, and estuary habitat, clocodiles It is harder to in nost of Africa. habitat of C. niloticus but successful in marsh habitat, census croc6dilEl6Fii:ttions prograrmes in Australia, Papua New Guinea, U.S.A., and venezuela show it can be done even there". "Despite the 19?7 Special Working Sesslon that exanineal the for Appenalices, despite the continued urging of the Parties native individual range states to review the status of listed species for the Costa Fica and Delhi meetings, despite the 1O-year reviews that Precedeal eifort involveal in the regional fron z iriibabwe, dial apart involved, Bots\^rara, the Parties seminar, Malawi the Blussels Iollotiing to gather data. Iittle to on the status of c. niloticus a questionaire dial circulate to cITES. EppaiEntTf-6nlv nations that are Party the African in tirne for Malawi 10 nations had respondeal to the questionaire answers for Appendix 1I of the submission to to compile their CITES". The P its osal from Tndonesia to Transfer us porosus fror. Appendix T to Appen 66onea-an suEnl=sfat ias so incoiplete latsions of x II. that discussion Nevertheless, the chairman reviewed the nras difficult, t h e s t a t u s of C. porosus in that i n f o r m a t i o n o n Iatest trade -in_Tiaes originatino nation, including international there. The Group could not support the proposal and the chairman to so infolm the cITES Secretariat, instructeal done in an 8 January 1985 letter: was which ve!:y littfe "The six page Indonesian submission contains p o r o s u s L h aE nation. i n t l ' e s t a t u s o I C . inFormation on y t h e Fost general , B i o l o g i c a l D a L a c o n t ; i ; ; . i l c . 2 section the It does not utilize anil incompfete data. sketchy, recent studies, e.9., R.Taruningkeng data from relatively dan Kenungkinan Pengembangan 1975. Studi Eabitat et.a1. sungai lalan dan Pale:nbang eopulasi Buaya di Daerah Aliran Dept. Pertaman, Dir. Jen. Kehutanan, or Sumatera Selatan. observers. from reliable even recent anecdotal obsetvations of to the "wide distribution h addition, the reference Population is in c.2.3. the country" crocoaliles throughout C. porosus does have a v'ide geograPhic nisleadinq. tlistribution in ;naonesta, having once occur.red virtually l{owever, Fost populations the archipelago. throughout in the Onty the populations were deciinat.ed before 1970. parts of Irian Jaya remain relatively less accessible abundant". >'VI I I "Sections C.3, Economic \ra1ue, C.4. Ptoduction tctivity. and C.5 Traale Data are misleading. It is wrond to suggest that i11egaf marketing of crocodife hides jn Irian Jaya is a resuft of traditional hunting of the yany of the peoples of -trjan Jaya have Iocal people. traditionally hunteal crocodiles for subsistence, but the hide buyers operating in Irian Jaya for the most part are relatively recent transnigrants fron other parts of Indonesia. Even before the crocodile was protected in 1980, many of the buyers operated crude ranches where snalI wild-cauoht crocodiles were reared to cotunercial size before slauqhter. Refetence ltas nade to these operations in the Joh; Lever/FAO crocod.ile sorvey of Irian .Taya citeal in the Tndonesian subnission. Prior to 19?0. at least three similar tanches were (personal observation, operated in Sararinda. Kalimantan W. King). One even operated in Jakarta, Java {personal observation, W. King) . Most of these ranches went out of operation when the r,rild populations of crocodiles could no longer support an uncontrolled harvest ofadult hides and lIve juveniles to stock the tanches. The ,Ihe Jakarta ranch Sarnarinda ranches had closed by 7972. htas stil1 operating at a low level in 1976. Onfy the ranches in lrian Jaya anal few in -<umatra continued to operate into the 1980s. Some of these lanches are now registering with the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation {PHPA)". "Section C.6. Protection Status is par:ticul arly mi sleading , It states that C.porosus "l-as leen _orotected (under Decree of the l,linister of Agriculture N'176/Kpts/un/1Al1980) " in 1980. SeCtion ?. Additional Renarks suggests that enforcement of the protected status began in 1980 and has continued to the present tine. Unfortunately, no information is given on what protection lras calleal fol in the 1980 decree; it could do anything frorn prohibiting protection tlunting and providing total for wild crocodifes to simply requiring dealers to register as farners. Regardless of what was specified, protection exists mostly on paper. nnforcer,ent has consisted largefy of registering crocodile farrns. protection Very litt1e has treen afforded the inild populations. The hide buyers and farmers operate with little on site regulation and have better conttol over the exploitation of crocodiles than does the governmentIt is lnteresting to note that Section C.6.3 nentions ,'local stricter regulations on poachino", wh-ich inplies that qovernr0ent restrictions central on poaching are not strong or are not enforced". "The lndonesian prcposal also lacks aletailed infornation on protection of C. porosus and its hal-itaL throughout the range of the species in Indonesia. Section C-6.3. refers lI t: !'ostly ln Irian to habitat areas lhat are to be reselves. ,laya antl sumatla, but makes no mention of Kalj,mantan, sulawesi, Java, or any of the other islands lying between Java and Irian Jaya or bet$reen Irian Jaya and Sulawesi. and Unless C. p9I9E!: is protecLed jn geographically parks and leselves, ecologically widely dispelsed national it vrill be inpossjble to conserve the genetic diversity that the species of the species, and it seens unfikely will be maintained throughout its range at a level that ecosysteris as allows it to perfofln its role in natural called fo i n C T T E SA r t i c l e ITT 2 (a)". 'rThe Indonesian submission contains no detailed iDformatiox on governfient research on crocodiles ainred at establishing the status of the wifd populations thr:oughout the country. These data ale needed in order to develop and implement any nanagerent schetne for sustained util,ization of the crocodile resource. The subnission also lacks detaifed for the information on any existing managernent prograrF€ crocodiles, apart fron the Irian Jaya and Sumatra crocodiLe farms. to "the Sect.ion C.4. contains a passing reference for stocking capture of young crocoaliles of a defined size' Neither in any the farms, but that size is not stated. hov/ information were established, on ho\r these size linits they !.rill contribute to the managenent of the crocodile resourcer or ho!r' they are enforceal". no data are provided on hov/ the governlnent "Similarly, 1eqal hides produced on farms and intends to alistinguish hides from poached crocodifes. Other ranches from illegral the thiteal crocodile producing nations, e.g-, Australia, in great states of America, and zinbablie, have described detail their requirenenLs for tagging legal hides with non-reusable tags, and their systen of validatlng llcenses and export permits with security seafs that cannot be rnodifieal or forged". "In the absence of these nany data on the status of the wilal populations, to proviale a factual basis for on fieldstudies m a n a g e m e n to f t h e r e s o u r c e , o n c o n t r o l o r h u n t i n g , o n regulating of young crocoaliles to stock the collection farms, on licensing of hunters and farners, on narkinq of within national hides. on exports pernrits, on protection parks and protected implenentation areas, and on effective and enforcement of the nanagernent progranule, the Indonesian Scientific Authority cannot satisfy its obligations under CITES llticfe TTI 2 (a) with C- porosus on appendix I, and COUID NOT S.ATIST'YITS OBLIGATiONS UNDERArtiCIE IV 2 (A) :h^ 1 if L'aro +rrncf6rra^ the absence of these data, the Parties to CITES will not be able to nake an infortneal decision on the Indonesian proposal to transfer its populaLion of C. porosus from Appendix I to Appendix II. Without these data, the Indonesian submission does not satisfy the Berne criteria, neither does it fifl the requirerents of Con. 3.12". XX Inalonesian "Although it was not part of the original subnission to CITES, the Director ceneral of Fotest Protection and Nature Conservation has authored a DaDer entitled, INDONESIA'S APPEAL: PPOBLEMAND STATUS dF TURTLES AND CROCODTT,ES, which was distributecl to delegates to the 16th Generaf Assernbly of IUCN in Madrtal in Novembre 1984 ---see attached copy. This paper, Iike the oliginal submission, contains little hard data on (or sea turtles). the status of crocoaliles On the other hand it does elucialate a bit nore of the crocodile ranchino/farning scheme, i.e., "Panchers are required to release at least ten percent of the reared products (sic) into the wild habitat (and) are tequired to ... develop ... full crocodile breeding farrs". Unfortunatefy, the paper gives no inalication that any effort is belngr nade to enforce any protecting laws or tegulations. Instead, it gives the distinct impression that the total (and sea turtle) cxocodile coDsetvation effort in Indonesia consists of proviallng a legal neans whereby hides tnay be exported, in the hopes that the hunters anal dealers \^rill be persuadeal to support conservationt'. "The available data (Groombridge, 1982. IUCN AmphibiaReptilia Red Data Book, vof. 3, cfand, Slritzerland. + 426 p.t King, Campbelf, t4essel, and Whitaker. xliii 1979. Revier,/ of the status of the estuatine or saltlrater yimeo report, 33 p.; R. crocodife, Crocodyfus porosus. Ta r un'in q ke nE-;Ei-EI-r ! z el---Et ua i Fabi tai dan Kenunskinan Pengenibangan Populasi Buaya di Daerah Aliran Sungat Lalan alan Palenbang Sumatera Selatan. Dept. pertarnan,Dil. Jen. Kehutanan) suggest the follor,ring status for g,porosus populations in Indonesia: Surnatra-Although stilI found in rnost large rivers, crocodifes are rare everywhere. Even in establisheal park, parks, e.9., national cunung l-euset Nationat their survival ls not gualanteed. yay be present Siberut - Depleted and rare. in northnrest portion of islanal. Java - No confirmed siqhtings years, except in Ujong (ulon west Java. anylrhete in the palk in National in resetve last 5 extreme Kalirnantan - Depleted everl,whele i some populations endangereal ot extinct. Crocodile ranches operating at Samarinda on the Mahakam river ceased operations before L972 because of scatcity of young crocoaliles. Lesser Sunda islands - Rare anal depleted. Sulawesi - Pale or endangered. A few snall populations survive in estuaries peninsula. on the northern xxr present ob Bulut ltaluku - Depfeteil in Aru; still from lrlahai on the north coast of CeraFt reported !a!e efsewhete. Timor - status unknov/n. depleted where heavify Jaya - l,ocally lrian even in the Cunung l-orentz Peserve. exploited, can The populations \didesPread. otherwise stilt is takenr'. action easiLy recover lf conservation to the crocoalile data available "The prel-iminary t h e q. porosus populations t h a t G r o u p s u g g e s t s Specialisl harvest ii rrian Jaya misht be able to sust;in--;EEilated data cone from the brief even nor^/. These prelininary Jaya cited in the rndonesian John Lever/FAo survey of lrian field proposal and from anecdotal observations of reliable rt should be noteal working Jaya. biologists in rrian that a second, more detaileal survey is Pxesently further, on the information underway which shoufd provide better This status of the Irian Jaya crocodile populations. of an annual census second surv€y coufd serve as the start prograrrme that monitors the status of the resource and The CSG provides the database for a management scheme. should be Jaya populations the Irian aloes not believe such a census proqranune is established; exploited until \^'ithout data on is not possible sustained utilization and on population on mortality, numbers r on natality, requirements". ecological of c. Jaya Populations "ft coulal be argueal that the Irian porosus should be transferred fron Appendix T to Appendix and the i T-;? CITFS to altow for ranching to occur there, of the species should remain other Indonesian poPulation to protect be inpossibfe Fowever, it r'ill on Appendix I. government does not: if the central these other popufations provide adequate protection through development of a proglanrlte that takes into account comprenhensive conservation EtE;eeds of Ule r€sio'na-L crocodi le pogulal-ions and tlEn enforc€s-it' Poached hides sirply Wlthout such a ptcgianre ard witttout enforcerEnt, t-be guise that tlrev a-re legal hides frqn lrjan Java" G o,"tf."t h "ia.r "lii p r e s e n t t h e tlre, Indonesia lacks a comprehensive "At programme for the conservation of Crocodylus porosus, and on crocodile regulations it fails to enforce the existlng and hide sales and exPorts. hunting, ranching/farming, popul.ations are rare, The majority of Inalonesian crocodile Eor these many reasons, the enalangered, or depleted. specialist Group cannot support the Indonesian Crocotlile pxoposal to transfer of Crocodylus porosus its populations from Appendix I to Appendix II". X}iII PARTICIP.}NTS IN THE 7TI{ WOFKING }TIEETING OF TI]E CPOCODIIE SPECI.}-T,IST GPOUP Abercomhie, Clarence I-.,4005 Fforida. 32601 - USA. S. l4ain Street, cainesvilte, Asanza, Eduardo, Aveniala 12 de Octubre, Universidad Cat6li ca, Departanento d.e Biologla. Apartaalo 2184, euito l Ecuador. Ashley, Don. p.o. usa. Box 13679, Tattahassee, Florida, Ayarzaguena, Jos€, Fundaci6n de Ciencias Apari.aalo 1930, Caracas - Venezuela. Nat\rrales Bfake, D.K, Box 127, St. Africa 3936. St. I-ucia Estuaty, Blohn, Tom6s, Fundo Pecuario cas 1010-I - Venezuela. Boede, Elnesto O., cias, lraracay, Masaguatal, 32317 l,a Salle, Iucia Apartado South 69, Cara- Zool6gico Las Delicias, Aveniala Las DeliEstado Aragua - Venezuela. Boede, Nancy SSnchez de, Universialad Central de Venezuela,Fa cultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Quinta Avenida San ila: cinto, Edificio Apanate, Apto. 8-F, yaracay, 9staalo Aragua - venezuela. Boher Benettl, Salvaalor, Instituto versidad Central de Venezuela, de Zoologla Tropical, Caracas - Venezuela- Uni Brazaitis, Peter, 1 0 46 0 u s A . New York Zoological Brisbin, I. Lehr, Fiver Ecolooy 233 Thir:d Ave- Aiken, ?.O. Drawe F.savannah - CSA. I,ab., Aiken, South Carolina Park. Bronx, New York. Busto Farrenechea, Renjamln, Universidad Nacional Experiraental de Los ]-lanos Occialentales "Ezequiel Zar^orai'. Ia Co Lonia, cuanare, Estado portuquesa - venezuela. Butler, l^Iil1iam Henry, 6001. cPo Box C1580 Perth ltest, Australia ca1der6n, claude, nrnpresa Tenera Surarielicana, C.A. Vla T6cata, Kn. 2, Estado Miranala - Venezuela. paracotos, Castro, tlernan, Vla TScata, paracotos, Empresas Tenera Suramericana, C.A. Km. 2, Rstado l,liranda - Venezuela. Choudhury, B.C. Crocodile Pesearch Centre, Road, Pyderabad 500254 - Tndja. ZZIII Lake Dale R. Naqar: D'Anatria, Bianca, cf,t3 Eo6loqos consultores, 1080-A. Venezuela. David, Dennis, USA. 4005, S. Main St., DIaz Matalobos, Marta cio Oasis, P.g.-3, C.A. Apartado 80531, GainesvilIe, de Los ?,nqeles, San Bernardino. Caracas Florlda,32601 Avenida Soublette, EdifiCaracas - Venezuefa. Dorta c., Enrlque. Residencias Fund. Maracay TI, tado 02, Maracay, Estaalo Aragua - venezuefa. Edi. - 57,Apar ligueroa, del Ambiente y de los ReDouglas - DG]IA, Ministerio cursos Naturales Renovables, Edificio Camejo, Esquina Ce Camejo, Caracas - Venezuela. Godshalk, Robert,P.o. 80477 - USA, Gorzula, Stefan ficaci6n del Box 7'73846, steanboat springs, Coforado CVG, Electri Divisi6n de Cuencas e Hidrologfa, caronl, c.A. Apartado 624I1. car.acas - venezueTa. Goudie, Graham Stewalt, Bus 423510, Mailand Holding PTY ITD,P.O. Box 20r Lae Papua Ner^rGuinea, Grigg, Gordon, cuti6rrez Este, !'orestvifle 8 Cherama Cr, Eljury, sa61, Ouinta Caracas - Venezuefa. NSV], Aust.ralia. Eaydee, calle TRAFI'1c/US 1501, Henley, cinette, D.C. 2009 - USA, Connecticut, Amazonas, Prados del Lve. NI'l,wasbinqton Hernandez s., Gustavo 8., Urb, El Vifledo, Avenida Dr. carlos EstaCo carabobo sanda, Quinta Belinala Nr 101-223, valencia, Venezuefa. Hollands, i4artin, - Box 2141, Boroko NCDr Papua,New Guinea, Zoological Hunt, R. Howard. Atlanta Ga 30315 - UsA. sE, Atlanta, Societyr 800 Cherookee, Ave. colombia, enIskenderian, Nora de, curtiembres Delta, c.A.caile tre 7a. Avenida y La Silsa Nq 14S, Catia, Caracas - Venezuela. Institute of Jacobsen, Terri, Athens, 6A, 30602 - usA- Ecology, University National Robert, WiIliams G., Australian Jenkins, service, P"O. Box 635, Canberra City, wildlife Austlalia, Joanen, Ted. Rt. 1, Box 20-B Grand chenier, of Georgia, Parks & AcT 2601 Louisiana 10643 - USA. Jomaron Darmancier, Bernard J,, Tenerco - 1a, Aveniala Santa EaluLocal 9, Caracas 1071 - venezuela. vigis, }iXIv Kar, Sudhakar, wtldfife Conservation Bacasore Orissa, India. King, I'. Wayne, Florida 3 26 1 1 - u S A . State Division Chandabaci, Museum, cainesvi.fte, Ftorlda Lazcano Barrero, Marco Antonio, ReaI de cuadalipe Crist6bal, Las Casas 281, ChiaTrrs, I'l6xico. Letts, G.A. Conservation Conmisslon (N.T,) Springs N. T. Australia. i,uxnoole, Richard, IUCN, 219c ltuntlngdon llagnusson, Wilfiam Ernest, R. Nelson CP 478,69000 Manaus Al{, Brasif, N! 55, San Cap RD, Alice RD. Canbridge Batista Sales Manolis S. Charlie, Conservation Conrrission N.T., 38495 VTinnellie NT 5789, Australia. U,K. 126, INPA, p,O. Box Marcano Sp6sito, Jos€ Miguel, Conandancia General FAC, Callej6n Machado, E1 Paralso, Direcci6n de Guariderta Ambienta de los Recursos Naturales Renovables, Caracas - Venezuela. Mazzei Mannarino, Leonardo, Universidad Centlal de Venezuela, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Maracay, Estado Aragua Venezuela. Medina, Gonzalo, DGAA, Ministerio de1 Amblente y de los sos Naturales Renovables, Torre Sur, Piso 22, Centro Boltvar, Caracas - Venezuela Iledina, clenda, Messel, H. Prof. l4essel P,I. Miliani Piso FUDEI'IA, Apaltado Mrs,, Kurt, of c/o University R., Adolfo, Calle 2, Apartamento 2, l{o1er, Pauf E., Gainesville, !4u1ler, University Witdlife florida Sidney, of - Venezuela. Sydney, Australia Sydney, Australj.a 3 de Montalban, Resldencias Caracas - Venezuela, Research Laboratory, - LSA. Gugolzstrasse Mufroz Garcta, Isnaef, cio 3, Apartamento 703?6, Caracas 8r CH-8004 Zurich, RecurSimdn 2006. 2006. Aurora, 4005 S. llain St. Suiza. IUTY San relipe, Istado Yaracuy Edifi. 4, San Fefipe, Estado Yaracuy - Venezuela. Ochoa c., Jos€ R, Ministerio del Ambiente y de los Recursos turales Renovables, Servicio Nacional ale I'auna Silvestre Apartado 184, I'4aracay, Estado Aragua - Venezuela Na- P6rez P€tezt I'rancisco, Ilinisterio deI Ambiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables. Servicio Nacional de I'auna Silvestre, Aparitado 184, Maracay, Ilstado Aragua - Venezuela. xxv P6rez, Yuraima t{ago de, DGAA, Mlnisterio Renovables, Torre Recursos Naturales sim6n Bollvar, Caracas - Venezuela. del Sur, Ambrente y de los Piso 22, Centro de1 Ambiente y de los Pefra, !4irna Ouelo de, DGAA, l4inisterio ale Fauna silvestre, Renovables, Dlvisi6n Recursos Naturales Caracas - venezuela. Torre Sur, Plso 22, Centro Sim6n Bollvar, Farm ?TY LTD,Suite Edwards River Crocodlle Onions, Vlctor iI.T., 'l/75, 48?0, Australia' cairns, AbboEl. street Queenslancl Jos€ A., Florida Ottenwalder, ur', university conservation USA. Pantin Alfonso, venezuela, Leslie, state Museun D. Forest Res. Gaineivif1€], Florida, of Floriala, fiacienda Paya, Turnero, Estado Araqua - Universide Zoologfa Tropical, Insl:ituto Pao1i1lo O. Alfredo, dad Central de venezuefa, Apartado 47599, Caracas. 1041-A, venezuela. Pdrraga, l,laria Eugenia, Universidaal Central de Venezuela, FaculAna Cristina, calfe Edificio tad de Ciencias Veterinarias, lllaracay, Estado Aragua - venezuela. coronoto, Pernalete N., .losd Manuel, Palque Avenida Los Abogados con cruce tado l,ara - venezuela. Ramo Herlero, Tros Lfanos Portuguesa Zoof6gico y Botdnico Bararida, Es calle Uoran, Baxquisineto, de Nacional Experinental Universldad Cristina, rrEzequiel Guanare, Estado Zamolall/ Occldentales - Venezuela. IBDF, DeparRebelo, George, Rua 5, Casa 88, Manaus-A.!4, Brasil, 1 8 5 , 6 9,000 Manaus R e s e l v a s C . P , e P a r q u e s N a c i o n a i s tamento Brasil. cRB Ec6logos consultores Rivero Blanco, carlos, 80531, Caracas 1090-A - venezuela. Robinson, lllchael, Universidaal Sim6n Bolfvar, Caracas Sartenejas, Estudios Anbientales, Roilrtguez Arvelo, Gustavo, calle Alareda, dos de1 Este, caracas - venezuela. c'A^, ADartado Departanento - Venezuela- Quinta Mariela' de Pra- def Amblente y de los Recursos Analr€s Eloy, l4inisterio Seijas, Nacional de rauna sifvestre, Renovables, selvicio Naturales Apartado 184, Maracay, Estado Araqua - Venezuela. Edificio Sefna, C€1so, AgroPecuaria San Francisco, Seguros, Piso 6, Chuao, caracas - Venezuela. Stnba, Kayama, Departament of Boroko, Papua Nelt Guinea. xxvr Primary fndustry,P.Ot General de Box 2747 Singh, 1,.A.K., Camp. National Chambaf Sanctuary, Morena 476001, Madhya Pladesh, India, Post Box-11 Su6rez Rivero, I'€lix ifos6, M.T,S, - c.N. Ofici.an Central de y Incendlos Folestales, zona 1, Ministerio de1 Ambiente de los Recursos Naturales Renovables, Caracas - Venezuela. ?horbjarDarson, ilohn, Florida Ilortda 32611 uSA. Van Jaarsveldt, Africa. Kevin, P,O. State l4usseum, cainesvi.1le, Box 2569 }:arare, ZiFbab\re, Sout)'ern Vernet P., Pedro D., Avenida Principal de Caurimare, Residencias Kamar, ?i,so 1, Apartamento f-B, Caracas - Venezuela. Vliet, Kent A., cainesville, Vorlicek, Australia. of Florida, Univexsity Florida 32611, USA, George Carl, watanabe, Myxna, 11201 USA. Department Maney University, 141, Columbia Brooklin, Heights, wilson Conservation Jay, -115 Nw 34th st. Zoology, Maney Sydney, Webb, Grahame, Conservation Cormlission winnellie, N.T. 5789 Australla. Whitehead, Peter: John, Darwin, Australia. of c/ N.T,, Comnission, Gainesville, Florida New York P,O. Box 38151 P.O. Box 38496, 32606, USA. Wilkinson, ?hi.lip u,, 407 Meetin St. ceolgetown S,C. 294401 and !,larine Res, Dept. f'ort Johnson USA, So, Car, wlldtife - USA. Char les ton , South Carofina woodward, Allan USA. R., 4005 Main St. 32601, Florida Gainesville, Yamakoshi, l4egumi, R., Nelson Batista Sales, 126 Manaus -A.lil Instituto Nacional de ?esquisas da Amazonia, INPA Caixa Postal 478 Manaus Am - Brasil. OBSERVERS Artis, te, l46ntca, Ca1le Morichal, Caracas - venezuela. ouinta Dalmacia, tr'lariela, Calle A]aneda, Arvelo de Rodrlguez, Prados alel Este, caracas - venezuela. Prados de1 Es- Quinta Marlela, Juan A., Cal1e Madrld, Resldencias Puerta del tsBelda Allfa, Norte, Caracas - Venezuela te, Apartado 102, California xxvl r Cap!iles, Alfredo 1,,, 6a. Avenida Quinta Llaves, Caracas - Venezuefa. Altanira, chang, Arelis, servicio Nacional de Fauna silvestre Mlnisterio de1 Ambiente y de 1os Fecursos Naturales Renovables, Apartado 184, Mariacay, Estado Aragua - VenezuelaD'Urso ChSvez, Ana T., Avcnida Sur 8, 2da. ftapa, Maryfeld, Los Naranjos, Calacas - Venezuela. ouinta Mdrquez Dfaz, Nornra, Servicio Nacional de Fauna Sifvestre, Ministerio de1 Ambiente y de Ios Recursos Naturales Renovables, Aparrado 184, Maracay, Estado Aragua - venezuefa, ojasti, Juhani, Apartado 47058, caracas 1041-A - vellezuefa. Padr6n r4arin6nf Ricardo, calle c. I q a rE a , C a r a c a s - V e n e z u e l a . No 110, urbanizaci6n Rodrfguez, Alejandro, ca11e Afa$eda, Ouinta Mariefa, del Este, Caracas - venezuela. Rodrlguez, Mariela, calle Alameda, Este, caracas - venezuela. Quinta Mariela, santa Prados Prados del Ministerlo Useche, Edgar, Servicio Nacional de launa Stlvestre def Arnbiente y de los Recursos Naturafes Renovabfes: Apartado 184, Maracay, Estado l,ragua - Venezuefa. )i}:.JI I I l,A ADI'IINISTRACION DE !'AUNA SILIaESTRE EN VENEZUE,A Ministerio deI Gonzafo Mealina Padilla Ambiente y de los Reculsos Naturales - VenezueLa Catacas Renovables A nediados de 1os aios veinte Venezuela comienza su ttansforma y apacible en uno de los m6s dindmicos ci6n de pals rural deT mundo. Es e1 moneDto en que el petr6leo desplaza al caf6 ale su priner lugar en los productos de exportaci6n. La tasa de creci miento poblacional sube hasta alcanzar e1 primer lugar de An6rf ca latina, esta a su vez 10 ocupa en ef munalo, y en un lapso d6 cincuenta afros nuestra pobfaci6n se ha quintuplicado. E1 cteci mlento vegetativo de los venezolanos alcanza e1 nivel espectac[ 1ar de a19o m6s del 36?, como consecuencia ale 1a elevaci6n def particularmente nivel de vida de la poblaci6n, en 10 que se rey a los servicios fiere a la alinentaci6n Por easistenciales. jemplo, ]a campaia antimat6rica ha pasado a ser ejemplo en el mundo. Como consecuencia de las innumelables oportunialades de trabajo, que alcanza cifras eI pats recibe una corriente itunigratoria re cords hacia la mitad de la d6cada de los cincuenta. como er5 de esperarse esta inmigraci6n en la ejerce profunda influencia ecoDomla del pals. Eace cincuenta aios Venezuela disponla apenas de 200 km. de capavimentadas, rreteras ahora ocupa el primer lugar en Latinoam€ rica, con m6s de 11.000 km. Aparte de esto los fondos provenien tes del petr6leo han pernitido al estado emprender grandes obra; de transformaci6n del mealio flsico, lo cual ha tralclo consigo profundos canbios en el hebitat de la fauna silvestreEn t6rpudi6ramos decir que fos aninales minos generales, selvdticos que preceden a la actividad han sufrido por las deforestaciones que las especies acu6ticas agrlcola nientras se han beneficiado por obras de riego; existen ahora en el pals grandes enbalses que han carnbiado nuestra geografla. Hace menos de cincuenta afros, todavia no se habla establecido para ejercer en \renezuefa el requisito de licencia la cacerlat 10 6nico que se conocia a este respecto era una ley para recolecci6n de plumas de garza pronulgadas en 1917. En 1936 aparece una primera ley de caza, que establece requisi tos de permiso para el aprovechamiento ale aninales silvestres; per.miso que es expedido, aquel entonces, por la sus productos, jurto autoridad civil del distrito con la cedula de registro del arma de caza. En 1944, fue promulgada una Dueva ley ile ca za coD una nayor inspiraci6n t6cnica, aunque evialenteme;te, 16 para un pals sujeto a contlnuos canbios. sulta Cleficiente En la historia mundial de 1a administraci6n de 1a fauna. se feconocen tres etapas: la primera. es total apatia del estado por el acontecer de los animales silvestrest la segunda, es ef esta blecimiento Ce medidas netanrente restrictivas de la utilizaci6; y 1a tercera, del recursor es Ia promulgaci6n de instrumenEos legales en que la fauna silvestre es concebida como un reculso sucePtible de aprovechamiento mediante un inanejo adecuado. Esta tercera etapa comenz6 en Venezuela hace catorce aios con la pro mu19aci6n de 1a Ley de Protecci6n ale Fauna Silvestre que como veremos mes adelante, a pesa! de su nombre, dista nucho de ser un simple instrumeDto coD el dnico prop6sito de proteger 1a fau na sifvesLre. que pudi€ra l{ace muy pocas d6cadas fa cacerla tenla un caracter mos calificar de sefrorialt la €poca de 1as grandes partidas da caza en los viejos predios rurales, pr6ximo a Io que hoy son grandes ciudades. El cazador de entonces estaba bien situado, tanto en el plano cultural como el econ6mico y social. Hoy la cacerla se ha popufarizado. Como el incremento de la poblaci6n ha trafdo consigo glanales concentraciones en 10s centros urbanos, existe que durante sus tiempos una gran nasa de habitantes libres huyen de la rutina ciudadana para buscat solaz y diversi6n en e1 campo. La expresi6n mds dramdtica de esta situaci6n acontece durante los dlas de Senana Santa cuando las autoridades se colocan virtualmente en Fi6 de guerra para afrontar las consecuencias de1 desplazamiento de millones de personas hacia los mAs rec6nditos lugares de nuestra geografla. Muchas de las personas que gustan del aire libre son aficionados a 1a cacerta y disponen de los medios para proveerse de la gr:an diversidad de equipos que le ofrece 1a industria y cuentan con 6ptimasvfas de comunicaci6n y medios de transporte, Desgrac iadamente , Ias posibilidades econ6micas de muchas de estas personas, nada trenen que ver coD su nivel y eI resultado cultural, ha sido la in troducci6n de mAtodos y sistemas de caza totalmente refridos co; la 6tica de un verdadero aleporte. I-a inmigraci6n no ha sido el factor determinante deI creciniento poblacional de Venezuela, pero en cambio estos inmigrantes aficionados a 1a cacerla han cambiado en muchos sentidos fa visi6n tradicional del venezolano con respecto a 6sta. Hace menos de treinta aios no tenfamos en este pais, ning(n pro fesional en la investigaci6n y la administraci6n de la fauna silvestre, ahora existe Ia cartera de bioloqla en varias unrver sidades ndcionales, mientras que en diversa; insLiLuciones ofi: ciafes y privaalas se reafizan investigaciones sobre los m6s variados t6picos de la fauoa silvestre. Hace apenas veinte aios el tema de Ia conselvaci6n de los recursos naturales renovables era totalnente desconocido para 1a opini6n pdblica; ahora se trata desde los niveles primarios de la educaci6n hasta eventos altamente especializados, De ello se ocupa con frecuencia 1a prensa, Ia radio y la televisi6n. Se han creado organizaciones conservacionistas ast como premios y reconocinientos oficiales y privados para esta actividad. Pdblica Naciode que 1a Adrninistraci6n Reconoce 1a conveniencia a cuyos fines ha previsnal cuente con aPropiado asesolamiento, de uD consejo Nacional de la Fauna silvestle to la constituci6n Asigna a1 estatlo la obliintegraalo por expertos en 1a materia. conaluy fonentar cientlfica gaci6n ile realizar la investigaci6n racional de la fauna, ast como apoyar y cente a la utilizaci6n perque sobre el recurso hicieran estimular 1as investigaciones _ que Naprivadas eI Ejecutivo : Establece sonas o instituc ione s preserval, o modificar medidas necesarias las cional tomal6 Para y ha ale tomar ale los aninales silvestres, el habitat restaurar que Pue contaminaciones necesatias 1as disposiciones Para evitar de disla facultad Nacional Otorga al Ejecutivo dan afectarlas. y manejo ale la fauna poner normas obligato;ias ale conservaci6n agrtcola y Pecuarioen Ios pfanes de desarrollo En de Ia Ley de Fauna. Este es un breve resumen alel articulado es evideDte que en Vene cuanto a la ordenaci6n de1 territorio a la comPensaci6n y transfor zuela se le ha alado alta prioridad de1 que se hablaba anter iormente . Mes de naci6n del medio flsico que es una proporci6n bastan nacionaf, de1 tertitorio un tercio te significativa a nivet mundiaL, estd sometido a un rEginen es y seis punto y usoi la cifra pecial tle protecci6n es el treinta ( 3 6 . 4 2 * ) p o r v e nezolano,ude1 territorio ciento cuarenta y dos por E1 veintttres na proporci6n no superada por muchos paises. (23s) aproxinadamente incluye 6reas de regimen especial cie;to y directa a la fauna, a1 dic que preven una protecci6n concleta prohibitivas son los palques la cazat estos de taminar normas y 1as reservas forestales nacionales, 1os monunentos naturales, El catorce punto de faunas silvestres. las reservas y refuqios doce por ciento (14.12s1 de estas 6reas, ofrecen una protecci6n de1 fa alteraci6n por cuanto que atll est6 prohibido indir;cta y las reh6bitat; estas son las denoninadas zonas protectoras cona la polltica, En 10 que se lefiere servas hidr6ulicas. los animales silvestr:es, provechaniento de aI cretamente dirigida oficial de la lista en la olomulgaci6n tiene su punto de partida mealian conceptual, ale anirnales de caza, un documento ale cardcter cu61es especieste el cual, e1 Estaalo venezolano ha estabfecido para la caza' cunple rednen atributos de animales silvestres el lenguaje y 1a comunicaci5n a travEs igualmente con facilitar relativos al recurso,lo y documentos oficiales da publicaciones por 1a diversidad que es importante en un pals que se distingue de su fauna. de animales de caza es una n6nina de los anina La lista oficial Es elPri como "game". que les en venezuela han de considerarse legat para quienes, por ejemplo,quig mer t definitivo obst6culo o cazar monos, animales para mantenerlos en jaulas, ran atrapar perezas, garzas o loros en vez de venados, conejos, patos y_pel actualmente en relaci6n r-o que en Venezuela prevalece aices. se de que toda polltica,que es la experiencia con la cacerla, parcialice hacia intereses u oPiniones de personas o gruPos de Ademds de presi6n, condenado al fracaso. estd irremediabletnente ale tigrillos ale un repunte de las poblaciones esto, hay inalicios que en pasado estuvieroD muy mal, los perros de agua u ocelotes gigante y el caiman de 1a costa. que ni o nutria Son indicios pensar en un aprovechamiento remotamente permiten de estas espe cies, pero nos producen la satisfacci6n de saber que 1as medidas tomadas para su preselvaci6n comielzan a dar sus flutos. ED el 6mbito de la Convedci6n Sobre e1 Comercio Internacional de Espe cies Amenazaalas de Fauna y Flora Silvestres, VeDezuela ocupa una posici6n suigeneris, p;roue dispone de muchas especies anima les que tienen denanda en el comercio internacional pero no iny porque las divisas terno, resultantes de Ia exportaci6n serlan irrisorias en comparaci6n con otras fuentes. Este hecho junto pdblica, con una conciencia cada vez m5s preocupada por el destino ale 1os recursos naturales renovables, ha determinado crue nuestro pats se encuentra alineado con eI grupo de los "duros" que siendo poseedores de 1a mate de la convenci6n, de aquelfos, ria prima se oponen a su agotamiento por los palses consunidores. que puede resultar Sin embargo, hay otra explicaci6n nes convincente, que prefiere sonros un pueblo nacionalista disfrutar de sus riquezas puertas adentro, mientras no tengamos una clara noci6n de su valor y de Ia forrna de como adninistrarla, CONVENCION SOBRE EI, COMERCIO IN?ERNACIONAL DE ESPECIES AMENAZADASDE FLORA Y FAUNA (CTTES) SU APLICACION EN REI,AC]ON A I,OS COCODRILOS EN VENEZIIE],A yuraima Maso de pdrez 1nq- For. MSc. Direcci6n ceneral Sectorial de Adninistracidn de:l_ Ambiente Ministerio del Anibiente y ale los Recursos Naturafes Renovables C a r ac a s La convenci6n sobre el comercio Internacional de Especies de Fauna y Plora silvestre Amenazaalas de Extinci6n (cfTES) es un acuerilc Internicjcnal que tiene por ob_ieto re(_rufar el comercio (exportacj6n,importacidn y triinsito) de especies especificas de arlj male; y ptentas illvestresl asi como ale sus respecti.\'as partes o alerivaalos y productos manufactulados. ' gue se encuentran en vias ale extinci6n o que son raras en ef mundo. La explotacidn excesiva del munalo animal y veqetal por el comercro internacional, ha sialo alenunci?.da muclas veces. SineJr;baroo, este comercio replesenta solo uno de los factores responsables de la desaparici6b ale ciertas especies, existen otros tales como, - La destruccidn irreflexiva animales y vegetales por - La sobrieexplotaci6n - Caceria iteqal- - La alteraci6n cultivabl es, - y otras tambi6n alet espacio eI hombre. de fos vital de numerosos bosques- de zonas pantanosas para ta creaci6n niodificaciones ea 1os procesos natrrrales, al enpobrecimiento de la natrrraleza- ate zonas contribuyen Sin embargo, proteger a 1as especies a lergo plazo linicamente alesate e1 punto de vista del comercio iriternacional no ser6 suficienl.e como para inpedir la exterminaciin de alguna de ellas, por 10 tanto no hay que ljmltarse a dicla Convenci6n, sino que es necesario actuar a travds- ae otras Convenciones Internaci cnales , Educaci6n Conservaci oni sta, cuarderia Ambiental, recuperaci6n ale habitats, etc. La necesjded de alguna forna de acuerdo pFra reqular eI comercio y, por poner obstaculos consiquieite, al comercio iteoal, se discuti6 en la ccnferencia sobre el Ambiente Humano de Estoco.Lrqo de 1972. Decidi6ndose ,,Se reco_ en dicha Conferencia sobre 1a Resoluci6n Ne 99 (3) oue dice: mienda conovcar una conferencia plenipotenciaria Io mds pronto posibl-e, bajo los auspicios gubernamentales o i nterqubernamenta les pertinentes, con eI fin de redactar y aprobar un convenio sobre la expoitaci6n, y tr.insito importaci6n ale alqunas especies animafes y plintas silvestres". de washinGcn ale 1os Eslados Unialos convoc6 a la conferencia El cobierrro comercio lFternacional sobre el y ta convencj-6n surqi6 de alli de 19?3, (cITEs). silveEtre de especies amenazaalas de fauna y flora Actua}nente convenci6n. existen 8? paises gue son parte o signatorlos ale 1a citada sostenidas entre e1 Gobi-erno de Venezuela A raiz de las conversaciones de y Ia Secretaria de ta convenci6n sobre el comercio rnternacional se hizo y venezuela llora silvestres. de Fauna Especies amenazadas de1 citado convenio el 3 ale nayo de 1976 nediante la l,ey oaitlcioe de EstrEcies lnternaclonal sobre e1 comercio de f. convenci6n iprolatbria el 10 entr6 en vigor y Ia cual Flora Silvestres, Airenazadas ale Fauna publicatlo eD ca, por fa Repibli congreso de Decreto alel de iunio de 19?5 de ]a Reprjbr ica de venezuela ba-io e1 Ne Extraoralinario la baceta Ofjcial alel Anbiente y ale los Recursos Naturales E] Mi.nisterio 1881 del 10-06-76. de Adninistraci6n General sectorial de la Direcci6n Renovab-r-es, a travds de Ie convenci6n alel tunbiente es quien mane-ia y coordina la aplicaci6n de la citada Ley en nuestro pais y como tal tiene una Autorialaal Adminisante esta convenci5n' y dos (r) Autoridades cientificas trativa CITES Venezolana regula eI La Ley Aprobatoria de hils ale 1.000 especies de animales nacional en tres ap6ndices. incluidas conercio nacional e intery plantas silvestres que ate extlncidn especies en peliqro En eI Ap6ndices I. estiin incluidas especimenes comercio de El son o p-uealen ser afectadas por el comercioa estricta de estis especies deberi estar su-ieto a una regiamentaci6n y se autorizare peljEro adn naior su supervivencia fin ale no pi"".." tales como: donaci6n o excepcionales, circunstincias solamente iajo registra'las' cientificas o instjtuciones ;ntre cientificos intercambio toilas las especies que,si bien en la ED el apdnalice rr, estiin incluidas no se encuentran necesariamente en pelielro de extinci6nactualidad a menos que e1 comelcic en especirnenes a esa situaci6n ooar€n ffeqar _de a fin de esLricta a una reglamentacidn sujeto dichas especies estd incompati.ble con su supervivencia. evitar utjli2aci6n de las todas 1as especies que cualduiera se inclul'en En el Apdndice III, de su alentro reqlamentaci6n a que hayan sometidas se Partes ;lanifiestan y, que pais con et obieto de prevenir su explotaci6n o restringir de su c'c'IErcio' ta c-ooperacidn de los otros pai.tes en el control iequieren La cITEs v su Ar,ficacidn En venezuela existen en Relaci6n cinco (5) clases a los cocodrilos en Venezuele de cocodrilos. como ha si'lo reportado por catniin del otiinoco y caini5n de fa costa: (Erocodvlt's caimiin del orinoco en Venezueta e1 otros conferencistas, ( c r o c o d v l u s d cusan bajos ] a c o s t a c i , i m i i n d e SglLs), internedius) v el -nf"E1EE-p"Efeiionales, def .Anbiente lo cual motiv6 que eI Mi.nisterio y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables publi cara 1a Resohrci6n Ne 95 ael 28 de novier'brie ale 1979, declarando le veda por tiempo indefjnido los-crocoalilidos, incluyendo para una serie ale especies faunisticas protecci6n tegal a 1as en parte a brindar Lon 1o cual 5e contribrrye ^i | >Arc a.ha^i ae Es inportante sefralar. que 106 bajos indices poblactonales Orinoco y de fa costa, fueron reportados por varios paises CITXS incluyendo Venezuela, motivo 6ste por e1 cual se les el Ap6ndj.ce T de 1a citada Convenci6n. de1 caim{n del partes ale la incluy6 en Caimabes Enanos: Con relaci6n a los caimanes Enanos (pglegsgg!]1q triomatus y E. palaebrosus) existentes en venezuela, conocemos que son especies due acusan bajos indices pob.l.acionales y consecuenteftente tambi4h incl idos en la Resoh,ci6b MARNRNe 95 antes seialada, brindand6seles de esta manera protecci6n leqa1 en el sentiilo de que, solo se permite su captura con fines de investl.gaciones cientlficas o bajo ptanes de nanejo. Es oportuno sefiafar que los Caimanes Enanos esten incluialos en el Apdndice fT de 1a CITES, lc) cual conlfeva a una nayor protecci6n desale ef punto ile vista del comercio internacionaf. Adn cuantlo se sabe que los niveles poblacionales CIe estas especies han tenido cierta recuperaci6n en Vehezuela. El Ministerio del Arnbiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables mantiene su veda, Drimero con considerar que alichos niveles no son suficientes como Dara s-usDenaler fa vealat segundo por existir factores (cacerja ilegat, a]t;raci6n ael habitat,poca guarderia que no ayudan a la recupeiacidn ambiental) tle atichas especi;s). Babas: Ias investi-oaciones prelimihares y las inspecciones t6cnicas de por nuestros tdcnicos carnpo realizadas en cuahto a la especie faunistica Baba (gef4g!] crocodi]us), han permiti.do comprobar la abundancia relativa ale 1e referida especie, nrotivanalo asi gue el Mjnisterio del Ambiente y de los Recursos Natlrrales Renovables desarrolle un prograna de:,,Apro\,€chaniento Comercial Experimental de la menclonaala especie,,. En virttlal de que la Baba se encuentra en el Apdndice If ale le CITES,nuestro pais comunic6 a la Secretaria de la mencionada Convenci6n de que se estd aprovechando en fcrnra experimental 1a citada especie. La pofitica del Mjnisterio CIel Anbiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables, dependerii en e1 futuro de c6no se comporten las poblaciones ale Baba, despu6s del aprovechamiento experimental a1 cual se encuentran sonetialcs actrrahnente En base a esta evaluaci6n Ap6nalices I - 11 6I1I. se ubicarii la citada especie dentro de los EL ESTADO ACTUAL Y LAS TENDENCIAS DE ]-A INVESTIGACION BIOI-OGIC.A SOBRE LOS CROCODILTDOS EN VENEZUELA Carlos Rivero Bfanco v 'Andria Bianca D CRB Ecol6gos Consuftores, C.! .aracas luPU-; Apartado 80\ JI Venezuela SUWARY partaining fiterature Afl available biology to Venezuelan crocodilian The and classified. lras levised in the ?8 references information to authors revised a]lowed the )-a:< !ar+dr anal those in need of further indlcate as a lneans to research areas. s r L r dj e d work, future lntroducci6n La investigaci6n sobre la bioloqia que habitan en Venezuela cooodrilos a muchos cientificos. Algunos han recopilacion ale datos acerca de la mientras que otros han enfocado su y tdcnicas aprovechamiento racional niveles poblacionales o control de ale las diversas especies de ha sido un tema que la interesado orientaalo sus estudios lacia la historia natural de las especies, atenci6n hacia e1 estudio alel de nanejo de animales con altos especies en peligro de extinci5n. Los cocoalrilos venezolanos son:e1 caimiin de la costa, crocoalvlus acutus;e1 Caiman del Orinoco, Crocodvlus f!!g_E4qdi!qr la Baba,Cainran y eI Babo lbridlalero, crocodilus, e1 Babo Negro, Paleosuchus trisonatus Paleosuclus palpebrosus. El Caimiin alel Orinoco era rnuy abuhdante en 1os rios caudalosos de Venezuela hasta el punto que e1 misno flumbolalt (40) escribi6 en su Iibro viaje a las Regiones Equinocci ales:. . . En las rrvense Ios cocodrilos, playas, a nrenualo en nrimero de 8 a 10, tendidos sobre Ia arena-.- Se han multiplicado de tal manera estos reptifes que a toalo 1o largo del rio hemos tenialo a fa vista casi honstruosos, (Tono III, a caala instante, cinco o seis de el1o". Cap. XVIII, pp.36). Sin embargo, junto a} caimiin ale Ia Costa, eI caimiin del orinoco fue exterminado casi en su totafidaal alebido al precio que por su piel pagaban los comerciantes. Hoy en dia estas dos especies se consideran y las pocas poblaciones en peligr:o de extinci6n que a{n habitan e1 teftitorio est6n sujetas a veda de caza. por el contrario, La Baba es de menor tamaffo y su plel, no alespertaba interds en los comerciantes. Sin embarqo, al ir alesapareciendo los caimanes, la atenci6n hacia la misma aument6. De esta forma, otra de las especies cuyas poblaciones, segin uumboldt, eran extrenadamente numerosas, empez6 a alisminuir hasta alcanzar niveles muy bajosEn los iltimos aios, fa Baba ha alcanzado, aparentemente, sus antiguos poblaciones niveles en algunos sectores de los Ltanos de Venezuela. Ultimanente, se han intensificado los estudios acerca de la biologia de esta especie ya que se piensa en la posibilidad de aprovechamiento racional de 1a nisma, 10 que requiere entonces de un conocimiento amplio sobre ]a ecoloqia de este animal. Los estudios acerca de las alos especies del genero Crocodvlus se han visto llmitaalos por Ia dificultad y disposici6n ale localizaci6n de ]os individuosSobre Paleosuclus se tiene realmente muy poca informacionEn este reporte se preterde recopi.lar las referencias bibliogrificas existentes, asi como el naterial en preparaci6n/ acerca de fa biotog_ia ale estas especies con el fin de proporcionar una idea acerca del nivel y del enfoque que deberian tomar 1as investide informaci6n disponible que se incluirdn Es importante indicar en este estudio 1os trabajos de Roberto Donoso Barros y Federico Medefl, como 1as referencias mis i.rFortantes y Taxonomia de estas especies y ef trabajo acerca ile Distribuci6n de Carmen Julia Medina como aporte sobre Paleontologia. No quisimos ahondar (SISTEMATICA) ya que nuestro interds mes en ese t6pico se centra en los trabajos de Ecologia y Manejo. Las personas, que por e1 contrario, tengan interds pueden renritirse acerca de la SISTEMATICA de estas especies, a que incluyen las referencias bibfioqreficas esos trabajos. Metotlolooia bibliogrdficas estuvieron disponlbles i,a mayor parte de las referencias pala la consulta de los autores. En ef caso ale los articulos en prepaque y prensa, brindaron una idea en se dispuso ile res(menes raci6n globa] tle I trabajo, fue caracterizaalo ale acuerdo al siquiente E1 contenido ale caala referencia b) Relaciones con a) Hiibitat; esquerna: 1.- ECOLoGIA, alonde incluimos: d) Comportamiento social; c) comportamiendo inalividualr otras especiesr g) Dinamica de e) Ambito domdstico (Home range) ; f) Reproducci6nr poblaci6n; h) crecimiento y clases de edad; i) DieLa; J) EnergdLica lndividualt k) Enfermedades y pariisitos r l) Deprealadores y Mortalidad; y Anatonia. Taxonomia, 2.SISTEMATICA, donde incluimos: m) Fisioloqia y Paleontologia3.TECNICAS DE INVESTIGACION. donde Distribuci6n incluimos: a) T6cnicas de tranpeor b) T6cnicas de marcajer c) Tdcnicas 4-- ADMINISTRACION de estudio. de radi ote lemetri a r d) Otras t6cnicas 5.- ASPECTOSDIVULGATMS. RACIONAL: a) Manelor b) Aspectos economicos b) creencias y leyendas r y 6-- SUGERENCIASDE ESTUDTo: a) Divufgaci6n; p r e s e n t a n proposiciones de invesLigaci6ndonde se fue resumido en una El contenialo de cada uno de las 78 pubficaciones que se adjunta aI final Para la estructuraci6n de este trabajo. hatrlz por en oralen alfabetico de dicha natriz, se ordenaron las referencias autor y se numelaron s ecuenci alnente . Los numeros indicaalos en el eje En ciertas horizontal de la matriz corresponden a fas referenciasen el texto con e1 fin de indicar se cita bibliografia oportunidades que incluyen La algrin topico en particularalgunas publicaciones numeral encerrado en un par;itesis. llamaala se hace con e1 corresponaliente fos numerales van separatlos por una coma y si son varias las citas, encerraalos tambi6n en un pardntesis. bibliogriificas se aaljunta tarnbidn un listaalo completo ale las referencias ale referencias el totaf se presenta qreficamente A1 finaf cons\rltadas. pudiendo asi proporcionar una ialea que tratan catla tdpico en particufar, que De igual manera ilel se disponede informaci6n acerca del nivel que muestra la distribuci6n en e1 tiempo de los se presenta un gr6fico en Venezuefa. estualios que se han realizado Resultados 1 . ECOLOGIA: Encontramos Babas en el rio unare. Tuy Hebitat (36 referencias): a.y en el Lago ale valenciar en rios, cafios Y laqunas ale los llanos de venezuela rc,42), en los de Guayana (31, 34, 35) y en Ia cuenca de1 en los norichales habita El g6nero Pilgg€llqlun l,ago de Maracaiboy del sur con mucha vegetaci6n bosques en zonas en caios de orientales, se y Amazonas) (26, '7e). AI cain:in del orinoco, ale venezuefa (polivar le encuentra en zonas boscosas de rios Y cafros de la cuenca alel orinoco, mientras que el caimiin de la costa babita en rios y aguas salobres del que Existen varios articulos Dorte del pais excepto en el orinoco. describen, entre otras cosas, el hiibitat de estas dos especies 19'25'43). 10 b - Relaciones con otras especies (19 rererencias): Como todos los animales, Ios cocoalrilos presentan un comportamiento intere speci fi co. Las relaciones deprealador-presa, ataque y defensa contra enemigos reales y potenciales son algunos ale los muchos contactos que tienen los cocodrilos con fas dem;is especies animales. varios trabajos sobre la historia natural tle fos cocodrilos tratan estos toplcos 129, 4A, 47, 49, 64) c - Comportaniento TnClividual (22 refeiencias): E1 conDortarniento individual de la Baba ha sido un t6pico bastante estudiado. Se han sefialaalo, entre muchas otras, pautas ale conducta referentes a aseofaniento, sefrales sonoras, moviriientos migratorlos, actitudes de caza y construcci6n de nidos (6, 35, 45, ?5, 75). Medem (4?), reporta afqn1cs datos de comportamiento para las ilemiis especies de cocodriios. (22 referencias): d - cornportamiento social Alqunos estudios han proporcionado datos, especi fi camente , acerca dei comportaniento socj_al de fa Baba. Se ha reportado conducta de cortejo y conbates de machos por una hembra alurante Ia dpoca reproaluctiva (34, 35, 41, 76). TA$i6n se ha determinaalo la existencia ale una jerarquizaci6n de ealades doncle 1os animales adultos disgregan a los l6venes obligiindoles a abandonar (5, 76). su territorio Romero (71) senata comportamiento de cuido parental muy marcado para esta especie. Se han estudiado variantes condiciones ale cautiverio del orinoco (52). en e1 comportamiento individual y sociaf eh tanto para 1a Baba (?0), como para Caiman e - Ambito domdstico (Home Range) (11 referencias):En ninguno ale tas publicaciones revisadas se alefine un limite de tanaffo para ef home rango de estas especies. Siendo animafes tan alependientes ile las cobdipara su subsistencia, ciones climSticas deben de tener un iifirito ddrdstico bastante amplio alurante todo el aio. que deben realizar Las migraciones en busca de cuerpos de agua en la estaci6n de verano, es una prueba de el1o. Sin embargo, si se ha hablaalo de 1a existencia ale una teffitorialidad definida en 1a dpoca reproductiva ya que muchas hembras vuetven a construir sus nidos en los nisnos lugares de 1os aios anteriores(6-19). (30 referencias): f Reproduccidn Este es un tema rnuy estualiaito en 1a Baba (6, 19. 24, 34, 35,69,72, 16). Tanto en Crocodyfus como en Paleosuchus no se tiene muchos co:roclmiento af respEcE6. Bf trabajo de (52) informa acerca ale la reproduccidn Morillo ate Crocodvlus internedtus en cautlverio y el trabajo de Torriani {78) brevemeilte esboza posibiti_ dades de recria ale paleosuchusEste t6pico es de gran importancia, ya que el futuro de estas especies depehde mucho del 6xito ate 1a reDtoahrcciin y sobrevivencia ante la alepredaci6nConsideramcs que aunque s; ha trabajado bastante en este campo alln falta informaci6n detallada de para proyectos de cria. valcr priictico g - Dinii$ica de poblaci6n (1? referencias): Siendo la Baba una especie sujeta a veda desde lace aproximadamente 10 affos puede pensarse que deben poblaciones de existir que }]an alcanzado un equilibrio y e1 nimero de que habitar, hoy en dia el territorio indi'riduos 1o confirma 16, 45,75,76). La eriplotaci6n de caimanes fue de tat magnitud que sus poblaciones no han 11 podiCo recuperarse todavia por 10 que se pretende la implementaci6n de pfanes de manejo. Humbctdt (40) da una idea del status de tos clccodrito€ venezolanos af prlncipio del siglo pasado. Godshalk (25, 27) , Maness 143, 44) y Rivero alanco (66) proporcionan informaci6n acerca del estaalo ale las poblaciones de los caimanes hace algunos afros. Los nivetes poblacionales de PaleosuchUi, tomando en cuenta que no han sido especies explotadas conerciafmente, deL\enale r.antenerse estables, siendo sin embargo sus poblaciones muy reducidas en nimero (26) . h y Clases de edad (29 referencias): Crecimiento lio se conoce fa longevidad exacta de estos animales. Los estudios de creclmrenEo en vida libre de la Baba han aleterninado que alcanza su tameffo reproductivo (1, 11, 3 mts.) entre los 6 y 8 affos ate viala, dependienatoetlo de Ia dlsponibilidad (6, 35, 69, ?6). de alimento, cono es frecuente en los reptiles, su crecimiento es miis riipido si disponen de alimento abundante, como suele sucealer en condiciones (69) . para et cainiin ate cautiverio del orinoco se tienen datos de crecimiento (10) - Medem (4?) en cautividad proporciona informaci6n al respecto para Paleosuchus y Crocodylus en vida libre i Dieta (29 referencias): t,os cocodritos son animates carnivoros y varian su dieta desde insectos y otros invertebrados (alimento de las crias) , hasta nanjferos pasando por preces, canorejos y gasi e!opodos (alimento de adultos) (52) y Blolrm (10) nos proporcionan Morirlo infonrBcidn acerca de 1a dieta de1 Crocodylus intermedius en cautiverioNo se han 'necho estudios detar 1ad o!-G n'-ier.^ z ueTa soore esre r6pico parE . rocoalvlrs para los primeros, y Paleosuchus en vida 1ibre. Ftumboldt (40) reporta que en su dieta inclui€n chiguires y seres humanos. La rrjforndcron acerca ale la afimentaci6n de Ia Baba es relativanente (6,I'1 ,Le.34,35, a b u n d a n t e '7 4 , ' t 5 , ' 76 J j (6 referencias): Energetica individual Sobre la Baba se tienen datos de1 valor caf6rico de su biomasa, asi como de la diniinica enerodtica de poblaciones de los m6dulos de Mantecat, Estado Apure (61,61,64). (73), proporciona datos sobre e1 metabclismo de esle animal. Sin seijas embarqo def resto de 1as especies no se tienen vafores aI respecto. (? referencias): k Enfernedades y pardsatos Ayarzaguena (G) describe en su trabajo una enferemedad para las Babas que se manifiesta por un adelgazamiento excesivo del animal. Se reduce ta musculatura hasta quedar rinicanente huesos y piel. Las causas de fa misma no han sido deterninadas. ceneralnente se manifiesta en animales aduttos y pueate ser 1a causa principal de muerte "natural,'de los mismos. Este es el unico dato ale enfermedad que cnococemos. Para las demds especies no se conoce nada parecidoMedem (47) y Staton (75), entre otros, determinan ]a presencia de pardsitos rnterros y extarnos en la Baba. 1 (15 referencias) Depredadores y mortalidad : La tasa de depredaci6n ale los animales adultos es menor que la de los individuos j6venes. Ayarzaguena (6) reporta alatos de depredaci6n hasta individuos ate t mt. de longitud total. Los animaies entre los 25 y 50 cms- de lonqitud puealen ser depredados por aves de rapifia, total (69, '76). gdrzas, zorros, La nayor causa de nrortalialaal natura] en estas especies es ta alepreatacidn de huevos la cual puede producir hasta el 80i de pdrdidas (6,69,?5)siendo e1 Mato (Tupinambis teouixin) el principal causante. La caceria tambidn es una de las causas de nrortalidad de inalividuos aduttos. No se han obtenido muchos datos ace!_ca ale mortalidad naturat de 1as otras esDecies de cocodrilos, 1: m - Fislologia, Anatomia (33 referencias): Se han realizaalo aliferentes estudios acerca de la anatomia ale la Baba,y en menor grado de las demiis especies de cocodrilos debido a la dificultad de su captura. Se tiene y funcionamiento infornaci6n acerca de la forma, tamafio, estructura de1 cuerpo (5,41,60,?5,76) - Ultimanente se han venido realizando estudios lehatol6gicos de la Baba (3, 4, 5, 28, 32, 33, 36, 55, 56, 57, 58). 2.- SISTEMATICA Y DISTRIBUCION (15 referencias) El trabajo ale Staton (77) proporciona datos de blometria de las aliferentes especies de cocodrifos entre los que se encuentran los venezolanqs. E1 tiabajo de Meden (47) proporciona informaci6B taxon6mica asi cono datos acerca ale la distribuci6n de fas diversas especies ya sea a nivel nacio$a1 como continental. Los trabajos ile Donoso Barros ofrecen informaci6n completa acerca de este tltino t6pico (20, 2I, 22J. En eI iirea ale Paleontologia, carrnen Julia Medina (48) reporta sobre I\€lanosuchus fisheri 3.- TECNICAS DE IN\,€STIGACTON a - Tdcnicas ale trampeo (4 referenci as ) : Las tdcnicas de tranrpeo utilizadas comunmente para capturar cocodrilos son los arpones, los lazos, las redes y las armas de fuego (6, '75,'16). j6venes suefen b T6cnicas de marcaje (g referencias): Los indivialuos rnarcarse con anillos numerados que se 1es fijan en la membrana interdig"ital plastificadas con etiquetas en las {6) y nuneradas que se les fijan crestas caudales y en algunos casos se realizan combinaciones ale cortes de las crestas de la cola (70). Todas estas t6cnicas son ale gran para estudios que requieran utilidad ale captura y recaptura(1 referencia): c Tdcnicas de radiotelenetlia Staton y Dixon (compers.) realizaron un estualio de ratiotelemetria con Babas Cel Hato Masaguaral en 1975. Los resultaalos no han sido publicados. d Otras tdcnicas de estudio (? referencras): En este t6pico se (observaciones iocluyen mdtodos ale estudio directas, sequimiento de rastro, que no se contemplan en tos t6picos mencionados censos nocturnos, etc.) pero que sin embargo son ritifes para la recopitaci6n anteriormente de que permite infornaci6n. Gorzula (37) propone una t6cnica fotogriifica estimar e1 tamaflo de Ios cocodrilos. Fotoqrafiando tnicanente la cabeza (que es ]a parte .lel cuerpo que emerge del agua) y de1 cocodrilo conoclendo 1a relacion lonqitud de la cabeza entre longitual deI cuerpo (SVL) se puede calcular aproximadamente eI tamafio total de1 cuerpo del animal. 4.- ADMINISTRACIONRACIONAL (29 referencias): a Manejo y Conservaci6n se han realizado aliversos experimentos sobre 1a incubaci6n y cria de caimanes y Babas, obtenidndose diversos resultados tanto en porcentaje de nacimientos como en (secxnieuto en cautiverio En los fltimos affos se han venido 110,52, 67,70,72). haciendo muchos estudios acerca deI nanejo y conservaci6n de las (I2, L3, 19 , 27 , 29 , 46 , 59 , 66) . diferentes especies de cocodrilos b Aspectos econ6micos (14 referencias): Hasta el nomento, sdlo Ia pief de fa Baba es un producto comerciableHoy en dia se estd pensando en e1 aprovechamiento integral de esta especre (carne, p.ieI, buesos) ya sea para uso industrial o consumo humano (7, 19, 38, 541 5-_ ASPECTOS DIVULGATIVOS (10 referencias): a Divulgaci6n se han publicado algunos articutos y revistas, en los peri6dicos cuyo objetivo es e1 de dar a conocer al priblico en general 10 que se estii intentando hacer con la cria en y la situaci6n cautiverio de las diversas especies de cocodrilos ale las (1 , 2, 15, 16, 49, 65, 681. especies en extincion b Creencias y Leyendas (2 referencias) : Humbolalt (40) nos proporciona y un sin fin de an6cdotas acerca de 1os cocodlilos las creencias que se tenia acerca de su fiereza. superticiosas Segdn los babitantes de 1as zonas cercanas a rios y caffos, fos caimanes, y en menor grado fas y hasta con Babas, eran temidos como animafes extremadamente peliqrosos instintos asesinos que unicamente esperaba la oportunialad ale ataca! a su presa por el sifi\ple gusto de exteminarla. Hoy en dia no se tienen que en Ia 6poca muchos datos aI respecto, sin enrbargo no hay que olvidar poblaclones de los viajes de Humboldt,las de cainanes eran nunerosas 1o que podria aurnentar la competencia por e1 alimento y la irritabilialaal de los individuos. 6.- S U G E R E N C I ADSE E S T U D I O ( 1 8 r e f e r e n c i a s ) : presentados se sugieren nuevas lineas de investiEn todos los trabajos gaci6n necesarias para completar conocinientos acerca de fas especies ale cocodrilos de nuestro paisAdemiis, Ios trabajos de Hamilton {39) (50) suqieren de nanera muy detallada y de Mondolfi t6picos de investigaci6n referidos especialmente a Ecologia y Manejo de pobtacrones en y en cautiverio, vlda libre muchos de los cuales ya se han realizaalo hoy en dia. conclusiones Todos los t6picos inctuidos en este trabajo ban sido estudiados coh miis que de las demis especies se tiene o menos aletalle en la Baba,mientras debido, princlpalmente, a la dificultad escasa informacion de la DeI qdnero Crocodylus se esten haciendo locatizaci6n de los individuos. y en vida libre. actualmente investigaciones con animales en cautiverio El g6nero Paleosuchus es el menos estudiado. De las enfermealades y, en general, de Ias causas de mortalidad natural de estas especies no se dlspone de muchos informacidn. Las tdcnicas de investiqacion son muy parecialas en todas las referencias consultadas, pero de raatiotelemetria para no se tiene realmente ninguna infornacidn las especies venezolanas. El manejo y los aspectos econ6micos han sido alos de los t6picos miis recientes en los estualios de Babas mientras que de 1as demiis especies se ya que, o son especies ha tratado principafmente ei tema de conservaci6n, (g6nero Crocodvlus) en extinci6n o sus pobtaciones son suficientemente ;il:";: i-+,!,i,rre"".. ' como para que ameriten la implementaci6n de este Acerca de 1a distribuci6n en e1 tienpo de 1os estudios que se han realizado en Venezuela (fiq. 1) podemos concfuir que es a partir ale Ia ddcada de los ?0 cuando se conienzan realmente las investigaciones con las dliferentes especies de cocodrilos venezolanos. Se observa una clara tendencia a intensificar estos estudios en los iltimos aios. Blblioqrafia l- Anonimo. 1970. Veda total ale ta baba y caimanes por periodos indefiniAos. publicado Articulo en E1 Nacional. Martes 11 ale Agosto de 19?0. 2. An6nimo. 1973. Comercializaci6n de 1a babaArticulo en Et Universal, Jueves 5 de Julio de 1973- 3. Arocba Piiango, C.L., y S. Gorzula. 1,9'75. A naturally-ocurring inhibitor in the blood-cfotting meclanism of qaiman crocodilus. Herpetologica 31 (4): 419-420- 4. Arocha Piiango, c.L-, y S. corzueta. 18?6- Hemostasis en ef CailgB! crocoalilus. CONICIT. TT Sehinario sobre Chiguires (Hvdrochoerus hidrochaeris) y Babas {caiman crocodilus) programa y resrimenes. Maracay, 1-4 Dic. 1976. publicado !rrrdlsv/ !.!., J. Gorzula y A. Ojeda. 1982. The blood clotting rnechanism of Spectacled Cainran Caiman crocodllus. Mofecular Physiology. 2 t I6I-L'7A 6. Ayarzaguena, Jose. 1980. Ecologia del Caiman de Anteojos o Baba (Caiman sclerops) en los Llanos de Apure, Venezuela.Tesis (en Doctoral, Universidad Compultense, Madrid, Espafia. Prensa Dorfana Act. Vert-) 21 pp. ?. Belda, 8- 1976- fnforme sobre fa Caceria Comercial del Seiedico, h. alel C. (Hydrochoerus hidrochaeris) chiguire y cle ]a Baba (caiman crocodilus) en VenezrrelaII Seminario sobre Chiguires y BabasMaracay 1-4 Dic. 1976. 19'76. proqramas y resumenes - 9. Blohm, Tones. 1948. Observaciones sobre tos caimanes traidos delrio Orinoco en abril de 1946. Men. Cien. Nat- Ia Salle. v:Ira (22\ -- 129-132 - 10- Blohn, AntonioEstudio de ta utilizaci6n {En preparaci6n). de los deseclos ale la explotaci6$ de la Baba (Caiman cocoditos) proyecto de como recurso alimenticio para su crianza. Tesis, drea ale Biotecnologia. Divisi6n de Ciencias Biol6gicas. Universidaal Sim6n Botivar. Toniis1973. Conveniencia de criar crocodilidos en Venezuela con fines econ6nicos y para prevenir Simposic su extinci6n. Internacional sobre Fauna silvestre y Pesca rtuvial y Lacustre Amaz6nica25 Nov. 1 Dic. lC73, Manao, AnBzqlas, Bras i l. 33 pp. Breve descripci6D de investiqaciones Blohm, Tomes. 1974. llevadas a cabo en cuanto a babas (ggl!3! 9!.9e.9d!LUg) de 1973 y Agcsto de 1974. en venezuela entre Septienbre (rlvdrochoerus hidrochaerls) seminario sobre eI chiguire (cainan crocodilus). y Ia Babilla Bogoti, Colombia 20 a1 31 de Agosto de 1974. (CrocoalYfus Tomes1982. Husbandry of orinoco crocoaliles Ponencia presentada en eI 5thintermedius) in Venezuela. Group the worklng Meeting of tbe crocodile specialist snc.ias srrrviv-l cdnnnission of the International Union for conservation of Nature and Natural Resources 1.2-16 August Florida. 1980. Florida State Museum, GainesvilIe, 12. Bfohn, 13. Brazaitis. Los Crocoalilidos en Venezuefa. P- y M- Watanabe. 1982. Ponencia renovable no aprovechaaloUn recurso naturaf presentada en eI 5th. Working Meeting of the Crocodile Conrnission of Specialist Group of the Species Survivaf of Nature anal union for Conservation the International Florida State Natural Resources 12-16 Auqust 1980. Florida. Museum, Gainesville, 14. Brazaitis, (Ed.). P- y M- watanabe1984. iilewsletter: Ealitor's Servi ce Commission Crocod i1e Speciali st cor.ments Survival February, 1984. Group de Ia IUCN vol- 3, N. 1- carreffo, de babas sugiere Y. Pablo. 1971. criaderos artificiales publicado en F1 zooldqico. Articulo investigador universat. Jueves 3 de Junio ale 1971. Carreho, Y- Pablo. Estampas, 19'72. publicado en Articulo 1972. criadero de babas, Mayo de suptemento doininical de Ef universal. l7- J., c. Ibilflez y F.Braza- 1976- Datos sobre la alimencastroviejo, en los taci6n del Babo o caimdn chico (qgltoq! sclerops) conicit. II Seminario sobre l1anos de venezuela. (Hvdrochoervs hidrochaeriq) chiguires Y Babas (caimSn 1076. Programa Y resumenes crocodilus). lraracay, I-4 )ic. 18. J., c- Ibiiffez y F. graza. 1977. Datos sobre 1a castroviejo, (caiman claesli]l]sl en los llanos del baboalin'entaci6n ale Venezuela. Res[nenes de] VII Congreso Latinoamericano 67. de zoologia. Tucum:ln, Argentina: D'Andria, 20. de un modelo matematico Bianca. 1980Estructuraci6n (caiman de la Baba. sobre la diniimica poblacional comercial. explotaci6n crocodilus) con miras a su posible Dpto- de Ciencias Anbientales. Trabajo Especlal de Grado. Universidad Sim6n Bolivar. Div- ciencias Biol6qicas' de los a1 conocimiento contribuci6n Donoso Barros, Roberto 1965. Pbysis, 25 (70): 387-400. cocodrilos ale Venezuela. Donoso Barros, Roberto. los cocodrilos ( ' 7 1 )| 15-32. 1966aContribuci6n at conocimiento de physis 26 de Venezuefa (continuaci6n) 22. Donoso Barros, Roberto1966b. Contribuci6E a1 conociniento ale physis 26. (conclusi6n) fos cocoalrilos ale venezuela. ( ' 72 ) | 2 6 3 - 2 1 4 . 23. FUDENA (sin fecha) iA salvar e1 caimiinl. noticioso de la Fundaci6n par'a la (fUDENA] . 24. coalshalk, Robert, E. 19?6contribucl6n al conocimiento del cicfo de vida del Caiman q. crocoalilus. Parte I1,: Epoca de lluvia. conicitII seminario sobre chiduires (Uydrochoerus \idrochaeris) y Babas (C4!!EI crocodilus) Maracay, 1-4 Dic. 19?6. Programa y resfnenes. 25- Godsbalk, Robert, E1978El caim:in de1 OriDoco, glgsgtlLll]S en 1os Llanos Occidentales intermedius VenezoLanos, con observaciones sobre su distribuci6n en Venezuela y recomenda.i6.es bara srr conservaci6n. Informe Final mimeog r a f i a d o p a r a F U D E N A ,2 6 p p . coalshalk, R.E1982. The habitat anal dist.ribution of paleosuchus in Venezuela. Ponencia presentada en sth- Working Meetinq of tbe Crocodile Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources 12-16 August 1980. Florida State Museum. Gainesville. Florida. 27- Godshalk, R.E. 1982. Status and conservation of Crocodylus interrnedius in venezuelaPonencia presentada en el. 5th. Workinq Meeting of tle Crocodile Specialist croup of the species Survival Comnission of the lnternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources 12-16 August 1980Florida State Museum, Gainesvi l Ie , Fforida. 2a- Gorzula, S-, C-L-A. Pifrango y C. Salazar. 1974- Coagulaci6n y (baba) en su hiibitat fibrin6lisis en e1 cA!IB! sclerops natural. Ponencia presentaala en Ia VII Jornaala Nacional de Hematologia y Transfusi6n. ale Hospital Veterinario Los Anales 20-24 de Noviembre de 1974. 29. corzula, s1975. conserving and stydying the caiman in venezuela. The Herptile. The Journal for the reptile and amphibian enthusiastic. Editlon N, 6: 26-32. 30. Gorzula, s1976a. ldentificaci6n rdpida y tentativa de] gqhg! y Pafeosuchus. crocodilus ConicitII Seminario sobre (lidrae!9erE y Babas (gglrg! chiguires hidrochaeris) crocodilus). Maracay? 1-4 Dic. 1976. Programa y resumenes - Fudena informa. Boletin Defensa de la Naturaleza 77 corzula, 1976bEcologia del ggllBe! crocodilus s. y D. Rentl6nConicit. en la Guayana VenezolanaIT Seminario sobre (,,vdrochoerus hrCrochaerrs) y Babas (qgilg! Chiguires crocoalilus). varacay, l-4 Dic. 1q76- Prograna y resunenes - Gorzula, Piiango y c. Salazar. S., c-!.A. blood by venipuncture obtalnlng Copeia N.4:838-839. 33. corzula, 19?6. Estudio conparativo s. y c.L.A. Arocha Piianqo. de siete especies animales. Ponencia de tromboplastinas presenLada en .La VIII Jornada Nacional de HemaLologia y Barquisimeto l8-22 Biblioteca Pdbfica. Transfusi6n. de octubre 1976. 34- corzufa, 'It.e ecoloqy of the spectacled caiman in the s. 1911Vene"uelan Cuayana. Joint annual neeting of the League anal the society for the Study Herpetologists' Lawrence, Kansas, 7-13 of Amphibians and Reptiles. August 19??. Resumen. 35. corzula, S1978. crocodilus Guayana. corzula, 1981. S. y c.L.A- Arocha Piffango. with particular activity reference 37. corzula, S. 1984. estimates 38-39. 38. cutidrrez, (en preparaci6n) - Estudio sobre la utilizaci6n sail para consumo hurnanode la Raba cono recurso alirnenticio Divisi6n de Proyecto de Tdsis, iirea de Biotecnologia. ciencias Biol6qicas, Universialad Sim6n Bolivar. 39. Ilamilton, 1976. L.S-, J. Steyernark. J.P. Veillon y E. Mondolfi. ale los Bosques Hdmedos de venezuela. conservaci6n Caracas, Junio 1c75- 181 pp. Consejo de Bienestar Rural- 40. Eumboldt, Alexander de., et Aim6 Bompland- 1805-1832- voyage aux en 1799, faites du Nouveau continent, reqid)s equinoxiales 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, vols. r-xxxv N. Maze Paris. 4L, Lang, 42. al conocimiento del ciclo de viCa 19?6. contribuci6n Maness, s-J. Epoca de sequia. conicit. Parte I: del caiman crocodilus. (EId!9s!-9c-E!q guires hidrochaeri s) v 11 Seninario sobre chi Maracay, 1-4 Dic. 1976- ProBabas (caim€n crocoalilus). grama y resumenes. 31. J.W. 1976. A method of from large reptiles. An ecological study of caiman crocodifus inhahitinq savanna lagoons in tle venezuelan oecologia (Ber-t.) 35 {1): 2l-j4. Thronrboplastic Molecular to reptiles. method for size Proposal for a photographic Herpetological Review, 5 (2) of crocodilians. Belaviour of ggi-$.3! Thernal Ecology and social 1977. Progress report crocoalilus in the Ilanos of venezuela. Institution. Park, smithsonian zoologlcal to the National Red Data Book. 43. Maness, S. J. y Goatshalk, 1976. El cdnero q,rpcodvlus en venezuela. ConicitTT Seminario sobre Chiguires. (Hyalrochoerus hidrocha.eris) y Babas (gghg]1 crocodilus). Maracay, I_4programa y resir.:nenesDic. 19?5. 44. Maness, s. J. 1982Status of crocodylus acutus, caiman cllccodi1us and g.ai.!e! crocodilus crocodilus in venezueta. flggfq Ponencia presentada en la 5th. Working Meeting of the Crocoalile Speciatist Group of ttre Species Survival Conunission of tle International Union for Conservation of Nature anal Naturaf Resources t2-16 Auqust 1980. Fforida State Museum, Gainesville, Florida, 45- Marcellini, Dale L. 19?9- Activity parterns and densiries of (Caiman crocodilus) Venezuelan Caiman, and ponal Turtles (Podocnemis ygqLl) . Vertebrate Ecoloqy in t}le Northern gohn Eisenberg (Ed.). Neotropics, The l.rational press, Washinqtcn, Zoological Park, Snithsonian lnstitution D.C. 263_277. 46- MARNR - 47. Medem, Federico1083, Los Crocodylia de Sur Amdrjca, Vot- TT Universidad Nacional de Colonbia y E,ondo Colombiano de Investigaciones Cientificas y proyectos Especiales " F r a n c i s c o J o s d d e C a l d a s , , C O L C I E N C T A SB , ogot:i, Cotombia 214 pp. 48. Medina, 49. Mondolfi, Edgardo- 50. Mondolfl, Edgardo. 1974. Proyecto de reestructuraci6n de 1os y Programas de Fauna Silvestre Serviclos de1 Minlsterio de Agricultura y Cria. consejo de Bienestar Rural, caracas, Junio de 1974, 120 pp. 51. Montiel, N., S. Gorzula y C.L. Arocha piiango. 1976. pariinetros ponencia presentada henatol6gicos de1 Caiman crocodilus. en la VTII Jornada Nacional de Hematologia y Transfusi6n. Biblioteca Piblica, Barquisimeto 18-22 de Octubre 19?6. 52. Moril1o, P., C.M- 1982- Observaciones sobre mantenimiento y cria de Crocodvlus intermedius Zoologia Neotropical. Actas de1 VI11 Congreso Latinoamericano -ale Zoofoai- 1982. Aprovechamiento racional de la Baba o Babo. Caiman crocodilqg L. DGSAA. DGSTA. 14 pp. Carnen Julia1976. Crocodilians from The Late Terciary of northwestern venezuela: Melanosuchs fisheri sD. nov. BreviorE, {438) :1 tr1965. Nuestra tauna. Et Faro1. 1 2 1 4 )| 2 - t 3 . co. rt: raai-Iaai.---- 53. Ojasti, Juhani. 1963. Havaintoja Orinokon alueen luonnosta ja piirteista. sen ekologisista Luonnon Tutkija 6'7.I3'7-L46. Eripainos - 54. ojasti, Julrani. 19"12- La fauna sitvestre produce (separata de] ,,La Ciencia en Venezuela, U. libro Carabobo fStO) - Oficina de Divulgaci6n Agricola, Ed. Div. !,auna DRNR t4AC 22 DD. 19 Ramirez, I'.,f.. C. Safazar, s. corzufa y c.I. Arocha piffango. 1974. Valores henatol6gicos ale reptiles en su habitat natural. Ponencia presentada en la VIII Jornada Nacional de Hematologia y Transfusi6n. Hospital Veterinario ale I,os Andes 20-24 de Novienbre 1974. Ramirez, F., C.1,. Arocia Rond6n. 1975. Acta cientifica Piiango, S. corzula, C. Salazar y D. (Baba). Hematologla de1 caiman crocodilus venezolana- 26 (1) 27-2A. 57- Ramirez, F., C.L. Arocha Pifiango, S. corzula y N. Montiel. 19?6. Estudio Hematol6gico del Caiinan crocodilusconicit. II (tii'Crochoerus hidrochaeris) y Seminario sobre Chiquixes Babas (Caiman crocoalilus). Maracay/ 1-4 Dic- 19?5Ptograma y resumenes. 58. Ramirez, F., C-L. Arocba Pifiango, N. Montiel y S. corzula. 1978Elementos figurados, hemoglobina y proteinas de Ia (Linneaus). sangre er el l-Bj_Bg-acrocodilus Acta Ciehtifica Venezolana. 29z 26a-2'73. 59. y S. Gorzu]a. Ramirez,Y-, C-C- CastiIlo 19??, Proyecto venezolano sobre cocodrilos project) - Herp. Review- 8 (4): 130. 60- Ramos S. y C- Vilfarroe]. 1975. Un modelo linea1 para 1a estimaci6n de la relaci6n talla-peso en babas (caiman pobfacidn crocodiluE) de 1a locafizada en e1 m6du1o experimental de MantecafVenezolana. Acta Cientifica 26 l1) . 27. Conservation. (venezuelan crocodile Ramos, S. y E- Pereyra. 1975. Valores cal6ricos de la biomasa de la baba (.air.an crococlilus) - Acta ^ientifica Venezolana 26 (7)'- 27- 62- Ramos Oropeza, Santiago. 1975Evaluaci6n calorim6trica a nivel (Linneaus 1758) de la individual en Caiman qrocodilus poblaci6n localizada en e1 m6du1o experimental de vFrrF.al . Fcrido ab,lr^ ---q-{^ crado, Escuela de Bioloqia, Fac. Ciencias, central de venezuela88 pp. ^-^^^ial de Universidaal 63- Ranos Oropeza, S.y J- Pacleco, 19?6. Notas preliminares sobre la (baba) , en los dindmrca energ6tica de cainan clocodilus .onicrt. tr seniharjo sobre.higuires n6dulos de Apure. (u.idrochoerus hidrochaeris) y Babas (a4iit3! crocodilus). l4aracay, 1- a Dic. 1o76. Proqrana y resdrenes. 64. Ranos s., S. Danielle\,/ski y G. Colomine. 1981. Contribucidn a 1a ecologia ale los Vertebrados Acudticos en Esteros y Botetin Bajtos de sabana Modu]ada. de ]a Sociedad (139): 79-104. Venezolana de ciencias Naturales. XxV. Rivero Blanco, carlos. ( 136) C-13. 1 9 68 . E] caimiin v su valiosa Diel. rineas 2C 66. R i v e r o Blanco, Carlos. 1970. Situaci6n de la Baba y 1os Gir€r,es efectos ale la exptotacidn comercial. Reco;endaciones para el manejo de 1as especies. Foro sobre protecci<jn y lomento de la Fauna Silvestre. SVCN, Caracas, 12 pp. 6'1. Rivero Blanco, carlos1973. Ensayo monogr:ifico sobre 1os n&itos Reproductivos de 1a Baba o .lacare_tinga, aaiman croc.odilus en los llanos de venezuefa y tas p"siUi t i EEEE.-A-6-r.iElo en semicautividad, con sugerencias sobre tas Dosibles aplicaciones de la metodoloqia de mabejo a1 c;iman Negro o Jacare-acu Melanosuchus nioer de las cuencas de1 Amazonas y Rio Negro. Simposio Internacional sobre Fauna Sifvestre y Pesca Ftuviat y Lacustre Ariaz6nica. 25 NovI D i c . 1 9 7 3 , M a n a o s/ A m a z o n a s , B r a s i l . 36 DD. 68. Ribero Blanco, c. I9'74. "cuiintos caimanes quedlan? Articulo publi_ cado en La Escena Ecol6gica de Et Nacionat, Domingo rg de Diciembre de 19?4. 69. Rivero Blanco, C. 19?4. ltiibitos reproiluctivos ale la Baba en Los Llanos Venezolanos. Natura (52) | 24_29. '70. 71'72. Rodriguez, (En preparaci6n). custavo. Efectos de Ias variables densidad y tipo de dieta sobre la tasa ale crecimiento en cautiverio de ta baba (Caiman crocodilus) durante el primer provecLo de -esis, drea de Fcotoqia. afro de vida. Division de Ciencias BiologicasUnrversi/-iad 5im6n eolivar. Romero G. 1983Distress call saves a Caimaq e. in the venezuelan Llanos. Biotrdpictls- crocoalilus (1) -. 71.- hatchinq Rornero, Rafael A. (en preparaci6n), Estualio de los efectos ale algunas variables quimicas, fisicas y ecol6gicas sobre biologia de1 nido de ta Baba (caiman- crocodilus) . 1a 73- S e i j a s , Andrds EIoy. 1979. Aspectos fundamentales sobre la alimentaci6n y metabolisno de Caiman crocodilus y su relaci6n en ta conunidad ucuati"a a""ili-aet l,n5aufo Fxp-rinenLal de Manrecat , Esrado Apure. Tral^aio EsDecial de crado. Escuela d- Bio]oqia, FaauttEd de c.iencias. Universidaal Central de Venezuela. 123 pp. '74- Sei jas, Andr6s Eloy y S. Ramos1980, caracterizacidn de Ia atieta de 1a Baba. Caimaq crocodilus, durante la estaci6n seca en las sabanas moduladas de1 Estado Apure, venezuela. Acta Biol. Venez. 10 (4): 373_389. Staton, Mark y J.R. Dixon. 1 9 7 5 . S t u a l i e s o n t h e alry season biology of Cainan crocoditus crocodilus form the venezuelan llanos. Mem- Soc. Cienc.Nat- La salIe35 (101) Staton, Mark y J. R. Dixon, 197?. Breeding bjoloqy of the Spectacted Caiman (Caiman crocodilus crocodilus) in the venezuelan IlanosU-s- Iish & Wild1. Serv- wiIdl. Res. Rep- (5): 1-21- '75- 76. 2I 7'7. Staton, 1a. 'fofflani, specimehs irl M. (comp.). 1978. A list of crocodilian collections of the United States. major herpetological copyright 1978 by Mark A. Staton. P.O. Box 37336 Houston, Texas 77036. H1973Posibilidades de recria del cocodrilo enano Monografia. negro y de1 perro ale agua amaz6nico. y pesca simposio rnternacionaf sobre fauna silvestre y lacustre arnaz6nica. Tnfolmes de conferencias, fluvial Manaus-Amazonas . Brasil. cursos Y reunioDes N 26. 2 VIrl-D-1 a VIII-D-8 - 22 tttttt Itl. N.r. l2 l ttttT i'llctolat cot{0tlt3 Eltt t5 coltoiTliltMo Imt'lDvtt coltotTMl ll|I0 50cu! llolto DottsTlco llli0Dutclolt Dltlircl 0t totltctotl cutl|lttT0 I cltltS lta tDllt !tlTl lltlicttlcl ItDIvtD0l! txttfftllDts r lrirlt'os D[ifl,tDotas t n0[tl Dlt lt0!0clt, utm SlSllilllcl TICNICIS !t l I DIsfl |lucIofl dtPt0 TtcluctsDt ncl,rE Tlcl{tcts DEnlltdttlln ut fill8 Ttcl tls !t tsTl,oro lllllJo I CONSH!|CToX llllcT0s Ecol{otltcos Dlvl,Lclctotl crEritl|s t utg{,ts suetlttcus 0t a!T0l[0 t I t l, t I I I I I I t t I I I I I II I ? II I t 1 l ilTllllco!fir...io!l ilf lor ll 1l ll ll t! rt l? 1l It ll !l !l lt !l t! ll l? ll !t {l ll [[rfi rr ctdfis c|lf ofl$ ls$ctts allitolt|l mTotrDIuoutL cottott|| tMo 50cl[ xtr11000i15flc0 t!ttoDucc | otl Dtrlilcl !N to .lctox cticlIr|rto I ctlst3 Dt !0lt DIITI ItliclTtct IxDl tt0tt tfflut0||lll l rr$3rm! 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ImlttDulL coiPolTut|lam 50cnt $rM miESttco n!ll00ucc Iotl Dtrt ct !t tolllctol cllcllldlo t cttsts ,t mlD DIITT ElllctTtcl lt{,tvttulL txruli8DtDls I tMtsllos DlttlDltoltS r mitrlt0ll) SIotoclt, t||lm l 3tlTtMtt r !tsntrucl0l Tlcr{lcr!Dl nliruo tlclitcts Dt ilSclJ! ttoitcls 0t uD||rtt rntl otlts Tlct{tcl!!l t9Tu}to illtJo t col5lrvlc|ot t5ltclos !corcitco9 DMtClCIotl c|l {cus t t!tl|{[t SUCtuICnSDl IS'1IlIo tS lt ri tl 0 <0 -JF 7 LJIT O l-r Osrr Iu_] t-, I0 z utzn< H00_l :l il ? FOULI 0f IJIN U<UII Z TAAU LilU0> U J 0 l L !J ;0 z_l ZO U 0 t-,Ll0 I {J til tr FT[J( ul0 tm0 mH(i) r--t( vl IZ 00 Frll o o o N o g r l 0o l rol l a r oo r u : s=No I s.]a I:l_LNOf EO O!=xalN SITUACTON ACTUAL DE I,AS POBLACIONES DE BABAS Y BABIL],AS (caiman crocoalilus) EN LA RreICI{ }rcRIE-C€SIEFA DE VENEzUMA Ministerio Analrds Eloy sei J as Servicio Nacional de Fauna silvestre de1 Arnbiente y de los Recursos Naturales . MARNR Apartado 184. Maracay, Venezuela Renovables €W43! Numercus localities along the northern coast of Venezuela were visiteal between january and auqust, 1984Counts of greater than one year old were related Cai[.an crocodilus to the distance travefled dui_ing the censusingThe maximum number observed was 196-5 individuals/Km in a srBll sector of the Sanare river. In the other localities the values varied from 0.2 to 26.6 individuals,/Kn. llhere this species coexists with e!999_dIEl1!I]!!! the observed popufatlon densities of qq!@ryloqodlluq were low. It is consiaiered that the population levefs of spectacleal cainlans in tbis reglon are satisfactory, and may even have been favoured on the one hand by the drastic reduction in nu$ers of Crocoalvlus acutus. and on the other hand by the cqrstrucLicn of dams and otber artificial habitats. 2t) Introducci.6n que se ha evialenciado por el creclente con ef interds En contraste (gaj!3lcl9codi1us) en 1os ffanos occidentafes ale ta baba estudio CIe Venezuela, las pobl€tciones de esta especle en el resto de el En la repais ha sialo objeto de una escasa atenci6n cientifica. hist6gi6n norte-costera ale venezuela, ademes de las referencias (Appun, Humboldt, 19?5), 1961t la de babas sobre existencia ricas (Donoso-Barros, 1965; rnds recientes existen alqunas referencias En 6stas se seflalan a las poblaciones Maness, 1982; Medem, 1983). a la subale la cuenca det Lago de Maracaibo conro pertenecientes hacia j:su distribucion, la cual extenaleria especie -S. fuC€lq, del resto ale la Las pobfaciones e1 este, hasta ef rio Yaracuypertenecerian crocodilus. a la sub-especie g.g. regidn norte-costera como se 1es conoce en el EstaLas poblaciones de babas, o babillas de Venezuela, probablenrente de la regi6n norte-costera do Zulia, un impacto tan acentuado como el que proalujo fa intenno sufrieron comercial de esta especie en la maYor parte del sa explotaci6n (Medem, 1983), con excepci6n de las de la cuenca del pais def resto ale cuya una extracci6n l-ago de Maracaibo, las cuates soportaron pero que con seguridad datos (Medem op.cit-) magnitud no existen ya que todavia persiste clanalestina una actlvidad fue muy alta, que eventualmente es conociala cuando se protlucen deconisos como el efectuaalo por la zona 5 del I4ARNR, en Maracaibo, en el aio 1982 y en 616 cueros de babillas. consistente Locafidades visitadas v Metodolooia de la reqi6n Este trabajo fue realizaalo en aliversas localidaales por 6sta a toda la reqi6n entendiendo de Venezuela, norte-costera de1 Laqo de Maracaibo y de1 Mar caale fas cuencas hidrogr6ficas de con el objeto principal Los fugares fueron visitados ribe. poblaciones de1 caimiin de actuaf de las aleterminar fa situaci6n (Seijas, Estas localieste volumen). costa, Crocoalvlus acqlq, la principalnente en rios, represas y 6reas de alades, consistentes manglares, est6n ubicadas en los Estaalos zu1ia, Falcon, Yaracuv, Miranala v Anzoateoui. viside los sitios seguida para eI reconocimiento La netodologia en el trabajo antes 1a descrita tados es, en t6rminos generales, fueron recorrialas s610 que aunque muchas localialades citado, tanto de alia como de noche, s61o se consialer6 eI numero de c. mayores de un affo contados de noche. crocodilus fue calcuen varias ale fas localidades recorridas l,as distancias y cartas topocon Ia ayuda ale un curvimetro lada posteriormente EI nimero greficas a escalas de 1:250.000, 1:1oo.ooo y 1:25.000recorrida. con ]a distancia contados se relacion6 de S. qloggellE calcular lds alisdonde no fue posible locafidades Para aquellas de los contas610 se presentan los resultados tancias recorrldas, de 1as sobre la situaci6n con algdn conentario Jes realizados, 29 Resultaalos El nfnero de e. crocodilus mayores ale un aio contados a 10 largo de (perimetro) las orillas ale los enibaLses o en fos rios y cafios visitaalos, aparece en las Tablas 1 y 2, respectivamente. El perimetro totaf ale la replesa de Tuld es de 58,2 km, pero s6fo se recorri6 aproxlmadarnente la mitad de dste. En la represa de Socr.t el perimetro total calculaalo es de 112,3 km, habi6ndose recorrido solamente un tercio del rni smo. por kil6metro El valor m6s alto de lndividuos corresponile al rio Sanare, e1 cual es un pequeio curso de agua de corriente intermitente, donile ef pequefio sector inspeccionado representa uno ale los que conserva agua todo ef afio. sitios por seci:ores (Tocuyo, Aroa, yaracuy y En fos rios inspeccionados Neveri) la densidad de g. crocodil,E es nayor en los sectores rnes cercanos a fa desembocadura y disminuye aguas a!.ribar situaci6n que es inversa a la que se presenta con gfggqdlLqg_eq$lq en los tres primeros de estos rios (Tablas 2 y 3) El nimero tle inalividuos por kil6metro en los rios El Cristo, Unare y Caio El Eneal son los ft5s aftos, si se except\ia a los def rio Sanare, y superan incluso a la relaci6n Ind/km obtenida al considerar a g. crocoalilus y C- aclrtus de manera conjunta en aqueffos cuerpos de aqua donde estas especies coexisten. Otras focalldades visitadas fueron el rio Lim6n-Gran Eneal en el Estado Zufia, y ef Parque Nacional Morrocoy, en la Laguna de Jatira el Estado Falc6n y los canafes de Rio chico 1/ la Laguna de Tacariqua en e1 Estado Miranda. Afgunos detalles y sobre estas localidades otras alonde no se observaron babas, aparecen en Seijas (este volumen) En el rio lim6n y eI Gran Eneal se puede considerar a g. crocodifus como escaso, ya gue aunque los fugareffos afirman que dste existe,no se observ6 ningtn eiemptar durante 1a corta visita reatizaata. En Ia Laguna tle ,latira, por e1 contrario, este crocodilido es muy abundante, aunque no se pudo establecer la relaci6n entre ef nrimero de babas contadas (27 babas el 11-2-84) con ta distancia recorrida, aI no haber podido precisar l4orrocoy esta fltima, En el Parque Nacional se observ6 s61o una baba, en las cercanias det caio E] Le6n, eo aguas con una satinidad ale 25 partes por mil. En los canales de agua salobre de Rio Chico han sido observadas hasta siete babas pero se puede considerar a 6stas escasas, al igual gue en fa Laquna de Tacarigua donde esta especie estii restringida a 1os caffos y rios Datos alel autor (Seijas,sin pubficar) tomados en la I,aquna La Estre1la durante la elecuci6n de estudios en las cidnagas de Juan Manuel, al sur del Lago ale Maracaibo (Seiias, 1984), muestran 24 babillas contaalas ell media hora de recolrido nocturno en un bote a velocidad minima. 3o Discusi6n En trabajos (Maness. 1982, Medem, 1983) se ha aliscutido recientes brevemente la situaci6n de las poblaciones de ggiEg! crocodilus fuscus en venezuefaEsta subespecie, Ae acueiEo a veEEm=lip. cit.; t.rene una distribuci6n que va desde la cuenca del Laqo de Maracarbo nasra er rro yaracuy. Los resultados que se discute; en este arti_ culo.provienen de observaciones realizadas en esta area de distri_ buci6n, pero tambidn en focalidades ubicadas haci; a. t" reqi6n norte-costera de venezuela, "i ""i" en 1a .*i.tiii"-"i.. .oo."_ pecie de baba, q.9. crocodilus. S i n e m b""ur arqo no se ha querido, af presentar fos resultados, hacer ningun tlpo de separaciSn por suU_ por alos razones: especies, en primer luoir, porq-ue no existen r ri saci oAes sue esrabrezcan la distribuci6n y :::l:::l,t::. c a r a c t e r i s t t c a s "".s d e 1 a s p o b l a c i o n e s d e b a b a s e n t a r e g i 6 n , y p o r 10 sus afinidades y_diferenc.ias, v en segundo i.o.r, porqu" l] :ar ! :r e g l9o9n d o n d e se ha real-izado el estudio ha sido la mayomente afectada por et desarrolfo urbanistico e indusrriat a"i i,"i., f" que ha significado una modificaci6n importante de muclos habitat naturales y la creaci6n de ambientes favorables para ta expansj6n de.esLa especie, lo que ha podido oroducir camli'os en.r., Jrstrror]_ clon oriqinaf al facititar, o limitar, 1a invasi6n y el intercambio con individuos de otras localiatades. Todos los luqa.es vlsitaalos se encuentran dentro del erea de dis_ tribucl6n hist6rica del caimin de fa cosra, SIeSedlltgs acut*, especae que constituia eI motivo principaf del estudio. e.to oe_ termino qle se ignoraran mr.rchos sitios alonale se sabia de la existencia de babas pero donde habia poca o ninguna probabilidad ate encontrar g- acutus,. En este caso se tiene a las cidnaqas ale Curari, en Fa1c6n y a la Laguna de Campoma en el Estado Sucre. por otra parte, algunas ]ocalidaales muy extensas o inaccesibles no pudieron ser reconocidas, como es el caso ale fa mayor paxte de1 sur alel Lago de Maracaibo, donde se sabe de ta exjsten;ia be impo.t""i"= pob-Lacio_ nes ale g. crocodilus (Medem, 1993; Seijas, 1984). Entre et rio Yaracuy y Cabo Codera, en e1 Estaato Miranda, no fue revisaala ningu_ na localidadEntre estas tocafidades s610 se conoce et ie-r"r-^ hist6rico de Appun (1961) quien sefrala babas en el rio S."';;;;;;" en Puerto Cabe1lo. A pesar de que no fueron visitaalas todas las localialaaies alonde existe c- croQodilus en ta regi6n norte_costera ae venezuefa, er area reconocada se puede considerar como representativa de fos alis_ tlntos hibitats que 6sta ocupa en la reqi6n y, de acuerdo af an€lisis qe. Los resu.Ltados, se puede concfuir que tas babas y babillas no solo son abundantes, sino que en algunos sitios ha tenido incremen_ tando sus pobldciones por Ia creaci6n de represas y cuerpos de agua artificiales que favorecen su expansr6n, y por Ia etiminaci6n ae-un competidor tan importante como g. djfrtu:Los datos que se presentan en este trabajo sirven ale apoyo a Ia idea de que g. crocodilus ba venido ocupanato aie manera proq;esiva e-L ni_ cno que ha deiado vacio q. acutus (Medem. 1983)pira-varias de 1as Localidades visitadas existen aatos o referenclas fi existencia de poblacaones remanentes ale este cocodrito (Seijas,"otre este-vohimen) - 31 Estos alatos aparecen en la Tabla 1I1 y muestran como en aquellos importancia de q. ale relativa Iuqares alonde existen pobtaciones bajos de babas se encuentran en niveles eg]f!Jg, las poblaciones g. gqglgq alisninuyen. las de gy a mediaa que las poblaciones aalquieren mayor relevanciacrocodilus parece inpedir el desaentre anbos crocodilidos La conpetencia ya donale coexisten, en los sitios ale grandes pobfaciones rrollo por (expresacla kil6me_ en indivialuos que al con;iderar la alensidad (Tabta 3), fa consialexados en conjunto €ros) de amlf,os reptiles para babas en lugares misma es baja si se conpara con la que existe como Tu16, Socuy, cumaripa y e1 rio Unare, en los cuales no existei de g- e.9]&!9. sobre 1a existencia atatos confiabfes de g. grocsdilus. parece limitar la expansi6n Lo 6nico que actualmente podria ser como adversos, ecol6gicos ile factoies es la exi;tencia inaliviya que se ha encontraalo aunque las aguas, fa salinialaal de siempre ha sialo en numeros aluos de esta especie en aguas salobres, ale babas poalrian hasta El increnento de tas poblaciones muy bajos. planes ale recupede impfementar al tratar un obsteculo constituir localidades. en afgunas de la costa raci6n def caimiin fueron obtenidas en que se aliscuten en este trabajo Las cifras primeros ocho meses los ale nocturnos a 10 largo reconocimientos fase ale la luna. hora, como clima, factores Algunos del aio 1984. Io cual podria haber influido etc- no se mantuvieron constantes de fos contajes taf cono sucede en otras locasobre el resultado ( G l a s t r a , 1983i Seijas, 1984b) - No obstante, las mismas fidades poalran servir de punto ale partida Y comparaci6n para el desarrollo nortesobre g. gIgSg(LLUrq en la region investigaciones de futuras costera de venezuefa. Aqradecimientos CIe A David Gerardo Colalero y Ram6n Rivero. quienes me asistieron fases las distintas de eI desarrollo durante una manera eficiente de este trabajo. Biblioorafia Appun, K-F. 1961. Venezuela. Hufi\boldt, A, 1975Equinocciales 429 p. Donoso-Barros, drilos cfastra, Ed. universidad En LosTr6picos caracas. 519 p- central de a fas Regiones Del orinoco aI Amazonas. viaje Barcelona. Edt. Labor. del Nuevo continente- contribuci6n R. 1965. Physis, de venezuela. ale los a] conocimiento 25 l7A): 28'7-4OO. coco- of Caiman crocodilus Notes on a Population R. 1983. Biolin Surinam. DePfeted by Hide Hunting erg-Se4!-Eq. 2 6 t 1 4 9 1 6 2 . conservation. 32 Marress, S. 1982. Status of Croqgdvlus acutus, Caiman crococtitus fuscuq, and caiman cro-codilus crocoairus ln- vEiEZuEia. ea crocodiles, ruCN pub1. (r.rs), rZZ_rZO. Mealem, I- 1983Los Crocodylia de Sur Am6rica. Carrera 7a. Ltda. Bogotii2?0 p. vol II. Edt. Seijas, A- E. 1984a. preliminar Estualio Faunistico de la Reserva de Fauna silvestre de las cidnagas ae Juan llanuei, ag.a= Blancas y Aguas Negras, Estado tuliaI.{ARNR. Serie Infor_ mes Tecnicos DGIIA/lT/14'7. A4 p- Seijas, A.E. I984b. Est.inaclones pobtaclonales de Babas (caimah crocodilus) en tos Llanos occidentales ae venezueral-EFin Serie Tnformes T6cnicos. DGSITA/ITI165. 23 p. Seijas, A.E. (Este volimen). situaci6n Actuaf del (crocodvlus Costa. acutus) en Venezuefa- caimdn ale ta 33 TABI,A 1 NUMERODE CAIMAN CROCODTLUSMAYORESDE I'N AffO, CONTADOS EN CINCO REPRESAS DE LA REGION NORTE_COSTERADE VENEZUEIJA Distancia Recorriala (Km) Localidad Nclndivialuos contados lndlftr lbcha Represa de TuI6 (Estado Zulia) 2 9, 1 240 4,2 $ y 17-6-84 Represa (Estado 37,4 191 5,1 16-6-84 Epre-sa de Pueblo Viejo (Estado zulia) 30.3 60 2,O 13-6-84 Represa (Estado 15.0 63 4,2 25-4-84 32,0 2'76 8,5 20-6-84 ale socuy zufia) de Tacariqua Iafc6n) Represa de ctnlaripa (Estado Yaracuy) Nota: La "Distancia Recorrida", se refiere a1 perimetro interno de estos enbalses. En fas represeas de Pueblo Vielo.Tacarigua y Cumaripa, los recorrialos abarcaron todo ef perimetroEn fos embafses de Tu16 y Socuy la alistancia recorrida s61o represent6 la mitad y la tercera parte, respectivamente , de los perimetros de estos cuerpos de agua. 34 TAB]-A 2 NUMERODE CAIMAN CROCODfLUS MAYORES DE UN Afio . coNTADos RIOS Y CAftOS DE LA REGION NORTE_COSTERADE VENEZUELA Distancia Recorrida (Km) Nrlmero Individuos Contados 4,0 46 18-6-84 Estaalo Falc6n Rio Sanare 0,3 59 2 9- 4 - A 4 |(ao tocuyo Sector A. 1 1, 0 Localialad Rio Ef Cristo Sector Fecha 23-A-84 4 B- 23-A-44 Rio Aroa Sector A. 26-7-84 Sector B. Estado Yaracuv Ca6o E1 Eneal 3,0 HlO YaraCUy Sector Boca Ene a f -LirDncito 22-A-84 66 25-7-44 2'l 2s-I-44 Sector B. 6,0 ,7 Sector D. 13,2 3 Estado Anzodteoui 2 5, O Sector INcls-Puente Naricl-ra] 16-5-84 7 - 8 - 84 26,3 11 Sector Pte.Sr]cre Pte.IE Volca Nota: 37 t9-7-A4 1 4 ,8 Los sectores mencionados para los rios aParecen seffalados en la F i g u r a 1 . 2s-3-44 23-7-44 Tocuyo, Aroa y Yaracuy. tal FIE: 3$ E aH q ot'< otE ot4 €9 I ,9 .a i\ooNl iJ o ;itfi ol) E p 6. gt9 utff -l> 3 3 ala g - _- F] Fl il oH I d I Bl{ F 8. 3tH bl et. ,4 4flI "El $El a al 'tfl g bc Eg ESI d;' gli 'flco'o<mcoe o ! 9u E 9.E'E.ql ; :;l x r I I b 8!l .!? .a .a ol ,f! -l EE E 99. oo8688[g ssP€hkE9 ! o (u, o oOo '.1 '-l d d oEl Po &,s LA ECOIOGIA Y EL ESTADO ACTUAL DE I]OS ALIGATORIDOS DE LA GUAYANA VENEZO],AITA Stefan corzula Divisi 6n de.uencas e H.idro odii aVG Ffectrr ficaci 6n aef Caronil-i.e. Apartado 62413, Caracas v Alfredo Paolilto O. lnstituto de Zoologia Tropical Universidad Central de Venezuela Apartado 47599 Chaguaranos 10 41-A caracas SUMMARY Three species of alligatorids are found in the VeDezuefan Guiana region. whose geographical atistributions cover most of this zoneCaiman crocodilus occurs in a variety of aquatic }labitats, with mean densities of23.42 (older than two years )/]ritometer individuals of shore-Iine in lagoons a d. 2-52 individuals/tiloneter in riverine habitat. Paleosuchus trioonatus is apparently restricted to riverine habitats with mean densities of 0,?9 individuals/ kiloneter. The lack of ecotogicdt data for paleosuchus p:alpebrosus does not perrit an oqjecLive dnalysls for this species. Localities for cainan crocodilus and Paleosuchus palpebrosus \rere registered upto altitudes bel<r", 400 meters. Pafeosuchus trioonatus, however. were found upto 1,300 meters. There is no evidence, at the Dresent line, of any sig.llficEnt neoative impact by ."n t',"." species in the Venezuelan cr.riana. Tn fact, it is" n consialered that cattle ranching activities iave pr.oduced an increase in the available habitat in the case of Caimarr crocodilus - 37 Introaluccl6n en venezuela, allsmlnuci6n de los crocodylidae Despuds de la progresiva presidn humana en estii sujeta a cierta la fanilla Alligatoridae se hace Desde este punto de vista, regiones del paisdeternlnadas de las especies involucraalas. conocer las bases ecol6gicas indispensable La Reqi6n Guayana de venezuela ofrece varias ventajas para el estualio alebido a 1os niveles bajos de poblaci6n humana, a de los allgat6ridos, que posibilidades ale acceso y a los extensos habitats 1as restringidas ain se encuentran en estaalo natural. Eneste trabajo estamos considerando a la Region Guayana de venezuela y su alelini.taci6n cornprende, desale un punto ale vista biogeogr6fico (1966), la cuaf Roze Merialiobal" de 1a aproximadamente, "Subregi6n eI Territorio Federaf Aiazonas, e1 Estado BoIivar, incluye eI Territorio del Estaalo Monagas y el Federal Delta Amacuro, la regi6n oriental extremo sureste deI Estado Sucre. un resumen diagn6stico es e1 de suministrar El prop6sito de este trabajo en de los aligatdrldos nes resaltantes sobie los aspectos poblacionales en el contexto e.ol6qico. dicha regi6n y su significado Material v Mdtodos geogrdfica de ]os aligat6ridos de la distribuci6n La base evaluativa (1) 1a revision de fos ejenplares en la regi6n ha sido funalamentada en: de Rancho venezolalras (Estaci6n Biol6gica depositados en colecciones ile Venezuela, la universidad Central de cranile, EBRG, Museo tle Biologia MgNLst {2) Ia informaci6n Naturaf La salle, MBUcv y Museo de llistoria (American Museum of internacionafes recopilada en algunas colecciones l{useum of Natural ilistory, of Illinois AMNHr university Natural History, (3) USMN; el aniilisis critico y National Museum, UIMNE united States y (4) nuestras por autores previos cbser\racic'ne-s de los datos suministrados las localidades de toala consideraci6n ile canpo. Se han elimlnado previanente orales no comprobadas reportadas basadas en referencias por ef lnvestigador, como fa mayor parte de las localialades de GodstElk (1982) para Paleosuchus - Tambidn se ha prescindido de las localialades corno algunos alatos de que no hacen alusi6n a la fuente de origen, y de informaciones err6neas como la Medem (1983) para caiman crocoililus palpebrosus presencia en uruy6n, basada en una confusi6n de P-g!ggS!S!S. en esa ale Medem (1983) al emplear el reporte de Paleosuchus trioonatus regi6n, hecho por Poze (1958) para realizar una metodologia estandarizada En la actualialad no existe entre adultos, Gorzula (1978), sin diferenciar censos ale crocodylia. de caiman cSaggqiflC y crias, expres6 densidades poblaciones sub-adultos permanente" y de laguna de laguna de "caindn,/m2 en t6xminos "caimdn,h2 alisponible para esta especie se temporalr', seialando que Ia superficie seca ale 1a zona bajo reduce a una ddcima parte durante la estaci6n para se sospecha que toda lagunas donde es apto estudio. Este estimado por los crocoatyliaSin ernbargo, en lagos la superficie es utilizable la a Ia oriIIa, grandes y rios donate los Crocodylia estdn restrlngidos densidad pobtacional deberia expresarse en base al nrimero de "individuos/ Debe hacerse dnfasis en que en rios angostos kit6metro lineal de orilfa". no est6n separadas entre si, y riachuelos de caala orilla las poblaciones pero el ancho "crltico" a{n es desconocido- 3B Para fa finalidad de este trabalo se presentan densiatades pobtacionales calculadas en base a individuos y por 10 tanto observados son densidades que muy probablemente subestiman 1as densldades reales. La rnayorla ale 1os conteos fueron nocturnos, ya que las especies estudiadas muestran mayor actividaal durante la nocbe. presentaatas excluyen Las cifras individuos menores de dos afios, es decir, (,,pods,,)-de agrupaciones juveniles o crias. En el caso de conteos e; t-ase a super_fic;e ae habitat, se convirti6 cada cifra en una ilensialad line;f, con Ia prsnisa que cada cuerpo de agua fuese circular. Cuando se inalica un tibo .!a ,,rio tompteto habirat (Tab1a 3) se trace atusi6n ;;;;-;;.;;"-i;"ijd* aligat6ridos de ambas orillas del rio en eI censo. En el caso ate se refiere "orifla" a que el censo corresponde a una sola ribera del rio. Sinopsis de fas Especies En la Regi6n Guayana ile Venezuefa, fos aligat6ridos estiin representaalos por tres especies conocidas, (Baba comin, Baba blanca, Caimah crocoalifus Baba anarilla), (Babo negro, Babo morichatero) y Paleosuchus patpebrosus Paleosqcbs trisonatus (Babo lregro), aunque Donoso-Barros (1956a, 1966bj incluy6 una cuarta especie Melanosuchus LigeI Sobre ]a presencia de Melanosuchus nioel. en Venezuela deben hacerse afgunas aclaratorias importantes. En fa cita original de Ia especie para el pais, Donoso-Barros (1966a) afirm6 que ta inica localiatacl sequra era el Rio Negro y seffa16 que el rinico ejemplar venezolano que estudi-6 procedi6 de] sur def Cocuy (1966b). Es evialente la anrbiguedad e imprecisi6n deI mencionaalo autor con respecto a 1a pro€eAencia exacta deI ejenplar. En las colecciones de Venezuela (y aparentemente alel resto del mundo, a juzqar por la iDformacidr dada por Medem, 198j) no existe ningun eJemplar venezolano de la especie y puede ser estimado que eI eJemplar de Donoso-Barros acaso proceati6 ale Brasil, pues Cocuy tambidn es el nombre de un pueblo del Rio Negro en territorio brasilefioSi el mencionado cocuy estaba referido a 1a locafida{i venezotana, e1 sitio de cofeccidn ale todas maneras parece haber sialo brasifero, Dues el sur ale dicha localidad corresponale ya a fa frontera entre ambos paises. ta existencia de Melanosuchus nioer en Venezuela no ha podido scr confirmada por nosotros hasta el presente, a pesar de los esfuerzos de campo invertialos alurante varios affos en e1 Territorio Featerat Anazonas y en el Estado Bolivar, incluyendo rios como et Negro y et cuyuni, en 1os cuales podria presumirse su presencia, tomando en cuenta la alistribuci6n de la especie en Brasil y cuayana resefiada por Medem (1983). En vista de estas consideraciones, IIJlgc! es una especie que hasta el bien su presencia en este pais no presente trabajo, en consecuencia, generos Caiman y Paleosuchus en ]a Distribuci6n recomendamos aceptar que Melanosuchus momento no se conoce d; venezuela, si debe ser descartada del todo. El se referird exclusivamente a los Regi6n cuayana ale Venezuela. ceooriiflca Se han obtenido 68 localialades para Caiman crocoatifus, 12 para paleGuchus palpebrosus y 24 para Paleosuchus triqonatus. dtstribuidas en fus t,"y". orlnoquense y atliintjca de cuayana (ver Anexo) - Otras 5 localidades para Palgosuchus pafDebrosus y una para P- trioorlatus en el resto del pals se han incorporaalo a1 aniifisis de 1a tli st ribuci6n , tomando en cuenta la carencia de inforinaci6n sobre este gdnero en Venezuela. 39 En generaf, las tres especies siguen patrones similares, estantlo presentes desale el Alto orinoco basta su desembocaalura en ef Defta y (Figuras 1, 2 y 3). No obstante, Ia visiio atfintica ereas de lnfluencia y geogriifica continta siendo fraqmentaria actual de la dlstribuci6n regiones en las cuales no se alispone ale casi se hacen obvias ciertas ningun dato: a) b) c) de 1a cuenca La comprenallda entre Ia porci6n izquierda (Estado Bolivar) y Ia cuenca de1 Rio del Rio caroni r'ederal Amazonas) . sipapo (Territorio (Territorio Federal Delta AmScuro) E1 Delta del Rio orinoco y regiones vecinas a la costa atldntlca {Estados Sucre y Monasas) . Todas 1as regiones altas en las cuencas ale ]os rios caroni y Caura (Estado Bolivar), Ventuari y Alto Orinoco (Territorio rederaf Amazonas) - Habitat por Caiman efQgqILIlE en ]a utilizaalo mds frecuentemente El habitat Tabla 1) . Es realmente o artificial; regi6n es de tipo lagunar (natural ubicar un anibiente de este tipo que no est6 habitado por Ia Clificil donde inclusive especie en las sabanas alel norte del Estado Bolivar, en charcos temporales producidos Por 1as es encontrada ocasio$almente (Gorzula, sabanas y bosques 1978) . l,os rios que atraviesan lluvias y g. por en ellos ocasionalrerte crocoalilus habita.los son anbientes tambidn casos. de !.e-!C-SSggLUC. En tales puede ser simpetrica con ambas especies casi siempre es menos abunalante, pero se ignora si caiman clocodilus alurante los dos misma son estables o 1a simpatria esta proporci6n periodos estacionales. Aunque Ia Tabla 2 sugiere que caiman crqcoalilus que bajas, debe ser tomado en consideracion es una especie de tierras carnpo esfrlerzo de en cuanto al una desproporci6n actualmente existe Ia cual favorece a las tierras desde e1 punto de vista altitudinal, se ve soportada por una localialad de q. gqqgiiLgq bajas. Esta suposici6n ver anexo), e1 cual drena en una cota en el Rio Kuken6n (Estado Bolivart minima de 800 metros. aftitudinal ocupan principalmente Tanto Paleosuchus patpebrosus corio P. !E!gg!g!l]q alesde qrandes rios hasta incluyendo 1os cur-sos ae Jgua da la reqi6n, tambien y quebraalas, cuerpos de agua artificiales pequeios moricbales (Tab1a aunque ser sinpetricos, 1) Pueden habitados ion ocasionalmente ha sido la situacl6n en nuestras observaciones 10 miis frecuente a este fen6meno Y a las diferencias Meden (1967) se refiri6 contraria. de la babitats ale estas especies en distintos en abulrdaDcia relativa habitan que en estas especies de colombia. l,a afirmaci6n Amazonia de y en los rios grandes en zonas de raudales en zonas ale agua torrentosas (Medem, 196?) no es del todo cierta, aI menos en la Guayana Venezolana' pero 1a por P. trioonatus, suefe ser ocupado Este tipo ale }abitat especie tambidn estd presente en cafros pequefios de aguas tranquilas. una entre estas especies parece existir Segun nuestras evidencias, pues a nivel altitudinal, de habitats !'trioonatus separaci6n parcial ale hasta 1.300 metros en la Gran Sabana alaanza a1 menos elevaciones a alturas (Estado Bolivar) , mientra P. palpebrosus parece restringirse 40 (Figura 4). bastante inferiores Sin embargo, Medem (19e1) registrd ur ejenpl€r de P. ?50 metros de aftura a en colombia y ta Fegion Guayana de eeL.:qebEgE_!-9 Venezuela adn no ha sido suficientemente cubierta desde este punto ale vista, todo lo cuaf sugiere que ef uso attitudinal del babitat arin no es bien conocido aqui. Estimaciones de Densidades poblacionales Los resultados paI:a las estimaciones ale densidaalespoblacionales se presentan en 1a T3bla 3- De las tres especies de ;tigat6ridos conocidas para la cuayana Venezolana, pafeosuchus palpebrosus a;arenttmente es tan escasa y restrinqida a habitats ain no muy bien dafinidos que resutta lmposible aliscutir respecto a su densidaat poblacional. De fas dos especres restantes, qatll@g! crocoditus nuestra densialades poblacionales mayores que Paleosuchus triqonatusAl expresar las denslataates ate Caiman crocoalilus en habitats lagunares como densialaales ,'I ineales,,puede apreciarse que en este habitat la especie alcanza su densidad mdxima, Aun cua.rdo las densidades reportadas estiin basadas en indivialuos cbseFrados. se considera que estas cifras se acercan a las densidaales verdaaleras de las poblaciones estualiadasA travds de varios aios de exDerrencaa de campo se ha llegado a 1as conclusiones siguientes: a) b) c) Los conteos nocturnos det,en realizarse aturante noches nubladas, sin lluvia y cuando la luna es poco evidente. En los habitats lagunares los conteos deben realizarse durante los principios de ta estaci6n ttuviosa, cuando las babas estiin plenamente utilizando tas oiitlas que a{n no han sido cubiertas por el resurqimiento de la vegetaci6n narginal. Los ambiehtes ribereffos deben censarse cuanalo e1 nivel alel agua es suficientemente bajo como para permitir uha visi6n ininterrumpida de Ia oritla. En estas estimaciones individuos menores ale dos afros fueron excluidos. Estamos de acuerdo con Magnusson (1983) con respecto a Ias estimaciones de densialades poblacionales en Crocodylia tienen poco sentido si no se sabe ]a distribucl6n para tratai de edaales en 1a poblaci6n. de alesarrolfar una metodologia con esta finafidad, (1984) ha corzuta propuesto un m6todo fotoqriifico para ta estimaci6n ale los tamafios corporales en este grupo. EI Efecto En esta con los Humano sobre los Aliqat6ridos secci6n se consideran aligat6ridos: seis interacciones bisicas de1 hombre 1. caceria comercial: Desde ef afio 19?3 hasta septiehbre de l9g4 1os aligat6ridos de ]a cuayana Venezolana no nan estadl sujetos a una explotaci6n comercial (19?8) consider6 posible legal. corzula que la ausencia aparente de dos clases de edades de caiman crocodilus en 1a zona de El Manteco (Estado Boljvar) podia motilrarse a la caceria comercial alurante los anos 1972 y 1973. Tenemos reportes no confirmaalos de exportaciones ilegales de cueros de crocodylia desde el Teritorio federal Delta Amacuio hacia Trinidad y Cuayana. antropologicas por Indigenas: Referencias caceria de subsistencia 2. amazonas Fealeral Territorio en e1 papel aligat6ridos de los a1 alusivas de los mismos cono (Hames, 1979t Llzot, 19'19) indican que 1a inportancia los especies de sustento no es homogdnea.. Segiln Hanes (op- cit.), relacidlada la dieta de ntis importante ef rengl6n constituyen aliqat6ridos (302 de1 peso total de las especies con la caceria de aniriales silwestres 'kwana de1 Fio Padano, tlurante un estu'lio cazaalas) entre los indios Ye En eI mismo lapso, los aligat6rialos ale caceria. de 216 dias efectivos para los Yanomamo en la misma el 2Z del total solamente representaron ^sin 1as especies aliqat6ridas peso de total e1 emuarqo, i""ifia"a. habitadas en otras localidades nres elevados puede valores alcanzar cazadas por la etnia Yanomamo (un sexto luqar entre catorce renglones de caceria le apreciable seqtn Hames (op. cit.)' ;studiaalos por Lizot, op. cit.). que le asigran a y af valol respecto Yanomamo Ye Xwana entre diferencia por eI mayor contacto como piezas de consumo, se explica los aligat6ridos (10 gue permite que empleen poblaci6n criolla con 1a -etectivas) tie la p;imera tribu y por b6bitos de caceria sus tipicos de caceria m6s i""""ri"i". fluvial. en una realizada mensuales ale ta caceria ale fauna silvestre Reoistros Bolivar, mosttaron et Estado Pen6n en la etnia pobJaci6n de 350 indigenas de peso del 2.5* representando 36 neses durante cazados iO aliqat6ridos (oiasti, FFb]:es y cova, en prensaj ' de ]e caceria total A Fesar de baber viajado caceria ile subsistencia por criollos: 3diez afros, ninquno de los unos alurante Grrayana en la Reoidn ampliamente de venta en las ciudades y carne de aliqat6lialos dos autores ha visto pueblos ale esta zona, ni ba encontrado dicho alj.nento servi'lo en restaurantes son 1os ali gat6ridos En las zonas niis alejadass, ; casas particulares. ' para canlpesinos, mineros maalereros e iDdios transculturados oiezas _."t" por necesi'lad y facilidad de caceria usua}nente es ejercida tip; i.,nq,]" se ha circunstancias predileccidn, ba-io ciertas .' .to oor esoecial un ejenplar de hasta intensidad con una de aliqat6ridos ou"ervaao ciceria diE ri o. estdn sujetas a ciertas especies de reptiles 4caceria Etnozool6oica: para Bolivar del llstado por parte los carnpesinos ale una caceria ocasional el nato de agua figuran Entre ellas de "remedios". 1a fabricaci6n (Tupinambis niqfopunctat$s) , empleado contra e1 dolor de muelas y (AmDhj sbaena elbg) fa rnor."na Fara reurnati smo y el e",pinzrcfi"^ient"",' para trrlevos se solicitan (9!9s9{Il1!g cuvos intermedius), ae orinoco caim6n parecen usos existir ni eI asna. sjn embargo, no tenemos informaciones pareci alos en ef caso de los aligat6ridosque de habj.tats naturales !a destrucci6n ale Ilabjtat: 5.. Modificaci6n puede cohsiderarse en 1a Regi6n Guavana a los aligat6ridos afectarian excepci6n ile la creaci6n de] l,ago de Guri, cuyo fin es Ia inexistente,con El tago existe desde 1969 e inun'16 unos pi"a"..;a" ie h-r-droeiectr; c i dad. -AOO Indudablemente ' L.Z, ae sabanas y bosques al alcanzar la cota 216' Ios cuales y riberefros, e1 laqo elimin6 ttum..otos anbientes lagunares realjza'los Muestreos pobl€ciones de aliqatdridos' albergaban ha g u e o r i lla e s t a i n d i c a d o l a g o h a n ""g,r.l*."t" d e f p u n t o s l a o r i l l a 6 e en"v"rio" dio una un solo conteo nocturno por -cql434 crocodilus. sialo colonizada s e P a r a 1 9 8 6 a l e o r i l l a ' 3.7s individuos,/km densidad polracitnar-ae y.tendra una 'psruepveeret l cgi re, ! e I l a g o a l c a n z a r 6 l a c o t a f i n a l d e 2 7 0 n s n m def nuevo ]ago tendrii unos 2'167 de 4.400 km2. La orilla las cuafes de ftis de 100 jslas, las orillas sin incluir kjl6metros, ' Sj et de mil hasta m;is alesale unas hetrtiireas en superficie variariin nuevo lago es biol6gicamente semejante a1 primero su orilla albergar.i por fo tanto, varios miles de Caiman.crocodihrs. resulta poco cIaro si ef efecto neto del l,ago ale curi sobi-e los aligat6ridos ha sido ;ar + ^tl^ La mortalidad ile aligat6ridos causaata por 1a construcci6n ale carreteras interrumpienalo sus rutas rnioratorias ha sido cuantj.ficada parciafmente por Gorzula y Medina-cuervo (datos inddiros). Desale Mayo 19?9 hasta Julio 1980 los medcionados autores registraron 2 individuos muertos de g. crocodilus en 1a carretera Ciudad cuayana-Upata (56 kil6metros), drrrante 79 r.ecorridos de ida y vuelta, 19 individuos nuertos en la (68 kil6hetros) carretera Upata-Terecay , durante 199 recorridos sencitlos y 5 individuos nuertos en fa carretera Terecay_El Manteco (16 kj.f6netros), Clurante 99 recorriaios sencillos. Sin embargo. 1a nayoria ale estos indivialuos aparentemente provenian de lagunas artjficiales aalyacentes a las carreteras creadas durante la construcci6n de ]as mismas. las intervenciones lt\lmanas refacionadas con actividades agropecuarias en ]a reqi6n sabanera y zonas aalyacentes del Estado Bolivir, han proalucido (tapones, reservorios, numerosos ambientes acuiiticos lagunas de rlbalse, y lagunas ale prdstamo) , las cuales han sido colonizaatos por aligat6rido; {prjncipatnente . Se sospecha que aurinte este siglo -Cailnan crocoditus) dichas actjvidades han propiciaalo un aumento siqntficatj-vo de los aliqat6ridos en esta zona. 6. ya que fas tres especies ale Actitnd cotidiana hacia fos Aligat6ridos: aligat6ridos presentes en 1a Reqi6n cuayana son reiatjvamente pequefias y qeneralmente no causan molestias a los lugareffos ni a sus animates dom6sticos, la actj.tud general ale fa gente es de una apreciable inaliferencia. (1978) iieport6 un caso de un nifio de 12 affos que fue atrapado por corzula un qgl-Bg! crocodilus y cuyas heridas requirieron 50 puntos de suturaEste accidente ocurri6 en una laguna de prdstamo aI tado de ta alcabala ate ta Guardia Nacional del pueblo. Es significatj.vo que naalie tratd de matar a 1a baba y Ia gente continu6 baffiindose peri6dicamente en este cuerpo de aguaEste ejenplo constj_tuye una prueba evidente de la actitud indiferente de los llrgareios tracia 1os aliqatdridos. La Protecci6n Leqat de los 41j qat6ridos en Venezuefa las.tr:es especies de aligat6ridos reportadas para la cuayana Venezolana estiln incluidas en le Lista oficiat de Animales de caza (Minisrerio de Aqricultura y Cria - Recursos Naturales Renovables, Resolucidn 5_ 2?5, 13-11-70). Sin embargo, tanto _pateosuchus palpebrosus como p. !4!gg!g!Ug se encrentran en situaci6n de veda por tj.empo inatefinido (Ministerio del, Al}lbiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovabfes, Resotucidn Ne 95, 25-11-19) El Teraitorio Federal Amazonas y el Territorio Federal Delta Amacuro han sido excluidos de la caceria experimentaf de Caiman crocodilus, permitida hasta el presente en Ie regi6n l:anera (lltnist-erio aEr-66-iente y ile los Recursos Naturales Renovabfes, Resoluci6n 445, t4_12_A2\. 43 de habitats naturales, Respecto a la conservaci6n miis ale 23 millones de hectiireas se encuentran bajo r6gimen especial en la cuayana de venezuela. (Fjgura 4). No es el prop6sito de este trabajo discutir a fondo el contenldo de Ia leqislaci6n ale tales ireasSin embargo, a conti.nuacidn se alefinen los conceptos flndamentales de las tres categorias b{sicas: 1. PARQUES NACTONALES:"las regiones establecidas para la y conservaci6n y ale ale las bellezas escdnicas naturales la fauna de importancia nacj-onal, de fas que el pdblico alisfrutar mejor al ser puestas bajo vigilancia oficiafr' ofici:rl ale venezuela 20643, 13-11-43). proteccioh y 1a flora pueda (Caceta 2. para la conservaci6n RESERVASNACIONALES: "Las reqiones establecidas y utitizaci6n, bajo viqilancia de las riquezas naturales, oficial, que sea en fas cuales se alarj a 1a flora y la fauna toda proteccion compatible con ]os fines para 1os que son creadas estas reservas"Gaceta oficial de Venezuela 2C643. 13-11-43). 3. ZONAS PROTECTOFAS: Articufo 19 de 1a Ley Forestaf de Suelos y Aqua.s (Gaceta Oficial 10O4E, 26-I-66.) "En las zonas declaraalas protectoras por disposicion de la Ley o por Decreto Ejecutivo, no se poalrd efectuar labor de cardcter agropecuario o destrucci6n de vegetaci6n por el Reqlamento y con su-ieci6n a las siro en los casos previstos gue determine ef Ministerio y cria. normas tdcnicas de Agricultura Er. el Reglament.o se aletermirrari aderds la forma como podrin ser pFra instalaciones utilizadas las zonas protectoras ale utilidad pljb,l ica,,- Discusi6n (Medem, 196?; Magnusson, 1982) se han referido a conteos Algunos autores puntrrales de aligat6ridos en Ia Amazonia ale colombia y Brasil, respectj-EnEnte. A pesar de que la Region Guayana de Venezuefa puede ser consialerada como componente de la Amazonia (en el sentido amplio def t6rndno bioqeoqriifico), de las tres especies las aproximaciones de las alensldaales poblacionales no pueden ser alirectamente comparadas con las estudiadas en este trabajo cifras indicadas en esos traba-ios - Esto es debido a las distintas que como se sabe se ale los habitats, metodoloqias y a las variaciones de la abundancia poblacional en este qrupo. traducen en diferencias hunrana en eI Territorio Federal Amazonas (0,12 La baja alensj.dad poblacional habitantes/km2, CODESUR1979) hace pensar que la presi6n gfobal de mortalidad e-jercida sobre 9aiman y Paleosuchus no es rnuy importante. aunque de estos grupos en zonas fluviates muy pr6xinas extinciones o disninuciones son conocidas (Hames, 1979) . En e1 norte a 1os asentarnientos indigenas del Fstaalo Bolivar humanas parece haber e1 impacto neto de las actividades en particuler a u m e n t a a l oe l b a b t a t d i s p o n i b l e p a r a l c s a l i g a t 6 r i C o s , Cainan crocodilus. y Paleosuch,rs en la En resumen podenos declr que gql&q venezuela no muestran sintomas de Feljqro respecto a su poblacional y futura sobrevivenci a , s iempre y cuando esa humano ccntjnde enfrentando el ndsmo tipo de desarrollo hasta e1 presente. Reqi6n GuaYana de situaci6n vasta reqion y econ6mico que Aoradecinientos Los autores agradecen a les siguientes personas e institlrciones por su contribxci6n en ef Desarrollo del presente traba-jo: AIi Acufia, Edlardo Alvarez, Carmen l-uisa Atocha de Pifiango, Liris Arredonalo, Lionel Arteaga. Jos6 Ayarzaguena, Atilano Azua-je, Luis Balbds, oreste Ba1bis, Charles Brewer Carias. Randy Cafender, J j.mmy Capriles, Julio Cerda, Ram6n Elosegui, Asterio Farrera, SadI Fayola, Dofia Sofia FernSndez, Carlos Galiin, Joseva Gorbea. Manuel cuznijn.Donald Hoffmeister, Gerardo Hoogestei-'jn, John Hutchins, John Junor, Ventrrra l,e6n. Glenda Medina Cuervo, Francesco Misticoni, Kenalal Mitchell, Jes\is Morales. Carlos MorilIo, Klaus Muller, Juhani Ojasti, Pedro pifiate, Apacacj_o y Erika Deslderio Rend6n, Ricardo Rjveroll.. ouintero, Ram6n Ri.vero, F.Sayalero, Jose Miguel Tagliafico, Carlos Todd. Rudi Tuffino, cerardo y Karen Van Dull.en, Josd Vargas, Paulisto William y Richard Zweifelt Departamento de Medicina Experimentaf def Tnstj-tuto Venezofano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Consejo Nacional para Investigaciones y Cientificas (subwenci6n CoNICIT SI 0168), Divisi6n Tecnol6gicas de Fauna y zona 1O del Minlsterio del Anbiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables, Fundacion para el Desarrollo de las Ciencias rjsicas, Matematjcas y Naturales, Divisi6n de Desarrollo Social y Cultural de 1a Corporaci6n Venezolana de Guayana y Divisi6n ale Clrencas e Ej.drologia de CVG Electrificacion del Caroni, C.A.. Servicio de Fauna Si.Ivestre (MARNR). -Bi!Ir!@fj3 C o D E S U R{ 1 9 7 9 ) Atles de fa Reoi6n sur. Mj.nisterio del Aniciente y cle los Caracas, Venezuela: 1-67. Donoso-Barros. R. ( 1966a) Contribuci6n a1 conocimiento (contir,uaci6n). Physis xxvl (71.): 15-32. Donoso-lja!rros, R.. . corzula, corzula, Naturales p€no\,€b:l.es. de los cocodrilos de Venezuela de Ios cocodrilos de Venezuela ( -tybbD J Contribuci6n a1 conocimiento (conclusi6n). P h y s i s x x v l \ ' 7 2 ) . 2 6 3 - 2 74 . codshalk, Recursos R- ( 1982) Tl'e habitat and distributi on of Paleosuchus in Venezuela. proc. 5th. liorking r'4eerino oI Lhe Crocodites Speciat-ist .:rouF (IUCN). Gainesville, Estados Unidos: 3l-38. S-J- {1978) An Ecoloaical StuCy of Caiman crocodilus crocodilrts Savanna Lagoons in tl-e Venezueldn cuayana. oecologia (Berl. ) 35: 21-34. s . ( 1 98 4 ) Proposal for a photographic nethod for crocodili6ns, FFrpetoloqical Feview I5 (2) . l8-1q. size estimates Tnhabiting of 45 Hames, R. (1979) A comparsion of the efficiencies Neotropi cal forest huLi ng. '7 Hrman Ecology \3). 219-252. Li zot. (1969) on food taboos and Amazonan cultural Curr, lnthropol. 2 ^ i 1 ) : 1 s n - 1 5 1. J- of the shotqun and bow in ecolcgy. Magnusson, w, (1982) Ri^r^di.:l :cr,a-+c of the conservatj.on of An'azonian crocodiles in Brasil. Proc.5th.working Meeting of the crocodiles SFeci€fj st Group. [stados Unrdos: 1.4.1]6. {IUaNl , Garnesville. Magnusson. w. E. { 1983) Size Fstimates of crocodilians. J. HerpetoI. I?: 86-88. (1967) Medem, F- Ft d;har^ en Anazonla. Atas do Sj.mp6sio sobre a Bj.ota Amazonica, vo1. 3 (Ljn'noloqia): 141-164. (1981) Los Crocodyli.l de Sur Amdrica. colombia). COLCIENCIAS, Bogotii, Colombia: Medem, F. volrrmen T (Los crocodylias de 1- 354. Medem, F- (1983) los CrocodyliE de sur Amdrica (volumen Jl). Universidad }Iacional de Colombia y COLCIENCIAS. Bogot6, coloribia: 1-270. Olasti, Iebres G. y Cova, M. (en prensa) consumo de fauria por una comunidail indiqena en Estaalo BoIivar, VenezuelaIx congreso Lat j.noamericano de Zoologia. Arequipc. Peri, 1983- J.. Roze. J. A. ( 1 95 8 ) de ta expedici6n de Ia gniversidaal SesuItados zooldgicos la Auyantepui central de Venezuela a regi6n ale en 1e Guayana Los repti les del Auyantepui, venezofana, abril de 1956. 5. de 1as expediciones vene?ue1a, basiindose en las colecciones de Phelps-Tate, de] American Museun of Natural tli.story, 1937-38, y de la universidad central de venezuete, 1955Acta Bi01. venez. 2 122)t 243-2"74 Roze,.l.A. (1966) I ^ rakdhdr,i. v Toddeoqrafia ale los Ofialios Edic. Blb-r-ioteca de fa Lrniversidaal central Schnidt, K . (1928) Notes on South American Caimans Field Mus.Nat-Hist. Publ. (zool. ser. ), Ce Venezuela. de venezuela:1-343 P u b l - .2 5 2 , x a l | 1 ' 7) ' - 2 0 5 - 2 3 1 . 46 TABI,A 1 por Tipo de fbbitat Cantidad de locElidades Dlseiminadas para las EstrEcies ab Aligat6ridc en Ia G]lat'€na de venezuela (seq?r Detc6 de Gnpo de los Autores). Habitat Rio6 (lnclu!€ caiG y rDrichaleE c.n cLrrso de agua) Caftsn Pafecsuc:hug crocl9dilus !,abel2ssstq 12 kleo€uchus triqonatus t2 2 Iaqnes naturales (incluj'e rDridlale6 ccr1 a$ra represada) TerrestJe (anbiente cqrD sabaia o bos$e :] Ai:^^ Aa] arLificiales centenares 13 :-D\ (con de lEct6.reas) Lagrmas artificiales (pr€stanD de carretera.s I5 ccnstrucsicnes hunanEs sitiG biscinas y otrc ab construcci6n) 13 TATIA 2 cantidad de l,ocalidedes Discrinlinadas por A.ltitud pa.ra 1as EstrEcies de A-ligat6ridos sr la Gual'ana de Venezr€la (seqin DatG de Canpo de los Autores) Especie Altitud 0 1 0 1 101 301 401 :01 100 200 300 400 500 600 CainEn Ca\ccodilus PaleoGud)us pah€l.rosus Paleosuchus {netros sobre njvel deI mar) 601 701 801 q01 1001 11Ct r20I 700 800 900 1100 1200 1300 1000 TABLA 3 Densidaales Poblacionales I\lmero Observado ?ipo de Censo de Aliqat6rialos Habitat en 1 a c u a y a n a Area ale Habitat (Ha-) (N/Ha. ) Longitud de Habitat {kn') 10,00 5,00 8, 33 6,00 10.00 50,00 30, 00 12,00 3, 50 8,00 4,00 o,25 0,61 0,61 o ,25 0, 16 0, 11 0 . 11 0, 35 0,50 0, 35 0,50 20.00 24,59 40,9S t2,00 12,50 45,43 21,2'7 34,29 14,00 22,96 8,00 3,80 23,42 10,00 4 ,00 o ,20 0,08 0,10 Densidad por area Densialaal lineal (N/km) caiman crocodilus 5 15 25 3 2 5 3 12 7 8 4 TOIAL 99 7 15 2 12 nocturno nocturno nocturno hocturno nocturno nocturno nocturno nocturno nocturno nocturno nocturno laguna laqo laguna laguna laguna laguna -E-r!-q nocturno nocturno nocturno nocturno rio (coTpleto) orifla ab laqo morichal lvraJ- 5 b._54 10,00 150,00 t4,24 Pafeosuchus 4 D.1a^<,r-Lrrc 3 4 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 IUINL 0, 50 3,00 3,00 0,50 o ,20 0, 10 o, 10 1,00 2,OO 1,00 2,00 46 palpebrosus nocturno +ri rio (cqrpleto) 2,OO 2,OO 0 , 50 8,00 1,00 1s,00 10,00 o, ao 9,00 1 4, 0 0 5,20 14,'70 '7'7,aO_ 6,00 0,s0 3,00 0 ,27 1,60 7,50 0,33 0 ,29 0,58 0 ,24 d^h:+r,c diurno diurno diurno diurno rio (c<rl!)leto) rio {cqpleto) rio (cfip]eto) rio (cqpleto) rio (cqlPleto) cafio rio (ori:lla) rio (orilla) rio (cqrpleto) rio (coTl)leto) 9,19 <. <<.i< -o Qc {n -E = e / 8 1e : 1 E:E _r = I; E6E qgg ! EE -t !; ii ,r."" 10 ltrtlor \ Nlvor \\\\ I iit ) !Jl i $c il0 rul i != ;l t6 Eg lg 3E aZ =9 : Ei =*t :; EgE Eg ci, ti E=s $e (fo 0 -& =- E 3s 1= ;e E3 ET rl 384 ss= !aE i9c c:i lE0Llrlcl0r 1 0 tt E i (!c {r -m EeE E C E S E E ! 'E : *E: E 3=:;; I il 3l al :l : :l : :l g,Efu;g E5;:i: -*l il el :l tl EE:ffii ANEXO: Lista de las localidades para los g6nerosCaiflany paleosuchus en la regi6n ( i n c l u y e G u a y a ndae V e n e z u e l a l a s d e P a l e o s u c h upsa r a l a r e g i 6 n l l a n e r a ) . Caimancrocodilus ESTADo BoLIVAR: Caflol4aniapure(EBRG 4); Caio Tortuga (EBRG 1l-19); Lasuna m a r g i n ad l e l R l o K u k e n a nc,r a n S a b a n a (EBRG 5 4 - 5 5 ) i - B o cdae p a r q u ; i a . 0 6 . 2 6 - N 67"09'!r (MBUCV 193-194);Rio orinoco (UIMNH 91588-01589); 2O tm-wdei iaro SanJos6, La ParagLra, (USNllZt7260); Bai6 Et Torete. Moricha] 06"49-N-53.29-1,{ l r r r 9 u a ( l l H N L=S * ) i P a v i c h e , 0 7 . 1 9 - N - 6 2 o 4 4 -p| u / tei d p a0, 7 o 2 3 , N _ 6 2 . 3 3 - t J ; B o m b aNse g r a s ,0 7 " 1 9 - N - 6 2 . 4 2 -EWl ip a r a i s o ,0 7 . 3 1 - N - 6 2 b 3 i . tUeir e c i v . O t " 2 e - N 62"33-R;flato Horizonte, 07"24-N-62.30'H; Hatos Las t4aracds y Et Oti,iunt", 07'15-N-62'26-liJi Hato La Yeguera,07.22'N-62"23'Vli Sistena L;gunar de t{apurite, 07"2I-N-62'31-l./; vilta Bein;,07;21-N-62.34-H; naiori,iii:ipii i-oi; z6:n-az"za'ii Rio Botanano, 06"54-[_60"sb-t/; nio iupo'nu, I:!9-ljt:l9li:. palmar,09.06-N-61"42u o r y - N - b z - l j l .o7l?2'N-62"2s'wi ,l;Kto urande, este de El i 3 0 k n l / ld e E l C a l ' l a o , 0 7 ' 2 0 - - 6 2 ' 0 1 - lEl ;l P l o n o , 0 6 o 5 5 - N - 6 i " 5 0 -C; a ; ; e i ; r ; ' s ; ; i 6 t i x / U p a t ak n 2 5 , , 0 8 " 1 2 ' N - 6 2 ' 3 I - H ; _ C a r r e S t ear naF 6 j j x / U p a t ak n 3 8 , 0 8 " 0 4 - N - 6 2 ; 2 9 - | l ] ; 4 r m a r s u r d e t k m7 0 v i a c u r i , 0 8 . 0 9 - N - 6 2 o 5 8 - U D ia n t ot 4 a n c h a d0o7, " 2 4 - N _ 62"52-|,t;.calcetadet perro, oz;05-N6g.q:-!; que6raaaian-luii,-62;iq: -oz"qs.w; I s l a P e r J q u e r a , - 0 6 ' 4 9 - N - 6 3 . 0 83 -kUn; H d e p e r j q u e r a ,0 6 " 5 0 - N : 6 3 ; 0 t i S a b a n a L a l c e t aL a r 9 a ,0 7 " 1 6 - l , l - 6 2 . 3 5 -3t ikt ;ms u r c a s a1 4 i q u e l 6 n , 0 7 o 2 3 - N _ 6i 2 . 5S2a: b | /a1n; a 0e PenasNegras,06"58-N-62.54-H; Cemo ',l.{,,,07.45-N_62o58-|/li Hato pele E.l 9jo,_07."52'N-F,2"42' N; peteEt ojo Ltinche, oi"sz-n_az.s4-wi ii eri"i.o, oz"s0-N_ Juaiual, 07"18-N-62637'H; Carretera Upata,/E'l a;te;a-im19 y 30, !?:11,!!;!1 07"49-l,l-62'30-1,{i Carretera Upatd/ElMantecokn 32: 07i'47-N_62.30-lll Carietera u p a t a / E lH a n t e c ok n 3 7 , 0 7 0 4 5 - N - 6 2 . 3 1 -Ct Ja:r r e t e r aU p a t a / E l 4 a n t e c kom4 0 a l 42, 07o43'N.-62"32'U i Carretera Upata/Elt4antecokm +h y CO,OZ.qi;lr-OZ"S:-1,,1; larretera Upata/ElMantecokm 5I y 52,07"38-N-62.32-l'/iCaffetera Upata/El I l a n t e c ok m5 6 , 0 7 " 3 5 ' N - 6 2 " 3 2 -C l / ai r r e t e r aU p a t a / E tl 4 a n t e ckom6 2 y-Carretera 63,07.32-N62'32-!l; Carretera tipata/El llantecokn 76 y 7A,07o24-1,{-62.32-l,t; Upata/ t f l l a n t e c ok mB 0 y 8 2 , 0 7 " 2 2 ' l - 6 2 " 3 2 ' V 1 . E S T A DMoo N A G ACSa:r i p i t e , 1 g " g g - 1 1 - U 3 " 0(6t l-BHU C3VZ l 3 ) . E S T A DSoU C R E CTa f r oA j i e s , 4 k ma g u a sa b a j o d e A j i e s , i 0 " 2 9 - N _ 6 3 . 0 4 -V ! tui e l t a L a r g a ,s u r d e G u a r a u n o s1,0 o 3 4 - N - 6 3 ' 0 7 -4t ]k; mn o r t e d e C a r i a c o ,1 0 . 3 2 - N 6 3 " 3 3 ' | l JC; a f r o . LBar e a , I 0 . l Z - N - 6 2 . 4 8 ' l ,RJ e i presn El pilar, 10"35:N-63.14-t{i R i o S a nJ u a n( o o n o s o - B a r r o1s 9, 6 5 ) . T E R R I T o RFI E 0 D E RA AILI I A Z 0 N C Aa Si:o y u r e b a , 0 4 . 0 3 - N - 6 6 " 0 1( -Et iB R G 1516-1517)i C a i o C o t u a ,Y a p a c a n a , 0 3 ' 4 0 - N - 6 6 " 5{0E-Bl 'R JG 1 6 5 7 ) ;C a i o C a i a n e ,0 3 . 3 3 - N - 6 6 6 5 6 - 1 , { ( E B R 1G7 9 9 , . l t l B U7C0V3 0) ; T r u c o a p u r eR, i o 0 r i n o c o , 0 3 . 0 1 - N - 6 6 o 1 7(-€t B '/RG 1800)l C e r r oC u c u r i t J ,C a i o Y a g u a , 0 3 . 3 6 - N - 6 6 o 3 (4M - 1B, U { C7V 0 3 1) i B o c ad e l C a R op e r r i ' d e - A g u a , 0 3 ' 4 6 ' N - 6 7 o 0 2B' to. /c;ad e t C a f r oy a g u a , 0 3 . 3 2 ' N - 6 6 . 4 6 -RHi;o p u r u n a m e , 0 3 " 2 5 - N - 6r68.- X . TERRIToRI0 FEDTRAL DELTA AI4ACl.JR0: (}tHNLS Caio Arasuabisi, 09.21-N-60.56-t{ 994); Cerca-dL eosGuayos,09'02-N-60"54 ( l-4| H , i N L8s7 3 ) ; M o r i c h a t( U I M N3H5 4 S j ) ; C a s t Ii I o s d e G u a y a n a0,8 ' 3 1 - N - 6 2 . 2 5 - H . 53 palpebrosus Paleosuchus (fiHLS - * ); PasoBajito, Rlo Caris, 08"48-tl-64"t6'l{ ESTADo ANZoATEGUI: Rfo l'loquete, l3-!/. 08"35't{-64' (EBRG ESIADo APURE; Rfo Cinaruco,06'32-N-67432-1,{ 1054-1056); CafioCararabo, (ilEUCV Cararabo, Rio tleta, 06'08-N-69'19-l,l 7032-7033). ESTAoo 80LMR: Guri, Rfo Tocomita,07o46'N-63o06'l,l; Ciudadcuayana, Venalum, 08o18-N-62o49'l.l; El llanteco,07"21-N-62'32'1,/i HatoEl Dianante,07'15'N-62"27'Ui GranjaSantaBtrbara,4 kmeste de SanF6lix, 08"23't{-62o37-lil; Campamento Rudi, Ucaima, 06014--62o47-[. (Donoso-Barros, ESIA0o SUCRE: Rio San,Juan,10'10'N-63'04'H 1966a), (EBRG TERRIToRIo FEDERAL ,$!AZ0NAS r CanoAtacavi, 03"06'N-56"53-W 1794,MBUCV 7034);CerroCucurito,CaffoYagua,03'36-N-66"34-l,ii 6avil6n, 40 kmsureste (EBRG de PuertoAyacucho, 05o34-N-63"22-1,{ 1795);Laquna de las Vacas,Mavaca, (MBUCV 02"30-N-65'10-r{ 2164-2165). TERRIToRIo FEDERAL oELTA AMCURo: La Barra (i4HNLS 984) Paleosuchus triqonatus ESTADo APURE: Rfo Clanruco(Godsha'lk,1982). ESTADo BoLIVAR: Auyantepui(fide datummus€oI,4BUCV 3063, Rlo Uruyenentre y Guayaraca Kamarata com.pefs.del colector, PedroTrebbau);SanMartln oe Turumbdn, Rio Cuyuni, 06'43-N-61"05'll(I4HNLS 7683); Rio Botanamo,3krnde la desenbocadura en el Cuyunl, 06'52-N-60"52't{(MhNLS 7682)i Rlo Eotanano, 1 0 k mr i o a r r i b a , 0 6 ' 5 4 - - 6 0 ' 5 5 - ; L a E s c a l e r a ,k m1 3 5 c a f r e t e r aE ] D o r a d o l Santa Elena de tjair6n, 05'54-N-61'25'l{iCampamento Rudi, Ucaima,06"14-N62'47-ll; Pratawaga,Rto KukenSn, 04'55'N-61b23-$J; Campo Ategre, Rfo Kukenen,04"55'N-61o12'H; Canpanento Iiski, Rio Yuruani, 04"58-l'l-61"15-l,l; Rto Yuruani, aguasabajo del sitio de ptanta el6ctrica, 05003-N-61o07-1,{i Rio Y u r u a o f ,a g u a sa b a j od e l P u e r t o , 0 5 ' 0 1 ' N -6 1 o 0 9 - | /Q ' |u i e b r a ddae J a s p e , 0 4 ' 5 6 - N 61o06-l{;Angostura(Lichtenstein y von Martens, 1856[citados en l,4edem, 1983]; sctuiidt, 1928); chimantS-tepui(steyermark,1955lcitado en Medem, 1983]); , 8 3 ) ;R i o E r e b a t o( G o d s h a l k1, 9 8 2 ) . R f o C a u r a( l t l e d e m 19 TERRIToRIo FEDERAL AMZoNAS: A'lto Ventuari (Donoso-Barros, 1966a);Caio (EBRG Yureba,04003-li-66o01-fl 1510-1515,1796-1797);Rfo Purunarne, 03"25-li65o18-!l(EBRG 1551-1552);Rio Barr-a,01'17-t{-66'27-ll(MBUCV 2163): Alto Rio Barla, 0t'05-N-66'25-w(l4BUcV 7035-7036,Altf{H= * ); Rlo Mawarinuna, = r ); 6 kn del Canpanento Neblina", 00"50-l{-66'12-!l(I.18UCV 7037, Ai4NH "La I'La Neblinar',00'54'N-66"f3'X(AtlHH = Rfo lllawari nuna, Campamento " 1. CafioAguaBlanca, Rlo Mawarinuma, 00"49-N-66'07-ll(ltlBUCV 7038); CanoYagua, 03"32-N-66"46-Sl. (* = muestradepositada,registro desconocido) 54 TBABOS EN BAIEAST UIiIA T"ENBA DE PIRrcERSE AL aLLIGAIOR m Carlos Rivero ITfiDA Blanco v Bianca D,Andria C R B E c 6 l o q o s \ - o n su I L ^ r 4 s , C . A . Apartaalo 80531, caracas 1080-A Venezuela SUMIIARY The existence of circular or semi-circular depressions used apprently for resting by Caiman crocodilus along the shores of some streams in eastern llanos of the State of Barinas, Venezuela, is reporteal. The shape and dinensions are describeal, as welf as its use bythe caimans. Comments are made on lhe possible relation ',cator ltole,' between ths crocodiliaD babit and the buifding activities of the Alllgglg! mississippiensis in its marsb environment. We presume, that tlese depressions, are used by the caimans ior simply resting, or possibily cdtchinq prdy within rhe elclosed space ithich miqht work as a trap. 55 Durante un viaje a los pantanos pudimos visitar Edwin Froelich. espec.ie de hondonada construida mississippiensis . de Floriala, en 1972. en compaiia de y observar un r'Alligator Hole", una por individuos ale Ia especle Alliqator Este hueco, hondonada o crSter es hecho por los machos en su hiibitat grandes dimensiones. ale pantanos y con el tiempo llega a aalquirir La sacada por el aninal al tracer el hueco y agranalarlo, es tierra, que acumulada a su alredealor y forma una especie de muro o cameflon nantiene sobre el nivel de inunalaci6n, dando el asoecto de nn cr6ter circular. (1975), eI alfigator segin Ehrenfeld comienza a abrir el hueco utilizando y cola la vegetaci6n y sus patas, vientre sus mandibulas para arrancar para apartai hacia las orillas e] fango suave que forma el piso def pantano. El animal no s61o mantiene e1 hueco abierto sino que 10 HolesI agranda const anternente . Con eI tiempo, uno de estos "Alliqator pueale tener un diiimetro de miis de siete netros y una profundidad de Estas hondonadas, conforman uno ale los pocos lugares unos dos netros. que mantienen agua durante la sequia anual del pantano. Es durante esta 6poca, cuando mds valor tienen para la variada fauna que se refugia Sin el constanr.e mantenimiento por parte de1 alligator, en 61los. de estas honalonadas se colmatad rdpidanente 1' pierden su condici6n y vertebraalos de 1a zcna. para numerosas especies de invertebrados refugio nos parecio curioso que no se en Florlda, Luego de nuestra experiencia para 1as especies de ningUn comportamiento similar hubiese reportado suramericanosLa manifestaci6n etof6gica nds cercana crocodilidos pareciera sobre ]a cual Medem (1981) ha hecho algnmos ser la estivaci6n, (q6nero) la estivaci6n se nanifiesta en enterralse en el barro ec.hg! de lagunas y otros cuerpos ale agua que se van s,ocando durante Ia 6poca mds cruda alel verano. de construye cuevas o madrigueras subterriineas Crocodvlus acutusr grandes dinensionesUna de el]as, descubierta en el rio Palenque, en por una ciimara de ocho metros y mealio de colombia, estaba constituiala y otra subacudtica. En las diiimetro y dos entradas, una superficial zonas de mangfares. Ias cuevas son hechas bajo las raices y hojarasca. crocodvlus intermedius: esta especie aprovecha 1as ciircavas horizontales Los caimanes en los barrancos de los rios. hechas por la corriente en cuevas segun observaciones profundizan estas cdrcavas y las convierten de los lugareios. Melanosuchus dggl: en ef fango de ]as seq{n los indios Yecunas, esta especie solia lagunas y en el monte debajo de Ia hojarasca- estl\,?r No se ha observado estivacidn Paleosuchus pafpebrosus y !. trioonatus: madrigueras cuyas entradas se propiamente dicha, sino nr6s bien Suefen encuentran por debajo deI agua y quedan destapadas en verano. lladar a +p;F- t^:".i r;s dF I r-s lretros de Iarqo y en e-t tordo son nds anchas. 56 Durante repetidos viajes al Hato Mata de Biirbara, en ef fstado Barinas, (febrero y marzo) durante los uftimos meses secos del presente aio, pudimos observar como senana txiis senana, los cafios y lagunas se secaban, permitiendo ver ejenplos claros de lo que Meden (op. cit.) para Caiman. ha reportaalo como comportamiento de estivaci6n Durante varios vuelos en helic6ptero realizados con la finalialaal de puclimos observar, hacer ensayos de censos fotogriificos adem6s, unas parte, curiosas honalonadas ale forma circular fornando unidas o selEraalas y san de las oriflas de los cafios La Aguaala (Lo 68 33' y LN 8 10') Miguel (!o 68 33'y LN 8 05,)E r 1e s t a s H o n d o n a d a s c i r c u l a r e s habia agua y se pudieron observar varias babas en su interiorAquellas bondonadas alejadas de1 borde de los cafros estaban secas, y xo observamos evidencias de ningfn animal en su interiorEl aspecto a6reo perfectamente que nos de estas horrdonadas es el ile criiteres circulares traen a fa memolia la descripci6o de las"Bateitas" ale Aguirre (Cruxent, 1950), y decidimos, entonces, llamarlas con e1 misno nombre. Durante un vuelo del 24 de r,arzo, en las playas del caffo San Miguel Dimensiones fotografiamos ('Tabla 1) . TABLA I ale ]as "Bateitas"del ANCHOENTRADA ANcHo BATEA LARGO BATEA LARGOTOTAL PROFUNDIDAD TETI4. AGUA TEMP. CANO TE},IP. ATRE HORA 30 cm- no 150 cn. 200 cm170 crn. 200 cn. 210 cm. 200 cm. 14 cm. 15 cm. 31 C 31 C 10 C }2 C 35 C ]5 c 16.16 16.50 y medinos cafio san tres bateitas Miguel 130 cm. 130 cm. 130 cn. ?.5 cm. 31 C 30c 35 c 17-15 secas son pricticamente cuando se canina por Las bateitas inconspicuas la orilla ale estos caios. Aouellas que ya no forman parte del borde pero todavia tienen agua tienen forna ale pozos circulares y son miis ficiles Las que estiin formando parte del borde del caio lucen de ver. como muescas semicirculares o como sacos con una entraala en forma de cuello angosto que las comunica ^on el dgua ,let cafro. Desde et aire, las bateitas secas aparecen confornrando un patr6n de del cambiante nivel del agua crdteres a 1o largo de las marcas paralelas y las que todavia tienen liquido E] ruido se ven con nayor facilidaaly el movimiento del lelic5ptero, alerta al acercarse, invariablenente y asusta a las babas que se encuentran en el agua de 1as bateitas, provocando su huida hacia el agua del caffopuede tratar ale interpretsa):se La relaci6n entre las babas y Ias bateitas (1) I,as babas han sido cbserv€das, a la luz de las siguientes observaciones dentro deI agua de las bateas (hasta dos indivien repetidas ocasiohes, y el tamdffo de las baLeiras duos d Ia vez\ y (2) La rorrE circular parecen guardar una relaci6n proporcional con ef tamafro de 1as babas. 51 Dos preguntas surgen de las anteriores observaciones i 1. ,Son las babas las que hacen las bateas? y 2. acuiil es la utilidad d; las bateas para las babas? La primera pregunta es muy interesante, ya que aunque no se ha visto a ningud individuo construyendo las bateas, sabemos que en su c(rljuto, los cococlrilidos suramericanos son capaces de remover tierra e incluso profundas cuevas, bien sea aprovechando la existencia excavar y habitar de alguna circava natural (Medem.Op-Cit). o trabajando desde un principio Aalemiis, el antecedente del "Alligator Hole', nos muestri que un pariente cercano ale las babas es capaz de hacer cr.iteres ate m.is de siete metros de diiimetro e impactar de t.al nodo los pantanos donale vive como para ser un factor.ecol6gico ale gran importancia en 1a creaci6n y el mantepara si y para otras especies de plantas y animales niniento de habitat Segdn Maqo Leccia (Con. Pers.) no se conoce, para la zona, que un pez pudiera hacer semejantes crdteres en e1 fondo o en fas milrgenes de los cafios. Habria que lacer las observaciones pertinentes para poaler asegurar que las babas consttuyen 1as bateas. La utilidad de las tjateas puede tener alguna relaci6n con aspectos como el ale servir temporalnente como trampa para pescar, corno fugar ale reposo o, cono lugar para refrescarsel'losotros tratamos de excavar en una de las bateitas secas, pero no encontramos ninqin indicio de que alguna baba hubiere quedado sepultada en el fargo en su interior. La priictica ale construir bateas, si es que es cierto que son las babas las que lo hacen, no ha sido reportada anteriormente debido a la para apreciar dificultaal su presencia alesde una perspectiva cercana al suelo. Creemos que este fen6meno sea rnds confn que lo que a primera vista parece y que se pueda estudiar detenidamente. En conclusi6n, nos encontramos ante clertos indicios de que Ia baba es pequeias hondonadas o bateas, un comportamiento en capaz ale construir cierto modo parecido al del ALLlgglgI mississippiensis cuando construye sus "Gator goles". De hecho, se han observaalo numerosas bateas en dos (Venezuela) siendo usadas por cafros de la zona oriental de Barinas indivialuos de la especie en aparente actitud ale descansoSe presume que dichas bateas pueden servir para atrapar a invertebrados o vertepara descansar o refrescarse. brados acuaticos, Biblioorafia Cruxent. Ehrenfeld, J-M- 1950- Las Bateitas de Aguirre. Sallex (2.'7) -- 1'75-1a6 - Mem- Soc. Cien. Nat. La David W. 1975Tbe Alligator: Landscape Architect of the Everglades, In: Our Magnificent wildlife Reader's Digest. 1"78-r'19. Medem, Federico. 1981Los Crocodylia de Sur An6rica, Colciencias de Colonbia. In: Vol. I, 354 pp. Los Crocodyfia 58 CENSOS DE Caiman crocodilus UNA \'ARIACION METODO],OGICA carlos Rivero Blanco v 'Andria Bianca D CRB Ecologos Consultores 80 5,:1, caracas. Apartado , C . A. 1080-A venezuela SUMMARY presents partial comparative This contribution results of spectacled cayrnan counts maale visually durlng the night and photograplically and from the during the alay from a helicopter in tl]e eastern shores of snalf fagoons and rivers venezuela. a 11anos of the state of Barinas, methoal for measuring the length of individual photography was also devisealcaymans using aerial 59 Introalucci6n El manejo de una pobtaci6n de caiman crocoditus requiere conocer ef numero de individuos y las ctases de edad que ta componen. Se han utilizado combinaciones de diferentes tdcnicas para 1a reatizaci6n de censos o estimaciones de1 nrinero ate individuos (Chabrek, de una poblaci6n 1966; Woodwardy Marion, 1977, corzula, 1994) Con la intenci6n de realizar un censo ale Caiman crocodilus en fagunas artificiales y en caffos de un hato en los ltarros oiiEiEEIEs del Estado Barinas. Venezuela, tratamos de conparar tres nodalialaales: 1._ Fotografia a6r:ea desde un helic6petro. 2.iitoqrafla a nivel dei suefo, atesate Ia y, 3,- Contaje visual nocturnoorilla Para determlnar el tamafro individual, recurrimos a una combinaci6n de fotografia a6rea y medici6h por proyecci6n. nediante e1 uso de escalas de referencias colocadas en las playas de asoleo o flotando en el agua de fas lagunas Para eI primer caso se utili26 como referencia una tabla ale maalera ate dos metros de largo dividida en secciones de 20 ){ 10 centimetros. Estas secciones fueron pintadas con los cofores rojo y blanco afternadamente. En las Iagunas se utilizd una tabla de anirne con un patr6n cuadriculado de 10 x 10 centimetros, marcados tambidn con colores contrasranEes. Se efectuaron vuefos paralelos y sostenidos a 40 m- de aftura sobre los cafros donale se encontraban fos animates (Eastman, 1971). Las secuenclas fotogr.ificas se hicieron con una camara rnotorizada de 35 njn-, utitizanato una lente de 100 run. Una vez procesadas, las secuencias de fotos se proyectaron sobre papel. procediendo asi a marcar, a fiipiz, los indil'iduos que se veian tanto en tierra como en el agua. rn eI ca_fio en el cuaf se coloc6 la escala de dos metros se tom6 la medida proyectada con un cornpas y se construy6 una escala que se us6 para neatir c;da-animat. Las fotos tomadas en las lagunas se proyectaron ale 1a nisma forma, crea*lo una escala de medici6n en base a la plala de anime ftotanteEn este caso s6]o era posible registrar el tamafro ate la cabeza ale los animates y3 que ere Ia fnica parte flotante (1984) describe sobre ef aguacorzula un metodo para calcular el tamaffo de los individuos utilizando la raz6n largo cabeza/largo hocico. comparable a su vez con ta taIla .tet .r,crnd En eI caso de lagunas a punto de secarse, logramos hacer fotografias en las que todo el cuerpc de los animates era visibte pualiendo, aI nenos, apreciar la relaci6n cuerpo,cabeza con cierta facilidad. Resultados rEn 1a situaci6n de camFo especifica para este irabajo, et conreo aereo nediante et uso de hetic6ptero y ciimara notorizada larece ser apropiado, riipido y preciso pero costoso. 2Si comparamos los conteos a) a6reo fotogrdfj.o motorizado, b) terrestre diurno fotogrdfico y c) conteo nocturno de una misma laguna, (c) perniLieron ver y conrar r;s aninates que (b), observamos que (a) q u e ( c ) e s n u c h o m .dys p r d c t i c o y m i i s b a r a t o q u e ( a ) y { b ) . 60 y 3, Si e1 contaje nocturno se hace con una cdmara provista ate f]ash, seguramente permitird afinar eI mdtodo ya que se poariin -ontar tos ojos con la,calma que provee e1 laboratorio, como en el caso det censo fotogriifico diurno terrestre o adreo4. l,a estimaci6n el uso de la escala altura a que volamos estaban precisamente det tamafro de los animates en tas ]agunas, meatiante ftotanre fue un roLundo ri..".",-a"tia" a que ta vari6 de una foto a otra y. q""-foi-""i*"f." en e1 centro, cerca de 1a-escala"" 5. La estimaci6n del tamaio Ce 1os animales en el cafio, neatiante ta escafa de dos metros en lie.ra no ha sido comenza<ta, -i;J;i-iii.'aiiiaoy-.a'pr"a,aa qrra habre cierta dificurtad en medir rod". i;s a que el iingulo de posici6n no coincide .iempre e., p"rp""ai"ii.r al aigulo de vuefo""i Conclusi6n Aunque no definitivos, Ios resultados de esta contribuci6n tienden a mostrar como es mds itiI, barato y preciso un censo pedestre nocturno de Totosrafia_y_ftash, si se compara ru-.pr.,.".io,., A. ir: dt _ m ] _t.s_n: ya: 9t e: c n l c a e n h o r a s d e l d f a , b r e n s e a a p i d "o" i e n h e l l c o p L e r o . F n cualquiera de ros casos e1 contaje se hace en irn ambiente de iaboratorio, mediante ]a proyecci6n de las ctiapositivas sobre et ;a;;; en el que se marcan con un liipiz los individuoa contados. nsta tE"ii"a, es soro practicable en aquellas laguEas en las que no existe vegetaci6n flotante que obstruya la vista Biblioorafia chabreck, Robert- 1956. Metbods of aletermiDing the size anal conposition of Afligator populations in iouisiana. proc. 12th AnnConf. Conf. S.E. Assoc. calne & Fish Comn: 105_112. Eastnan Kodak Company 1971plotography from Lightplanes and Heticopters. Kodak pubtication N, M_5 c|.T 141 5144 Rev. 1974: 1_i5Gorzufa, Stefan- proposal for a photographic 1984. method for size estinates of crocodilians. Herpetotoqical Review 1 5 ( 2 ) : ] F - 1 9. Woodward, A1lan R- y Marion R. Wayne- 19?7. An evaluation of factors affecting niqht tiqht proc. A1ln. counts of Altigators. Con!. S.E. Assoc. Fish & Wildl. Agencies 32. 29I_3O2- ESTI'DIO DEI, CRECIMIENTO EN CAUTTVERIO DE I,A BABA. CAI}IAN CROCODILUS, DURANTE SUS PRIMEROS MESES DE VIDA Gustavo Rodriguez Arvelo v Michael D- Robinson ale Biologia Departamento sin6n Bolivar Unitersidad sartenej as, Baruta, Estado lliranda venezuela SUMMARY caimans of the grouth of 250 spectacle'l the resufts This paper analyzes five nonths f-irst. during their (caimin- crocoditus) raised in captivity anal that given to the effects was d:c! sp-""i"f attention oFlIEE. density The variable density t,a;e on the growtb of young caiirans. however, the effects on the growth ratet had a irery clear influence was The nortality growth was less clear. the of the tyie of aliet on etc'we gzamong variabfes. correlations we i-atcufateal growth rates, by them with those reporte'l and contrast inalyze methods anal results (the bone presented is analysis an economic iinally othe; authors. and economic diet) ' and seems to be the most favorable anal meat flour and models of cornnerciaf explotation' we propoFe several suggestions 62 IrItrotlucci6n La cria de crocodllidos en cautj,velio se viene ensayanclo alesde hace (AIIioator un.siglo con Aligatores nississiElpiensisi en Ios Fstados unloos. Actualnente ios '.csultados de Jaroos afros de experrencla han redundado en beneficio en granjas especiatizadas en ia cria ae Aligatores a escala comerciaf (chabreck, 196?i Joanen y Mc Nease. 1971, Mc Nease y Joanen, 1981) - Tambi6n se ha ensayaili 1a cria en cautiverio de otros crocoditiilos como_llfggglllllg (poofey, niioticus 1970)En Vene:uela hace algunos afios surgi6 la idea de criar crocodllidos er'i cautiverio, pero realmente han sido pocos los resultados que se han obtenido hasLa eI momento. para et caso de fa Baba (caiman crocodrlus) y .La Baba marr6n -(C:!. fuscus) hay cierta e*pEiiEiEia previa con algunos ensayos hechos en iiuUverio (Btohm, i9?3;Rivero Blanco 1974, Pachon, 1982). Tanbidn existen estualios ie tipo eco16_ gico que tratan sobre h:ibitos alimenticios y reproductivos ale la b a b a ( S t a t o n y D i x o n , 1 9 7 5 , 1 9 ? ? i c o r z u f a , f g l e ; S " i j a s y R a m o s1 9 8 0 , Ayarzaguena, 1980) . Datos obtenidos en estos trabajos junto con datos aportados por Ia larga experiencia en Aligato;es iueron ]os que srrvleron oe bases teoricFs esenciales para eI disefro de este experi_ Este trabajo pretenale aportar mds informaci6n a la ya existente sobre ef tena ale cria de crocodilidos en cautiverio, y trlta de un aniifisis de los resultados obtenialos de la observaci6n d;t crecimiento de babas durante sus primeros meses de vida. Se tiene como parte funalamental del experimento, un aIriilisis de tos efectos que ejeicen dos variabfes (tipo de alimento) de control: dieta y densidad (Nrimero de individuos/ unidad de espacio) en la variable de estudio: crecimiento Este trabajo cuenta con el apoyo econ6nico de FUDENA. El trabajo fue realizado_como parte ate un proyecto conjunto entre estudios ecoi6qicos y btctecol69icos que se adelantan en ta Universidaal Sim6n Bolivar para evaluar fa factibilidad de instalar un criadero de babas a escata co_ mercial, y cuenta con 1a Tutoria acaddmica atef profesor Michaet Robinson (usB), quien es adem6s autor de1 disefio experimental original, y tuvo a su cargo fa coorallnaci6n generat de este y de 1os demdl trabajos.Los Dres- C. Rivero, S. corzufa, A. Seijas, y J- Ojasti, aportaron ideas y recomendac i ones , asi como tanbidn L. pierichi en fa parte i E. Eljuri de aniilisis estadisticoEl Inq. Carfos Anglade prop;rciono ta infra_ -los estructura bdsica y ofreci6 su Hato como fuqar paia estualios bio_ logtcos, E] Sr. Ivin Dario Maldonado permiti6 ta recofecci6n de los huevos ale baba en su Hato. Deseo tambidn aqradecer af personal de FUDENAy en especial a Cecilia BlohmA mis padres, a mis compaieros, y en general a todas las per.sonas que ayudaron y colaboraton en la realizaci6n de este rrabaj o. Materiales \/ M6todos Diseno experimental: El punto bi{sico det diseio experimenral es ta evaluacl6n de los efectos que ejercen las variables (dieta de control y densidad), (longitud en e1 crecimiento total, y Iongitud corporal peso) - Para ello se ensayaron 3 dietas y 3 densidades (disefio 3 x 3) . 63 en eI Hato "T,os Arrecifes", se realiz6 Este trabajo de estudio: Sitio El hato estii ubicado en el Esta'Io t)roDiealad del rnq. carfos Anglade. ( 9 o 3 ' N o rte, 68' 15' oeste)' d e G u a r d a t r n a j a s 4 0 K m ; . 6uriii"o, a Los huevos fueron recolectados Recofecci6n e incubaci6n ale los huevos: 20 Cleestos ale la naturaleza, directamente ale 25 nialos de baba obtenidos los clDco Estaalo Apure, en el trio" de1 Hato se nialos obtuvieron "81 Los huevos fueron del propio hato ile estudio' se obtrlvieron restantes controun cuarto aisfado donale se mantenian condiciones incubados elr -c y para colocar sustrato Como (30 relativa) ale humedad 952 ladas con que estaban hechos 1os el mismo material 1os huevos se utiliz6 se incubaron 523 huevos alurante 2 meses. En total nitlos. A mediila que cuidado y marcaje CIe los recidn nacidos, mediciones: se colocaban en poncheras con agua en e1 iuan na"'iendo 1;s individuos, Los inativialuos se marcaban cortando misro cuarto de la iocubaci6nme_ ldentifica'los escamas de fa cresta caudal simple, esto permitia patas tle 1as aledos se recortaron tanbidn binario; diante un c6aligo a que serian sometidos' de1 Nc de trataniento com; inalicativo anteriores ale su fecha 'Ie naciA caala baba recidn nacida se 1e tom6 un registro y medidas: provenia sus respectivas cual deI eI nido rniento, (LT): desde la punta 'lel hocico - Lonqitual total medida ventralmente hasta la punta ale la cofa (! 1 mm). desde ta (LHA). medida ventrafmente - t-ongitud corporal u hocico-ano ite la cloaca (! 1 mn) ' punta-del hoci;o hasta e1 borde anterior - Peso (P): Estas (! mediala con una balanza se repitieron mediciones 1 gr) . mensualmente para (alinentaci6n, Diseio ale los zoocriaderos e1 resto para los zoocriaderos, 250 babas del hato. lagunas las to'las 1as babas' cuidados) . se utilizaron (216) se soltaron en una de fos cuales se tenian 10 estanques separados para los recidn nacidos, indivi'luos permanentes. l,os las lagunas una de borde de fa se situaron se pasaban a los estanques despuds de uno a cinco dias de nacidos' se colocaron 1as 250 babas repartidas el alise6o experimentaf Las tles densialades ensaya'las fueron: 10 jaufas. Siguiendo enire las es decir 0,08 m-lindiv. 1.- 15 individuos en 1,2 m', 2.- 26 indivialuos en L , 2 m ' , e s d e c i r 0,046 m-lindiv. 3.- 35 individuos en L , 2 m " , e s d e c i r 0,034 m'lindiv- tres alietas ensaYadas fueron: 1.Dieta a base de insectos 1uz el6ctrica. 2.- Dieta a base ale alitnento de la conercial 3.Dieta a base ale peces de rio pu1m6n) . finamente picaalos - a las sabana atraidos (Perrarina) y visceras de res jaulas ' (principalmente con En total se tenian nueve tratamientos. se tenia una jaula por tra_ tamiento, miis una jaula adicional donde se mantenian ZZ inai.,,iar]o= de repuesto, estos individuos eran usaalos para reenplazar aquellos que murieran en los distintos tratamientos, de maneia de mantener constante 1as densidades durante el transcrurso del experinento. Debido a limites ale espacio y de individuos no se pudo hacer dupU cados de fos tratamlentos. Para la escogencia de las densidades y e1 disefro de tas Jautas, se siguieron recomenalaciones de trabajos hechos con Atiqato;es y con (Chabreck, 1967r ,Ioanen y Mc Nease, 197r. L976.t Coulson ,et babas af, 1973; Blohm, 1973r Chirivi Gaf]ego. 1973; Afvarez alel Toro, 19?4; Mc Nease y ,f,oanen, 1981). En estos trabajos tambidn se habfa de que los requerinientos de espacio de Aligatores nEntenialos en cautiverio aumentan exponencialmente a nedida gue crece eI animalTomando esto en cuenta, en el atisefro de] experimento se inctuy6 una segunda etapa donde todos 1os individuos fueron pasaalos a jaulas mayores con un espacto cuatro veces mayor (una densidad cuatro veces menor que la inicial) . Este traspaso de los individuos se hizo a partir del cuarto mesEn cuanto a las dietas ensayadas hubo necesialad de hacer algunas modificaciones alurante eI transcurso (ver resultaalos). de1 experimento No se dieron suplementos vitamtnicosr solamente se alaba un compfernento de calcio en forma ale conchas ale nolusco trituradas, que se vende cono alimento para pollos. Este suplemento se les daba a 1os de ta alieta a base de carne, ya que fa carbe roja no contiene casi calcio (Bothwelt, 1962). Este elemento es vital para Ios crocodilidos (Coulson et al, 19'73) , y es facilnente para la baba en forma de esras asimilabte conchas. ya que las mismas constituyen parte de su dieta natural (chirivi cal1ego, l9?3) . Las jaulas ale Ia prinera etapa meatian t,Z nr2 de 6rea total. En et cen tro tenian un estanque de 30 cn. de profundidaal y un drea aproximaaal mente igual a la mitad de1 area total. Las Dareales eran de teta metelica y eI techo era de una malla pljstica (ite invernaalero) que dejaba pasar 20% Ae I,.tz - Las jaulas recibian suficiente sol durante las primeras horas de Ia mafrana y fas \iltimas de la tarde, pero se evitaba el fuerte sol de mealiodia, adeniis se disponia ale un pequeio compartimiento de sombra total donde las babas se podian refugiar. Se colocaron cuatro bombillos de 100 w c/u para los tratamientos con dieta de 1os insectos, la tuz se dejaba prendida durante cuarro horas/ noche. El agua se transportaba a las jaulas nediante una bomba de gasolina, directamente de fa lagunaEl agua ale los estanques se cambiaba todos los dias, previamente timpiado el pozo y sus alrealealores. El afimento se les alaba aal fibitutn (tanto como elfos quisieran comer) , una vez af diaEl alinento se les ponia en un solo plato por jau1a, bajo sombra. Las jaulas de la segunda etapa eran similares, sdlo que con un area cuaLro veces iayor. Babas crecidas en condiciones silvestres: Durante los meses que dur6 eI trabajo se hicieron varios muestreos nocturnos alrededor de la laguna grande donde se soltaron las 216 babas narcadas. Las babas capturadas tambidn eran medidas 1/ Desadas. 65 E1 anelisis de los datos: ale los datos serealiz6 Analisis estadistico EPSON 0X-10. Se us6 el programa de con la ayuala de un microsistema (Northwest Analytical Statpak). Se Dbase II y ulr paquete estadistico ile varian?a, En las anelisis etc. usaron programas de regresi6n, de nedias y ANOVA se usaron siempre intervalos de concomparaciones fianza ale 95x (P 0,05). Resultados v Discusidn durante se hicieron cbservaciones qenerales tb las b€bas fiEntenidas en cautl\rerio se usarcei datos de creciftiento ah 1os para isis estaatistico Pero el aniil 10 neses. externas al s61o los cinco prineros lleses, debic]o a que alqjnas perturbacid)es e)@erifiento (fuga de un gnlpo de babas ale ]as jaulas cu€ndo caflenzd el lEriodo las \rariables de cqltrol. de Uuvias) alter€rcn de 90z, todos los individuos nacielon Ecl-osi6n: Se obtuvo una eclosi6n presente, pero dste se sanos, algunos tenian todavia parte del vitelo y sobre la incubaci6n en uno o clos dias. Miis detalles reabsorbia en el trabajo de R. Ronero (1984). ecolosi6n se pueden encontrar Todas las siguientes babas fueron pesadas y medidas af nacer, resultados : se obtuvieron los Medi a lonqrruo Longitud Peso (gr) toEar (mml (mnl) corporal 10,9 39,'7 o,44 o ,12 1 4, 2 (Staton y han sialo obtenidos por diversos autores Valores similares Estas dimensiones dependen un poco Dixon. 1977; Ayarzaguena? 1980). (Staton, y Ia dpoca de postura geogriifica 1976). de la localidad Las babas que se mantenian en las tres jaulas con dieta Alimentaci6n: (en su mayoria cofe6pteros, y lepiddpteros) se ort6pteros de insectos perfectahente durante mes y medi-o, es decir. hasta el afimentaron (Dicienbre de 1983) , cuando decreci6 finat deI perioalo ale lluvias y Ia activialad la biomasa de 6stos, A pesar ale los esfuerriipidamente 1a intensidad ale Ia reflectora, zos hechos (aumentando la superficie no se 10916 luz, y el tiefi\po que se dejaron prendiaos los bonbilfos), suficientes insectos. Por esta razon fue necesario cambiar esta atraer por supuesto, consdieta por carne-pes cado-ca1ci o - Esta moalificacion. alel experimento una fuente de error que enturbia los resultados tituye ale crecimiento respecto a las otras dietas. en tdrminos ate diferencia muy l,as babas que se mantenian a base de carne y pescado se alimentaron fue simiEf sistema usaalo para alimentarlos bien ilesale e1 principioIar aI usado por otros autores (Blohm, 19?3; Rivero Blanco, 1974): se pedazos pequefros de pulm6n {que flotan) del en 1a superficie arrojaban a comerlo, despuds se les ponatria el agua ale manera que aprendieran las babas siempre A1 nomento de afimentarse alimento fuera def agua. una especie de conmoci6n qeneral produciendo sus llanadas originan calacteri sti cas . Un fen6meno observaalo fue que en todos los tratamientos habian siempre algunas babas (las m6s grandes) que impedian a las es esta una de las razones por demiis acercarse a obtener el alinento, Este hecho se veia ailr! las que siempre habian babas subalimentadas. 66 m6s acentuado en las alensialades a1tas. Este efecto tal vez se hubiese podido reducir distribuyenalo el alimento en varias fuentes separadas por estanque, y por supuesto la otra alternativa hubiese sido realistri buir fos anirnales en atenci6n a1 lamaio (chabreck, 1967; chirivi callego, 1973; Blohm, 1973), pero para fines de este experlmento, hacer esto hubiese alterado las densidaales, oue era una de 1as variables de Durante el experimento se ensayaron varios tipo ale carne. La que mds se us6 en todo momento por ser la de menor costo fue el pufm6n (bofe), (conchas de moluscos) ef cual se conservaba mealiante salado. E1 calcio para 1as babas y tuvo muy buena result6 ser un complemento perfecto aceptaci6n. Se ensay6 tanbidn con viceras de babas beneficiadas de1 puede ser de mistno hato, hubo nuy buena aceptaci5nEste resultado gran iftrportancia a la hora de instalar criacleros de babas de uso extensivo donde se usen ciclicamente tos desechos del beneficio de Ia baba para alimentar a las babas mantenidas en cautiverio, Futuros estudios podrian incluir si bay aliferencias ale crecimiento con 1os distintos UD hecho bastante notable fue que en los uftlmos reses tipos de carne. de estudio se not6 un porcentaje bastante alto de babas subaiimentaalas en los tratamientos ale carne-pescado, esto puede haber sido debido a - Las babas posiblemente presentaron un rechazo a la carne satada. Dado que no fue posible mantener una propcrci6n aalecuada de pescado en esta segunda dieta debido a la dificultad de conseguir peces fresc€s durante los meses de sequia, esto puede haber producido un efecto negativo para el crecimiento de las babas, que necesitan D, Ia vitamina proveniente del pescadoSin embargo no se vieron los sintomas tipicos (deficlencia (chlrivi de raquitisno de vit, D) en reptiles Ga1lego, 1973) I,as babas que se pensaban mantener con Perrarina no mostraron interds en comer dicho atimento en ninqin lnomento, pese a todo los esfuerzos (granulada y expalrdida), y h e c h o s , t a l e s como probar distihtos tipos tratar incluso ale inducir fa alimentaci6n forzada(Joaneny I\4cllease. Resultados similares han sido obtenitlos con Aligatores a este alimento puede 7917, 1976). La expficaci6n cle Ia baja aceptaci6n ser el hecho de que estos animales, por ser de hdbitos carnivoros, posibfemente no 1o reconozcan conro comestibfe, er| o tengan aliflcultades que se encuentran presentes en todos asirnilar fos componentes vegetafes, estos alir,entos comerciales. vn resultado muy diferente fue obtenido al (y sustituir canbiar esta dieta todas fas babas de esta dieta por uil stock nuevo) por harina de carne y hueso, 1a cual tiene hasta 45% ale proteina animal cruda y no contiene complenentos vegetalesLa aceptaci5n de esta harina fue tota] en todo nomento. El sistema seguido para alimentarlas fue usando primero trozos de carne picaalos, rociados con poco a poco se fue aumentando Ia cantidad de harina, hasta esta harina, que en un mes, la proporci6n ],a harlna era casi exclusivamente harina. era mezclada con aEua de manera de producir una pasta y siempre se dej6 alqo cle trozos de carne para dar consistencia a la pasta, de otra forma 1as babas tenian dificultad en conerfa al no poderla njanipular, ya que los alimentos parte de su dieta "pastosos" no constituyen natural - Se sugiere para futuros trabajos, ensayar tambi6n con mezcfas ate dietas (ejm: pescado con barina de carne y hueso), para evita! posibles pro_ blemas (ejm: deficiencias vitaminicas) , que de hecho se han encontraalo en Afigatores a1 aplicar. monodietas por tlempo prolongado (Mc Nease y Joanen, 1981) . solo hubo un tratamiento (babas que comian carne, a densidaal baja)donde las babas no se quisie-ron .ilimentar en ningtn nomento. Todas 1as babas de este tratamiento estaban subatimentadas, no llegando ninguna a pesar mas de 100 gr. Las razones de este extrafio fen6meno se desconocen,Dero se sospecha que pueale haL'er sido pol factores (de nacini;nto) congdnitos ya que todas estas babas provenian de un nisro nido y las y las fteatias de las dimensiones para estas babas fueron las menores de t;das (21 cmy 31 ,7 qr). Tambi6n este el hecho ale que pasaron varios dias desde que nacieron estas babas, hasta que comenzaron el tratamiento; esto tal vez haya afectaalo algin periodo critico en Ia vida de tas babas. Toalos los esfuerzos hechos para lacer comer a estas babas resultaron en vano. Debido a este hecho, estas babas no fueron incluialas en los aniitisis esr-adisticos. Crecimiento: Se cafcularon medias y varianzas de los tres pariinetros medidos (LT, LHA, y P)para toalos tos tratamientos, para cada mes ate nedicidn. Se calcularon tambjdn tasas de crecimienao. Resulta inposi_ ble exponer en_este trabajo todos los resultados por lo que obtenidos, se expondxiin s6Io los resultados qlobales. Se ca1cu16 una regresi6n lineal entre LT y LHA para todas todas las medjcjones, se ubt\rv^ el sid i6nfF ra<rrlfA,-]^. (1140 puntos) LT = 2,19.LriA - 0,12 las babas y El coeficlente de correlaci6n fue r = 0-97 10 que indica una muy atta correlaci6n entre estos parinetros. Datos similares ban sido obtedidos para fos demiis c:i1culos estadisticos por Staton y Dixon (1975). no se us6 el par.imetro LHA,sino solamente LT y p. j,as mediciones ate LHA fueron usadas solamente para extrapolar el valor de LT (en funci6n de esta regresional, para babas que habian perdido parte de la cola en peleas, para estas babas se us6 e1 vaior de Ll' extrapolado, no eI real. Tambidn.se cafcularon regresiones tineales, exponenc]ates, logarltmicas y de raiz c{bica, para observar cual alescribe meior la correl;ci6n entre LT y P, los resultados fueron: x = I-T, Y - P (900 puntos) . Y=6,62x-113,2 Y = 3,16-eo.llx 3vy= 0, 15x - 0, 17 LogY=3,081o9x-5,98 r = 0,88 r = 0,90 r = o,92 f = a,92 Como puede observarse, todas las corr.elaciones dieron bastante aftasAunque las mejores vienen siendo Vy y Logy, resultados sitnilares han sido obtenialos con la baba (Staton y Dixon, 1975); Vanzotini y comes, 1979) y con Aliqatores {,roanen y Mc Nease, 1976). Et becho de que 68 este tipo de regresiones alefinan bien ta correlaci6n entre estas va_ riables, es una reafirmaci6n ale una observaci6n qeneraiizaaa ae que el peso en crocodiliatos aumenta exponenciafmente en fu""iO" ae f" fongitud y en funci6n de ta edad (hasta cierta eaaa) fOowrrng y Brazaitis, 1954r Chabreck y Joanen. 1979), dato ale gran importancia a Ia, hora_de- pensar en edad y tanaio definirivo para 6er.,efi"ia, ,rna ut hecho de que ta reqresi6n lihFal para Fstos prineros cinco meses haya dado relativanente (r = o,Bil) nos inar'ci que probablq alta mente en las primeras etapas todavia no se baya ,,disparaato,, e.t creci_ miento expodenciaf, esto tal vez ocurra despuds del primer afro. A1 comparar las vaI:ianzas obtenialas entre toalas las mealiciones, se obtiene que las varianzas han crecido aie rnanera J""pi"p"i.r"""a" medida que transcurre el tienpo. Este hecho es una- coirsecuencia Ce " no poder reclasificar fos animales en atenci6n al tamafro y ate que hayan_babas que impidan fa alimentacidn de otraseri.-.! ,rn .f."to perjudicial para cualquir.plan de manejo, pue" fa cor].ecoencia es que aumenta la varianza, et nrimero de baba; suLatinentadas y eventualmente, ]a mortalidad La mayor unifornialad (nenor varianza) se obtuvo en los tratamrentos a base de insectos (en los meses en que hubo insectos), esto es segura_ mente debido a que en estos tratamientos, af caer insectos en fa superficie def agua, todas tas babas tienen mds o menos la mrsma pro_ babilidad de obtener alimento y por 10 ta.to e1 crecimiento es oastante parejoEste hecho nos podria dar un indicio en apoyo de fa teoria de que alimentos alistr.ibuidos en varias fuentes por 1!"ii *.yor lioaucen uniformidad de tamaios que un solo plato por-jauia. piobalremente en estos tratamienlos, 1a principal fuente de variaci6n de tamafio era de rapo genelrco (de nacimiento) - Este efecto gen6tico se podria realucir a un ninimo poniendo individuos naciatos ale ui mismo p", 1""r". De hecho Ias varianzas "ia"] eran muc})o menores en los tratamientos donde las babas provenian de un mismo nidoSe hicieron varios Anovas de una sota via para aleterhinar .La presencia ale efectos de las variables de control f". t"."" a" aa""ra,""t".Lo. Anovas_se calcularon independientemente ""para tasa de crecimiento en p Para la primera H0: Ilo existe H1: Existe prueba efecto efecto de hip6tesis: de Ia densidad- de ta densidad. Se obtuvo como resultado que para todas las medicr,ones se puede recha_ zdr ta hipoLesls nura {Hoi sua di-e q," i";;;;;;;-;J"rJl i..." o. crecrmiento son iguates (p ( 0,05). p o d e m o s a f i r m -a;r; . ; ;e n t- o; ;n' c e s , q u e t a densidad es un factor definitivo para afectar i;; enro, en babas mantenidas en cautiverio. siendo mayor ef -y_."tS" r " c 1 n.l ,n"r]or densidadEste efecto se observd Aesa" ef primer-..", ".""i*i"."o presente en los Lres grrlpos de dietas. Si consiCeramos que en tdrninos econ6nicos, Ia densiatad ideaf es ta rnaxrma dehsldact que se puede mantener sin que se vea afectado ef creci_ miento de las babas en cautiverio, entonces de este resultaclo se desplr_-nde 69 'le 1as q*9.]l,ienor que esta densidad ideal atebe ser menor i9"11 para babas densidades ensayadas en este experinento " (0,08 mzlindividuo j 1 ParticulariEnle estutlios se oPinanos que en futuros i"ii;"-ri"r3"i que le'luzcan y metodologias aplicar menores alensidades deberian ensayar liga'Io intinamente aI minimo ta irarianza de tamaffos por Jaula (factor nido de un mismo lndividuos a la alensidaal), estos mdtodos incluirian: jaula, en y por reclasificacion de alimento fuentes por Jaula, varias _"t""-.ia" Se esPeraria de esta forma conseguir tasas ile al tamafio. Es de hacer notar Ia importancia mdximas en cautiverio. crecimiento (ejm: fa escogencia .t9) agresiviala9: de patrones cornportamentales "l para elegir El criterio para cautiverio. el de bensiilades a-decuadas de tar,bidn dependeria del tipo de estrategia la denslalad "ideal" que se desee emplear, es decir si se desea nantener pocos explotaci6n in-aividuos c;eciendo a un ritmo miximo, o se desea mantener nuchos creciendo poco (ver "Modelos 'le expfotaci6n" i;il;;;;;; idensidaa alta), en las concluslones). Para Ia segunda prueba t{0 : Hl: la dieta no afecta la afecta dieta el de hip6tesisr el crecimlento. crecimiento. nula (Ho) se obtuvo como resultaalo que se pueale rechazar la hip6tesis q u e d i f erencias existerl de1 sequndo mes. Es ilecir a partir ipeo ,OSt 'creclmlenlo Siendo 1a dietas' las distintas a sonetidas entre baba; ie crecimiento' e1 miiximo encontr6 y se alonde huesos carne ale ale harina dieta debido- a varias perturbapuede que no sea muy confiable Este resultatlo 'ocurrido el que han aftera'Io er experimento,. durante han ;;;;"; a; de dieta el cambio otras estdn: Entre dieta. ale la variable control el becho de ile 1as babas que estaban sometidas a 1a ilieta de insectos, en la dieta de-pescado proporci6n adecua'la no haber poahdo mantener una de dificultad sala'la, ae la carne posible iechazo el I. 3 o 4 dias ".i""-i".."a". de que un ayuno caus6 fo dol ocasiones, en la carne Ilevar A pesar de esto se sospecla que en las babas sometidas a esta dieta. dietas' entre 1as distintas ale crecimiento si alebe haber una diferencia (Mc y 1981) ' Joanen' Nease Aligatores eI se ha encontraalo como de hecho 'le to'Ios rnodos resulta ale creciniento, Aunque no hubiesen tliferencias babas mantenidas con por iqual, eI hecho de que havan crecido ;;;iti"; con y babas alinentadas 2 Bs/ks que cuesta y hueso irarina de carne adends ' de m6s harina, ae res iue cuesia 6 Bslkq, siend;la ;i.;;;.; fecil manteniniento Y transporte. Ne 6 en e1 tratariento mexinas se obtuvieron Lastasas ale crecimiento baja) y a densidad hueso, (babas alinentaalas con harina de carne (Fiq. 1r. 2)Las babas que n6s crecieion alcanzaron un promedio de 2'7 Datos sirTilares aunque un v :]o cmTmes, v 29,3 grlnes (Fiq. 3 v 4) ' :o:,, ^ a " ' b a j o s - ( 2 , 5 c m / n e s ) h a n s i d o o b t e n r d o s c o n I a b a b a e o T o !(Pachon' i""" marron y la baba con 1974) (gtofrnr, 1973t Rivero Blanco, iutores ya que nos dan i'lea 1982) . son alentaalores estos datos ale crecimiento en cautide crecimiento alta potenciafidaal bastante una de oue existe apropia'las con'liciones ar meximo usando ie puede'explotar ;;.;;-.;; manLeniendo iesin alqunos modelos v estimaciores' iJi"i.=v-a"".iJid). pue'Ien Ilevar se a dstas' simrlares cauti;erio en tasas de crecimiento (1'20 nts) exPlotables comercialmente a ta1las anos, tres en babas, a las ( D ' A n d r i a , 1 9 8 0t P a c h o n , 1 9 8 2 ) . 'i0 Una observaci6n interesante fue que alurante el priner mes, las tasas ale crecimiento en longitud fueron mucho nayores que para el resto de fos meses. Esto puede expficarse en parte por una observaci6n hecha de que fas babas recidn nacialas tienen un ,'factor de estiramiento,' que puede estar presente o nor cuanalo estii, puede llegar hasta2,5cn en la primera semana o 3 cm en los primeros 15 dias. Este hecho se vi6 bastante cfaro en nuherosas babas que fueron medialas varios alias despuds de nacidas sin haber iniciado todavia e1 tratamiento. En general se observaba este increnento en lonqitud, acotnpafiado por una pdrdida de peso/ por 10 que no se le pueale tlamar crecinlento. Este fen6meno ta1 vez se podria explicar como una adaptaci6n ecoldgica ale las babas para alcanzar una talla m:ixima en sus primeros periodos de vida, en pro de su adecuaci6n y supervivencia, y eI hecho ale estar presente o no podria depender de factores gendticos, dpoca del aio, tamaffo de los huevos, y otros factores relacionados con la estrategia y de supervivencia reproductiva de la baba. como lo cita Staton (1976). Otro fen6meno encontrado fue que durante los rneses de sequia, Ias tasas ale creclmiento, en general, se redujeron notablenente, siendo de 2 o 2,5 cn/r..es para las babas que mds crecian, y nucbas babas perdielon peso durante estos meses. Ulra posible expticaci6n ale esto podria ser un perioalo ale estivaci6n posiblemente natural, relacionaato con carnbios hormonales aI llegar la dpoca ile sequiaEste hecho es ya bastante conocido en Aligatores mantenidos en cautiverio en climas templados (Cbabreck y Joanen, 1979( y que tambidn ha sido visto en ta baba nrrrcn por Pach6n (1982) quien encontr6 tambi-in reducci6n en fas tasas ale crecim:iento y pdrdidas de peso de hasta 10% a,urante los meses de sequia. Enfermealades, mortalidad: No se encontraron enfermedades evialeDtes durante ef traDscurso del trabajo, solamente se observ6 un porcentaje (222 ael total afto de individuos subalimentados de babas) - Se cree que la causa principal de esto atebe haber siito ]a alta alensidad, aurque tambi6n pueden laber contribuido (sobre todo entre las otros factores que se afimentaban con carne), tales como: deficiencias vitaminicas, rechazo a ]a carne salada,rechazo a ta roonodietaSe calcularon % de mortalidad e indivialuos subalimentados para todos fos tratamientos, y se encontr6 que existe un efecto claro de fa abnsialad sienalo miiximo (35*) en fas alensidades bajas. Se encontr6 que entre las distintas dietas este % fue menor en los grupos que comian harina. La mortalidad total, sin incluir 15 babas que murieron por un accidente (desecamiento ale un pozo), fue de By duranie los cinco ;rineros neses, 1a causa principal eia subafimentacidn. Se estima que este I puede llegar a ser mucbo menor, e incluso llevarse a O% si se extreman las precauciones y se usan condiciones (de dieta y densialad) . Con ideales todo, este Z de mortalidaC resulta sumanente bajo si 1o comI)aramos con los obtenidos para babas en la naturaleza, para su priner affo ate vida, que es el afio critico debido a la alta predaci6n, hambre y desecamiento de los pozos; diversos autores han reportado Z de nortalidad entre 70 y 90% para e1 primer afio (Rivero Blanco, 19?4r Staton, 1976; Ayarzaguena, 1980, MARNR, 1982). El hecho de poder mantener una nortalidad tan baja, a] eliminar justifica 1os factores que 1a producen, pricticamente el mantenimiento en cautiverio, aunque sdlo sea por un ano- 7! agresivo de las babas en cautiverio El conportamiento comportamiento: miis notabfes. La agresividad es un factor fue una de las observaciones y en propiciar el stress en la distribuci6n alel alimento, nuy importante que puede ser un factor negativo en eI crecitniento. Se en 1as jaulas, sospecha que este stress producido por peleas, etc- puede haber sido encontrado en 1as razones del bajo crecimiento una de las princlpales se han encontraalo con A-ligatores Resuftados silllilares densidades aftas. (Chabreck. 1967) . sonetialos a densidades altas a la en las babas son muy importantes Las llamadas o sonidos tipicos al resto de1 grupo de Ia hora que se entrega ta conida, pues alertan presencia de alimentoAlgo se lla estualiatlo sobre sisternas de comuniGorzula (1978) ha encontrado que tanto caci6n en babas al natural, son de en fas qldndulas almizcleras estas llamaalas, como secreclones para mantener cohesi6n en ef grupo y como manera de gran importancia La efectividad de estas lfanaClas solicitar ayuda (distress calls). como se observ6 en varias ocasicnes pueale afcanzar dinensiones ins6litas, (presunibfemente lma lreirbra), en que una baba de aproximadamente 1,30 nts. jaulas, durante la noche, atendienalo salia de la laguna cercana a 1as un sonido al llanrado de tos babitos enjaulaatos, y comenzaba a producir cuando Ios babltos oian esta llamada, aumentaban su algarabia similar. de las jaulas y hacian esfuerzos desesperados por salir comunicativa forma.lEspues escapar de esta paredes, babas lograron cinco saltando las ate esto fue necesario tomar mealidas para auyentar a la baba grande. e1 nuevo perioalo se observ6 cuanalo se reinici6 otro hecho interesante (mayo a escapar de las babas comenzaron de 1984), muchas de lluvias y sefras ale querer hacerfo sin haber daalo incontrolada de manera Jaulas de este hecho seria que explicaci6n Una posible en meses anterioresque precisamente se migratorios, 1as babas atendian a sus instintos y desesperados hacian esfuerzos ale lluvia, alesencadenan en las dpocas por escapar de las jaulas. ya que de comportaniento sobre observaciones m6s estudios Se necesitan y a la hora de disefiar los zoocriaderos puealen ser de gran utilidad las t6cnicas de alimentacion, mantenimiento, etcEl sistema de marcaje Discusi6n sobre metodologia y fuentes de error: de escamas durante los y ttil no hubo regeneraci6n bastante usado fue Las fuentes de error a la hora de hacer las fi€dicicnes meses de trabajo. eran pocas, en generaf se resumian a1 hecho de que el peso Ce una baba al momento de medirse si habian comido lracia podia ser muy distinto fue que puede haber afectaalo a 1os tratamientos poco o no. Un factor el uso de babas de reemPlazo. En total se pudieron capturar sifvestres: en condiciones crecimiento 12 babas d'rrante los meses de muestreo nocturno en la laguna qrande se presume que la del hato, de las cuales, s6lo dos estaban marcadas, que de no se conto adeniis debe haber sialo sumamente alta, riortalidad una tasa Se calcul6 para muestreo. hacer buen un con mealios adecuados y resuldieron (en para babas marcadas y las alos LT P) crecimiento de 'lambi6n se cafcuf6 una taalos nuy parecialos (1,8 cm,/mes y I gr,/nes) ' LT-P con las 12 babas capturaalas, obteniendose: lineal regresi6n p = 9,34LT r = 0,c8 210 {12 puntos) '72 E1 crecirniento e:1 condiciones silvestres ha slato estualiado por otros autores (Staton y Dixon, 1975; Gorzula, 1978; Ayarzaguena/ 1980), y en general no se han obtenido valores demasiado diferentes a los obtenidos aqui (a pesar de ser una nuestra bastante pequeffa). Al comparar los resultados obtenidos con los de 1as babas nantenidas en cautivelio saltan a la vista tres hechos impoitantes: La ta6a de crecimiento en L? para las babas crecidas al natural, es mayor que la media global para las babas mantenidas en cautiverio, pero es bastante meDor que las tasas en fos tratamientos donale hubo mEximo crecimieDto. La tasa ale crecimlento en P para fas babas al natural es menor que Ia media para 1as babas mantenidas en cautiverio. La relaci6n P-LT es mucho meDor para fas babas crecitlas a1 natural. A pesar de que el nrimer:o ile babas capturaalas fue bastante bajo, si basta para generalizar que las babas crecidas en la naturaleza tienden e ser "Iargas y ffacas", o 10 que es Io mismo, las babas manteniiias en cautiverio tienden a engordar miis relativamente. Este efecto puede ser debido a que las babas que crecian en cautiverio, por tener poca acti(no tienen necesidad de moverse Dara Drocurarse el vidad locomotiva alimento), tienden a acumular mis calorias en los tejlaos. Resultaalos similares se han encontrado en Aligatores inantenialos en cautiverio, los cuales tienden a pesar 10|t mi{s que Afigatores de la misma longitud, (Coulson et al, 1973, ,foanen y Mc Nease, 19?6t crecidos en fa naturaleza Mc Nease y JoaDen, 1981). tstos resultaalos pueden ser sumamente positivos en tdrminos econ6nicos, de mantenerse este fen6meno. Aunque no se hayan obtenido diferencias muy notables en cuanto af crecimieento e. longituil, y aI natural, en cautiverio, es posible que este efecto resulte mes aparente despuds del segundo a6o aie crecimientoSe requiere miis experimentaci6n al respectoAn6lisis de aspectos econ6micos: En esta secci6n no se atiscutira sobre gastos ale infraestructura etc). sino solanente , (jau1as. personal, gastos de alinentaci6n. El qasto por alimento Alirnento rr^rina alurante cinco Kg. zla ^>rha w hr'-c^ (bofe) visceras conchas de moluscos 1rn 265 10 a^c+^ h^F .nim5l. Dieta Dieta de harina ale carne y hueso de carne-pescado-calcio meses fue e1 siouiente: (Bs-) costo total 2 6 4 240 1.680 40 Bs/mes 48 344 Bs,/anifila1/mes 0,63 A simple vista se puede deducir que la dieta de harina resufta mucho miis econ6micaSi a esto sunanos eI hecho ale que esta harina prdbablsetrte estd produciendo nejor crecimiento y que es un alimento de fecif mantenimiento y transporte, que es esta 1a dieta miis resulta en alefinitiva recomenalable hasta los nomentos. Habria que ver en futuros estudios si no se presentan probfemas por aplicar monodieta por tiempo prolongado. a mealida que fue aumentanilo progresivalnente El gasto por alinento ya que de alimento consumido es la cantialad los meses, transcurrian proporcional En Aligatores han encontrado que al peso def anirnal. consumen entre 10 y 252 ae su peso/senana (Joanen y Mc Ncase, 19?7, entre 40 y 50t de1 alimento Mc Nease y Joanen/ 1981) y convierten (peso En este seco) en tejido, segdn el tipo de dieta. consunialo (peso de alimento consunido/ no se pualo calcular ]a coDversl6n estudio de alinento pe6o ale anihal ganado) debido a que no se llev6 control y alimento dejaalo. Este dato es ale suma inportancla suninistrado para cualquier estudio econ6nico ( costo^ene fi ci o) y por lo tanto probando futuros de este tipo, se recomienda que se hagan estudios con distintas dietas y mezclas de dietasa Fs obvio que los costos de manutencidn aunentan exponencialmente medida que crecen las babas, ya que el peso tambi6n aumenta expcrFhla nBnlltenciin rentable ciafmente. Algunos modelos estiman que resulta de 1a baba hasta tres afios (D'Andria, 1980), pero debeen cautiverio esta afirmaci6nrdn hacerse nds estudios para reforzar conclusiones -La variable alensidaal, de control conclusiones sobre el crecimiento: e1 crec imiento. s iendo este mayor, a menores afecta definitivamente densialaales. La densidad ideal seria 1a miixina alensiilaal que se pueale Se estima que esta afectado e1 crecimientonantener sin resultar densialad debe ser menor o iqual a 12,5 inclivialuos/m2 (0'08-mz/indiv') -La variable de control para babas en sus prineros meses de vidamas probablemente est6 afectando eI crecimiento. Se requlere dieta, -FI Indxino y probar con distintos tipos de dietas. exper'inentaci6n crecimiento se alcanz6 con babas alimentaalas con harina de carne y -Pactores que realuzcan d e nsidad baja (0,08 m2lindividuo). huesos, a (ejn: varias y fuentes de alinento, la varianza en el crecimiento positivos para el creciresultan babas ale un mismo nialo por jaula), -Las tasas de crecimiento meximas (2,? y 3,0 miento en cautiverio. para un relativamente aftas y parecen alentadoras cm,/mes) resultaron -Las babas crecialas en cautiverio pfan de explotaci6n en cautiverio. dada) que las tienden a engordar miis (mayor peso para una longitud -Existe ale estiramiento" un "factor babas crecidas al natural. que (increnento durante los prlmeros 15 dias de viala, en longitud) puede estar presente o no. Eubo reducci6n en las tasas ale creciniento -El natural. debido a estivaci6n durante 1os neses secos, posiblemente nortalidad e individuos porcentaje de mortalidad fue de 8%. El % de y nulo en fas alensifue mayor en tas densidades altas, subafimentados dades bajas. -La dieta a base de insectos no se conclusiones sobre alimentacl6n: puede mantener durante todo el afro, en todo caso se podria usar como _El alinrento cornplemento de otras dietas alurante los meses lluviosos. durante sus prineros para babas alimentar no es itil comercial Perrarina peces -Las frescos,Y de baba, de res, visceras de vida. visceras meses harina ile carne y hueso tienen buena aceptaci6n por parte de las babas. -un -Ias babas probablemente rechazan la carne que ba sido salaala. buena de moluscos tiene de conchas en forma complemento de calcio (incluYendo quizils congdni tos )pueden -factores desconocidos aceptaci6nen caut! gue algunas babas se ba1len renuentes a alimentarse determinar (ejm: -Tactores comunicaci6n) agtesivialaal, comportanentafes verio. alel alimento determinan patrones en la distribuci6n en cuenta a fa hora de alisefiar los zoocriaderos. y deberen tomarse -La dieta de harina de carne y Conclusiones de aspectos econ6micos: ya que se pueden mantener hueso parece ser la mds adecuada y rentabfe, anihales a 0,63 Bslmes durante los primeros meses, y es de fecil -De mantener ]as tasas de crecimiento mantenimlento y transporte. obtenidas, se cree que se pueden mantener babas en cautiverio durante dos o tres afros, a bajo costo. Se requiere n6s experinentaci6n a1 -usar Algunas recomenalaciones para la inplantaci6n de zoocriaderos: provenlentes densidades bajas- -"ratar de poner indivitluos de un mismo y reagrupar en atencl6n nido por jaula para realucir la variabilialad, al tamafio cada cierto tiempo. -Alimentar a las babas cada dos alias, y -Alinentar fuentes de alimento por jaula. a las babas con usar varias pescado fresco,.o de res. o ale babas beneficiaalas, harina de visceras carde y hueso? y usar conchas de moluscos como complemento ale calcio -Usar carne y pescado refrigeraalo, e insectos durante los meses lluviosos. no salaalo. -Picar 1os trozos de carne y pescado 1o miis fino poslble. -Tener una fuente continua ile pescaalo (ejm: cultivo -ljsar de cachamas) . (ejm: pescado con harina de carne y hueso) (evitar mezclas de dietas -Para e1 diseffo de las jaulas, y altas monodietas). usar pareales lisas lh;c Aa r c n+ A4 ,r +r,rrl Proposici6n de modelos de explotaci6n: Lo primero que hay que aleterque se alesea usar: minar es el tipo ale estrategia a) Mantener pocos indiviiluos, bien afimentados, a altas tasas de crecimiento en cauti\rerio. b) Mantener muclos individuos en cautiverio, sin impportar que el sea igual o menor que en la naturaleza, con tal ale ellminar crecimiento Ia a.Lta mortalidad de] primer a:o. (espacio, capital, si se dispone de suflciente fuentes infraestructura se podria seleccionar la alternativa a) ,y mantener pocas de afimento), (ejm. en tres o muchas babas hasta que alcanzaranun tanaffo conercial cada aio se podria recoqer un nuevo stock de huevos, o hasta afros)se podria probar la reproducci6n en cautiverio mediante inseminaci6n artificiaL etc. Se podria inplenentar una procesadora de carnes y cueros y alimentar a las babas nantenidas en jauras con los desechos de1 beneficio de Ias babas. como fuente adicionat se podria disponer que daria miis indeEsta seria fa alternativa ale cuftivos de cachamas. pendencia de 1a naturalezasi se dispone de poco capital o espacio para 1os zoocriaderos, y en cambio se tienen cuerpos de agua naturales (ejm: tapas recientes) , se podria seleccionar o artificiafes la alternativa b), y mantener las babas por solo un afio/ para fueqp soltarlas, y tener suficientes babas para cosechar de Ia naturaleza cuando alcancen se repetiria un buen tdmdio. el ciclo todos los ahos sin peligro de y mezclas entre agotar el recurso. Existen infinidad de variantes modelos. Se espera que futuros experimentos aporten miis datos ritiles para acercarse cada vez miis a un modelo de explotaci5n de babas en que sea factible cautiverio, de realizarpara futuros Estudiar los efectos ale sugerencias temas de estudio: distintas dietas y mezclas de ellas en eI crecimiento (ejm: carne,peces. harinas de carne y lruesos y de pescado) - Probar si se pueden usar y secados al sol, pala alilrFrrtar capturados alurante ef invierno, insectos Buscar la alensidad "ialea1", a fas babas durante fos meses secosmediante ensayo y error, o extrapolaci6nEstudiar el efecto de la del alimento en eI creciniento. distribuci6n Estualiar el comportapor niis ale un afio en conaliciones de Estualiar ef crecimiento tniento. Estudiar cautiverio controlaalo. los cambios hormonales. EstuCliar Ia conversi6n de alimentos y contenialos nutricionafes. Estudios econ6micos ( costo/benefi cio) por tamafios de babasBiblioqrafta Alvarez de1 Toro, M. 1974. Los Crocodyfia de M6xico- IMERNAR.Iv€xico. Ecologia del cairn{n Ce Antecjos o Baba (cainEn Ayarzaguena, J- 1980. crocodilus L-) en tos Llanos de Apure, VenezuelaManuscrito, Tesis para optar aI grado de Doctor en ciencias Biof6qicas. Universidad complutense de Madrid: 1-215Blohm, T. 1973. conveniencia de criar Crocodilialos en Venezue:l.a con su extinci6n. sinposio fines econ6micos y para prevenir Intery Pesca lluvial y Lacustre A'nazd sobre Fauna Silvestre nacional nica- Manaos, Brasil32 ppBotbwell, creat D. 1962. The qreat outdoor book of Alligators. outdoor Publishing co. St. Petersburg, Fla. coulson, the T,. coulson, R., Herndndez, T, 19?3. Some observations growth of captive alligators. zoologica. 5A.47-52- chabreck, R. 1967. Alligator rarming HintsCorun., New Orleans. lrimeoqrafia. La- Wild l,ife on analFistEries Chabreck, R. y Joanen, T. 1979. crowth rates of American Alligators in Louisiana. Herpetologica, 35 (1) 1979, 51-57. chirivi callego, R.H. 1973. contribucr6n al conocimiento de ta Babilla con notas sobre su manejo y o Yacard Tinga {cairan crocodilus) simposiun Tntern. otras especies de crocodilya Neotropicalesy Pesca fluvial y lacustre. Manaus, Brasil. sobre launa sifvestre de u'r modelo rnatemiitico sobre la D'Analria, B. 1980. Estructuraci6n ale la Baba (caiman crocoalilus) con rniras a su dindmica poblacional posible explotaci6n Trabajo especial de graalo- Llxi!€rsicomercia]. 149 pp. dad Sim6n Bolivar, Dowling, H- y Brazaitis, P. 1954. Tnt. Zoo. \B- 6. 265-27O Size study s- 19?8An ecofogical corzula, savanna lagoons in the venezuelan 21-34 - anal Groltth cf in captive crooodilians, caiman crocodifus inhabiting oecologia 35 (1) : Guayana. Propagatlon of the American alligator Joanen, T. y Mc Nease, L- 1971. in captivity. Ploc. Southeastern Assoc.Game and Fish c<missicners conf.25:106-116,toanen, T. y Mc Nease, L. 1976. culture of inmature American alligators Soc. environmental Proc- world Mariculture in controlled cbanbers. 7' 241-2II. eggs incubation of Alligator Joanen, T. y Mc Nease/ L. 1977. Artificial chanbers. environnental and post hatching culti1re in controlled Proc. world mariculture Soc. 8: 483-489. Mc Nease, L. y Joanen, T- 1981. Nutrition Gainesville, Production cooference. of AlligatorsFlorida. Alliqator MARNR (Ministerio de1 Ambiente y de ]os Recursos Naturales Reno€bfes). 1982- Aprovechamiento racioiral aie ta Baba o Babo, Caiman crocodifus L- FoIteto. t4 ppPacho!r-,, E.,1982.Algunos aspectos relativos a Ia conservaclon y Manejo de los Crocodylia en Colombia. INDERENA. Documento presentado ante el II Curso sobre la iDvestigaci6n, nanelo y conservaci6n de Cocodrilos. cainesvitle, USA. Pooley, Rivero T- 19?0. 24. 1_15. Crocodife rearing Blanco, c- 1974. Hdbitos Venezofanos. Natura (52): in zululand. reproductivos 24_29. Anirnals (London) ate la Baba en tos Ltanos Ronero, R. 1984. Estudio de algunas variables bidticas y abi6i:icas alel_nido de fa Baba, Caiman crocodilus. con Ia finalidad de evaluar fa factibilidad ae una incutact6n nr:hrt^ artificial EspeciGl ale crado. Universidad Sim6n BolivarSeijas, A. E. y Ramos. S. l9B0Caracterizaci6n de la dieta ale Ia Baba, qaiman crocodiius, durante la estaci6n seca en Ias sabanas moalu_ Iadas de1 Estado Apure, venezuela. Acta. Bio]. Venez. 10 (4): 3?3,389- Staton. M. y Dixon, J. 1975. Studies on the dry season biology of caiman crocodifus clgglg:fus from the venazuelan Ltanos. l4em. s o c . c i e n c , N a t . L a S a t l e . 3 5 ( \ O t ) - . 2 3 ' t_ 2 6 6 . Staton, M- y Dixon J- 197?. Breettinq-inBiology-izenezue of the Spectacled Caiman (caimarl crocodilus crocoditus) rhe I i i.n". . u.s. Fish & wi]diIS e r v . W i t d t . R e s . R e p - ( 5 ) : 1 _ 2""' 1. Staton, M. 1975. Notes on The eaology young Babas of (C.aiman crocodilus) from the Venezuefan Llanos. rI Seninario sobre Chiguires y BabasMaracay. Venezuela. 17 pp. Vanzolinl, O. y cones, N. l9?9. Notes on t}Ie Ecofogy Amazonian Cainans {Crocodytia, Attiqatoridae). ae Zoal-. 32 111): 205-216. Sao pauio, grasil- anal crowth of papeis Avulsos Fiouras 1. crefica miento 2- crdfica de crecimiento miento 6. (p,/edad) hasta cinco 3. crdfica de crecimiento cinco meses. (rTledad) la baba que mds crecro 4. cr:ifica de crecimjento cinco meses - ipledad) de crecimiento {LT,/edad) }asta cinco meses, para ef trata_ (Irarina de carhc y h-,jesos, densidad baja): 6- para para meses, para et la baba que mds crecro trata_ en en 71 Fig. 1. 5 e 9 &E T iqnpo(dias) Fio I ro, )a . --r - , i- --'' i.-.--'t . ..]. r, ,.',.'-i''.'........ ..;.:.:........1............i.............i... __ r ....i-'. ...--...i.....-.......r...-... i -....-.....r.-..........i. l-'. | ---i-..-.'': --i ---, . -. -+ +- -- ----' -+- -i -_-- '--i- ' ' i -. --. -. _- -: '-. ' : - - -. -i i--''''.. i. . ---i ---l-- --- j----] -r'- --i i ...j - i - . i..... I ' - - - : . -.....i..... i - - - i ...1 --i i---- i ---..i..----i --! ............i............t............t.............;............i. a.. -l----:.- --i- --i ...-.--i-:::::::::i:::...::...i...:.:::.....j.......:..:..... ......j..... -:..;--l:;+-....i ....1. - ..i......--;.....;.. ... : : :,_*)=--:::::f' -::1,, j;;=:--11i i:.. : 8 E '> ',,''''.' '''.,'' '' ''i i' .. i. ;2....;.-...t.......--...i.............i..........i. !'--- i..- ' --l.r' ''-_ ''..'. 'i ...--'i-.'.-.............i .-... i ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' . . : . . . .-.-.-:i - - - - : i.' 1_ ---i- &7590 i'_ i-- i t---: ---l I, -'l '. : ::::l 135 150 (dids) Tiempo 78 Frg.3. 5 F ao 9 Ftg. 4. !9 79 DEL UN CASO DE CAOUXXIA EN UNA BABA (93d83,4 9899d]-ljlq) ZOOLOGICO LAS DELICIAS DE }'ARACAY, ESTADO ARAGUA, VENEZUEI,A E. O. BOEDE zool6gico Las Delicias Nacional de Parques Instituto Las De fi cias -Maracay ,Fstado Aragua M. E. PARBAGA Dr. Rafael Cabello Hospital Veterinario Facuftad de ciencias veterinarias ale venezuela central universidad E1 Lim6n - Estado Aragua N. SANCHEZ DE BOEDE Facultad de Ci encias veterinarias central de venezuela Universidad El Lim6n - Estado Aragua N. MEDINA DE LOPEZ veterrnarras ce Investigaciones Instituto - Maracay FoNAIAP, Tas Delicjas I]. CASTAANO de Investigaciones Instituto FONATAP, Las Delicias veterinarias - Maracay 80 SUMMARI With the cL'jecLive of contributirrg to the devefopmeDt of diagnostic nethods for use in the clinical treatment of crocodlliales kept in captivity, a study was macle of a 15-year ofal male kept with eight others in an exhibition pen in the zoo. Data fiefe collecteal on the animal,s clinical history and examination, ard blood samples taken for henaLological studies. ln oraler to establish henatologial reference standards, blood samples lrere also taken from the eight other animals. Clinical exafidnation of the affected animal showed lethargy, lesions in different parts of the body and signs of dehydration. Blood analysis showed leucopenia (11 x 103,/ul; baseline values: 12-31x103/ut) a,j" to a lymphopenia l2xtj3/vft baseline values: 4-16x103/uI) and eosinopenia (O.1xtO3/urt baseline values: 0.6-2x103lu1). Hemogfobin over the superior baseline value (10 gmldl; baseline values: 6.5-9'8 qmldl) r VGM a n d H G Ms l i g h t l y raised (VGM: 475 fl, baseline values: 299-362 ff; HGM: 144 pg., baseline values: 83-115 pg) . The aninral was slaughtered and the fotlowing results found on post-morten examination: hydropericard and gastrolithsAs nicroscopj.c findings: Hialinization of the cardiac miofibrilles anal fatty pseualomona aeruoinosa was isofated degeneration of the liver. from heart, liver lunq and kialney tissues. An attempt to isolate leptospires from the kidney gave neqative resultsNegative results were also obtained fron tesi for gastrointestinal and blood parasitesA1I these findlngs took us to the diagnostic ofcacbexia from inanition, due to hierarchy and territor:iality probfems bet\,{een the caimans. ct lntroaluccion en general, irracional a nivel nuntlial de los crocodilidos La explotaci6n por Io que en ta de extinci6n a muchas especies, ha llevado a peligro que influYen los factores se hacen esfuerzo por balancear actualidad Hoy en dia las babas (caiman crocoditus) sobre su aliniirnica poblacionafabundan en afgunas zonas de Venezuela y en otlas alonde anteriormente (seijas, conunicaci6n trErsctl€-I, extinguida habitaban ba sido parcialmente 19e4). que se llevan a cabo actualmente en varios paises consisten Los trabajos un en cautiverio. reintroalucienalo crocodifidos nayorrnente en reproducir porcentaje en zonas protegidas de las crias al estado silvestre cierto reservas de fauna y haciendas conservacioni stas . como parques nacionafes, para la explotaci6n de su otro porcentaje de estas crias se utilizan cuero y carne, EI manter,er animales de estas especies baio sistema ale explotaci6n que aleben ser acarrea problemas sanitarios extensivos e intensivos, y estudiados para poder tomar las adecuadas nealidas profilScticas y reproatuccicnsu 6ptino crecimiento saludables, logrando mantener animafes de establecer un sistema que en priner fugar ale tratar con Ia finalidad y en segundo de enfermedades en estas especies, facilite e1 diagn6stico y patof6gicos de crocodilidos mantenidos datos clinicos lugar lecopilar se efectu6 un estudio de la poblaci6n de en condiciones de cautiverio, 9 babas del zool6gico de Las De-ticias en r{aracay. Materiafes v M6todos de aproximadamente 15 afios de edad, Animales: Una baba (c- crocodilus) Paralelamente, fue evaluaala clinicanente. macho, co!1 signos de caqudxia, (5 y 5 hembras 3 nachos afros) que normales 8 animales clinicamente cohabitaban en ef mistro ambiente fueron considerados como controles3 veces por semana nna vez aI dia con Dieta: I-as babas son alimentadas y carne de burro picada. Debialo a pollo picado crualo ratones blancos/ problemas de jerarquia ]a comiala es colocada en entre los aninales, forma dispersa en una zona del estanqueEl iirea de exhibici6n ocupada por las babas consta de un ambiente: de 58.32 m2., con 0'35 m. de profundiclad v estanque con una superficie l,a zona de tierra con una capacidad aproximada de 20 m3. de aguacon dreas soleadas firme es de aproxinaalamente 96-48 m2. de superficie y parcialmente sombreadas. durante ale 1os datos se reali26 La recolecci6n condiciones clim.iticas: 24-6ocd e l a z o n a e s d e L a t e m p e r a t u r a n e d i a d e 1 9 8 4 . ef mes Ce abril La baba con signos ale caqu6xia se 1e Evaluaci6n del animal problema: y fue posteriormente eximenes hematol6gicos practic6 un examen clinico, bacteriol6gicos Se realizaron ex:imenes histopatol6gicos, ;acrificada. 82 Hematologia: La recoleccidn de sangre en eI a n i m a-ioiil enfern6 despuds det degoflamiento, conservii;dose ." t"r." sF hF..r-i-.i iir'"""i., i".-:n:l Becton-Di cki nson, Rutherford, previo al alegollamiento se efectuaron NJ). varios intentos ale recolectar la muestra por venipunctura de ]os vasos caudales. vena yuguta!, arterra car6tida y por punci6n caraliaca, tos cuales resultaroh infructuosos. AI resto de loi animales (n_8 controles) se 1es recolect6 sangre pol amputaci6n de ta porci6n distal de uno de los dedos de cualquiera ale los c\ratro miembros, a nivet ale 1a uni6n de 1a falange terlninal y ta ufra (Erye, Ig77l, seguido de un masaje por espacio de 3 a 5 min. Se utifiz6 este mdtodo por su seme;anza con et utilizado en 1a baba problema (traumiltico), ademiis de ser s6ncillo y practico. Esto fue reafizado con la finalidad de establecer valores contioles ile referencia. I'rotis: fa tinci6n ate los extenalidos ale sangre se realiz6 con colorante de Wriqht., Contaje celutar: primeramente Je realiz6 un contaje total de c61u1as nucleadas (eritlocilos, Ieucocitos, plaquetas y celulas no identificables o nrlcleos tibres) utilizanato fa mc*61^di. previamentedescrira (schalmdr al, 1e7ai ;.;;-;t-;;;i.J; blancos fli!i-e'!-qrau"ro= con el diluyente de TruckLa difuci6n empleaai fue ate 1:100. EI contaje diferencial (porcentaje) retativo de cdiulas nucleadas (eritrocito6, leucocitos, ptaquetas, c6tulas no identificables o nicleos tibies) se realizo a travds del frotis te6ido, para to cual se contaron un totaf ale 600 c61u1as-- El mismo principio fue utitizaalo para establecerel diferencial relativo (neutr6filos, de leucocitos linfocitos, monocitos, eosin6fif;s; heter6filos y bas6filos) con la excepci6n de haber sido consideradas solo ruU ce Lulas. Los valores absol\rtos de cada total de cdlulas nucleadas al igual que cada total de tos aliversos tjpos de ]eucocitos, fueron posterior_ mente calculados en funci6n de los respectivos valores relarrvosEl volumen globular medio (VGM), la henoglobina gtobular media (HGM) y Ia concentraci6n de hemoglobina globular media (aHGM) fueron catculados como previamente se ha descrito (schalm et a1, 1975). Para Ia determinaci6n de ta }emoglobina se utiliz6 irD kit et basa en e1 n6todo de 1a ci anonetahemoglob jna - Et hematocrito por e1 m6todo de mi crohenatocri ro (Schatm et at. 1975). cual se se determi6 El frotis sanguineo fue evatuaalo para evidenciar hemopariisitos. La baba enferma se sacrific6 mediante desangrado por deqollamiento.Se efectu6 1a evaluacl6n macrosc6pica de tos 6iganos de la caviatad toraco-abdomin al . Para los- exiimenes histopatol6gicos se tomaron muestras de coraz6n,putm6n, rifron e higado y se conservaron en formol (102) - Tambidn se tomaron muestras ale los 6rganos previamente nombraalos para estudios bacteriol6cricEs, Ios cuales se efectuaron siquiendo una metodologia de aislamiento de germenes aerobicos exclusivamente. Las muestras se procesaron de acuerdo a metodos standards previamente descritos (Kinq, 19?2) - para el aisla_ miento de Laptospira del rin6n se efectu6 cultivo en medio ale FfetcherEl cultivo fue incubado a loc" durante 6 semanas ]uego ate tas cuales se inocularon hamsters por via i ntraperi toneal . AI cabo de 20 dias se sembraron fos rifrones de los hamsters en me(lio de Fletcher. Los cuttivos se observaron periodicamente por espacio ale seis semanas. Parasltologia: E1 contenido intestinat fue sometialo a un tavado en un tamiz Ne 100. con la finafidaat de visualizar pariisitos aalultos en el tamizado (microscopio estereosc6pi co) , (Unitest systen, Bio_Dynamics, Indianapolis, Inaliana - Stanatard Test-Sieve, ASTM 1t-70) - (Motales y pinto, 83 para la observaci6n ale 1977), ademes se efectu6 un examen de Willis huevos ale pardsitos. Se hizo un frotis de1 raspaalo de la nucuosa para poner en evidencia posibles pariisitos intestinal adheridos a ellay parasitol6qlcos his topatol6qi cos , microbiol6gicos fueron Los estudios (FONAIAP, en el Tnstituto de lnvestigaciones Veterinarias reali?ados y .ria, CENIAP, lrinisterro de lqrrcultura Ivara.ay). Resultados y Examen clinicos: I,a baba problema present6: letargia, llistoria p6rdida de peso, heridas en eI hocico y cueIIo, anorexia, adem:is signos La de deshidratacidn como fueron escanas secas y ojos hundidos. que aI animal temperatura corporal fue de 34.5oC. Fs necesario seialar Ie faltaban varias falanges en algunos de sus miembros, desde su lleqada al zool6gico hace t2 affosLa temperatura promedio de las babas con(rango 33.6-34.o'..). troles fue de 33.8'c. Hematologia: l,os valores hematol6gicos controles obteriidos en este se presentan en 1a Tabla I conjuntamente con fos ale la baba trabajo para cada pariimetro fueron enferma. Los promedios y rangos controles establecidos utilizando siete babas clinicamente normales de las 8 inicialmente consialeradas, debido a que una de ellas presentd her€tozoariosI,os valores henatol6qicos hallados en e1 anlmal enfermo revelaron: (disminuci6n leucopenia de leucocitos) alebiala a una moderada linfopenia (disminuci6n (dlsminuci6n y a una Foderada eosinopenia de linfocitos) de eosin6filos)t hemoqlobina por encima del valor superior del ranqo VGM y HGM ligeranente aumentadas. El frotis result6 negativo a hemopa16sltos. Histopatologia: como hallazgos macrosc6picos post-mortem se observ6: de color achocolatado, adends de gastrocontenido liquido rnal oliente, litos en la camara anterior del est6maqo, los cuales ocupaban una cuarta que 1a apariencia parte de la capacidad de1 mismo, Es necesario seiafar Los cuerpos extrafros macrosc6pica de ta mucuosa estomacal era normaluna pequefra copa de pl?istico, una consistian en: un trozo de aluninio, Ademiis se observ6 hidropericardio. semilla ale mam6n y varias piedras. Los fnicos hallazgos microsc6picos signif icativos f\reron degeneraci6n qrasa def higado e hialinizaci6n EI resto de las miofibras cardiacas. presentaron normalde las muestras de visceras remitidas una histologia Bacteriologia: Pseudomona aeruoihosa fue aislada de higado. coraz6n, pulm6n y riff6n. El intento de de aislamiento de leptospira a partir rii6n fue negativo. de Parasitoloqia: Todos 1os procealimientos efectuados con e1 proposito y/o huevos gastrointestinales negaalieron resultados observar paresitos Discusi6n que se perslgue abordar, existe un det caso clinico lndependlentemente preocupado (Tasker, que aleberia seguir el clinico minino de procedimentos los errores evitar en retrospectiva 1976) . Esto tiene como finalidad la base de alatos De acuerdo a este punto de vista conetialos por omisi6n. exanen fisico y de laboratorio. iniciales debe incluir historia clinica, En la exbibici6n de babas en el ,,Zool6qico Las Deticias" permanecian dos machos adultos de aproximadamente el mismo tanafio, el macho problema de (LT) con 30 kg, pv y eI macho dominante de 1-?5 m. 1.80 m- ale largo total 1,T con 35 kg. pv, conjuntamente con otros dos machos ale rnenot tamaio (1 y 1.5 m LT) y cinco henbras (de un promedio de t-4 m. LT). Entre estos dos machos de mayor tamaffo existian continuos enfrentamientos quedando siempre en desventaja y herida la baba problema, esto ocutria por la falta de espacio suficiente que huviese pernritido la fuga de la baba intimiClada. Paulatinamente esta uttima dej6 de entrar at estanque, llegando al extremo, dos meses antes de ser sacrificada, ate l)ermanecer en el mismo sitio en una actitud tet:irgj-ca fuera de1 agua, sin alimentar_ se. Ef otro maclro considerado por nosotros como el dominante se comportaba normalmente - En C. crocodilus, en condiciones silvestres peleas sino intimidaciones del macho alominante sobre los alemiis nachos, los cuales pueden huir o sumergirse en eI aguaEn ocasiones el macho alominante logra morderles la punta de la cola en la huidaEsto ocuffe especialmebte en 1a 6poca reproductlva {Staton y Dixon, 197?). seqin Blake (1974) una causa de pelea en crocodilus niloticus verio ocurre en el momento ale la alimentaci6n. fsta causa es descartaala como motivo de enfrentamento en el grupo de babas estudiado, ya que ef alinento se les suriinistra esparcido en una zona deI estanque y nunca se observaron peleas a Ia hora de Ia alimentaci6n. La causa de entrenta miento entre estos dos animales se debi6 a problemas de jerarquia y territorialidaal. Una conducta simifar por Joanen y Mc Nease es descrita (1979) en AulSelgr ndssissipiensas en cautiverio, donde exptican lo inadecuado de mantener dos machos doninantes en un estanque. En esta especie fa mayor causa de mortaliCad en cautiverio son fas peleas. que se sique en mamiferos no es La metoalologia para el exanen fisico vatedera en reptiles. Er estas especjes ta obiervaci6n tiene mucha importancia no asi la auscultacidn ni ]a persecusi6n (Fowler, 1980). Las temperaturas tonadas en los aninales contioles a una misma hora det dia (11:00 12:00 b) oscilaron entre 33-6-34-o.c. La baba enferna, que permanecia fuera del agua a toda hora del dia, mostr6 una temperatura 0.5oc. por encina del valor superior del rango (34-5.C) - Staton y Dixon (1975) reportaron temperaturas m:iximas de 33.c en c. crocodir,l< r^hi.r:c estds durErLF ra 6poca de."q"i"-"";l ii.;;;";;';i.;:-;.;i ;;;i;;: rio, wallach y Boever (1983) refieren como tenperatura corDoral miixima 6 p t i m a e n A . m _ ! € - g _ r _ E - : j _ p j _ e - ! , s i s ' yl q "ucn. a r e m p e i a t u r a a l L a ; r j t i c € de 390c. Fn los rFptLles se ha dicho qLre no pueden variar su tenperarura por mecanismos propios, por 10 tanto no pueden proatucir fiebre ( Reichenbach_Klinke , 197?) . Este autor observ6 que en caso de malestares o infecciones en lagartos, estos buscan sitios con temperaturas mis elevadas, tratando de Iograr: un mejoramiento de su estado fisico. En ef transcurso deI trabajo se utilizaron varias t6cnicas para 1a obtenci6n de sangre en animales mayores de 1 rn LTLa utilizaata en ef anlmal enfermo, el degollamiento, no deja de ser una t6cnica con muchas desventajas: l) con.Lleva el sa.riti.io dFI cspec.imen: 2) imposibilita como consecuencia el seguimiento de ]a enfermedad y la apreciaci6n de 1a efectividad del tratamiento aplicado. En nuestro caso fue necesario usar este metodo en vista de que los intentos por usar otras tdcnicas como fueron: Ia punci6n cardiaca, de 1os vasos yugulares y arteria carot i da, fueron infructuosos- fa amputaci6n de la porci6n Ef segunalo mdtoalo usado en el trabajo, de fos nlenbros posteriores distal de uno de los Cledos de cualquiera (Fowler. 1978r Frye, 1977).resu1t6 tener varias ventalas: 1) prdctico; 2) sencillor 3) requiele un nrinimo manejo del animaf, considerando que fos animales de este estudio superaban los 20 kg pv. Las alesventajas son: l) por ocasionar trauma vascular se proaucen artefactos como son camblos en la morfologia normal de algunas c€lulas sanguineas y disminuci6n del nimero de plaquetas por activaci6n de los procesos ale 2) obtenci6n ale pequefios volunenes de sangrer 3) afecta coagufaci6nr de sangre seriadaIa estdtica de1 animal. sobre todo er1 extracciones Frye (19?7) recomienda esta tdcnica para 1a obtehci6n ale sangre en pequeios reptiles, Iogriindose extraer hasta 0.5 ml. de sangre. En eI presente estudio obtuvimos hasta 1.0 nl. ale sangre. como por Es importante sefralar que existen otras tdcnicas niis indicadas (babas Juveniles) r punci6n ale la vena yugular, elemplo: punci6n cardiaca cal6tlala y,/o vasos caudales (en aDinrales ale mayor tamaio) (Frye, arteria 19??r corzula 1976). pudimos conrprobar que en animales nayores ale 20 kg pv. se necesitan con miis de 2.5 pulagujas para anestesia epidural gadas de longitud y de calibre 20, que resistan la penetraci6n de la piel. y Ia gran masa rTruscufar, para poder asi lograr la punci6n de los (Brazaitis y watanabe, 1982) han vasos caudales. Mas adn, algunos autores para lograr una pronta canafizaci6n de reportaalo el uso de ultrasonialo punciones y traumatismo los vasos sanguineos? evitando asi repetidas tisular. de trabajos referidos a valores hematol6gicos Actualmente no existen babas en cautiverio. Se reali26 un intento de establecer valores para conparax los obtenidos en la baba afectada controfes de referencia motivo ale este trabajo. es ale aves y reptifes E1 gran problema con que cuenta la hematologia por los aliluyentes que el nfcleo de los eritrocitos no es destruido 1929; saint de mamiferos (alain, usaalos en el contaje ale ]eucocitos pesar que seialan el existialo 1970) a de esto han reportes Girons, en Ia hematoloqia ale aves (Magath e Hiqqins, uso de estos diluyentes para tratar de realizados 1934) - ouizris uno de fos primeros intentos numdrica 1928) fue establecer una relaci6n obviar este problema (Blain. tefrido (ndtodo indirecto) eritrocitos: leucocitos a trav6s alel frotis de del aliluyente adecuado (diluyente Debido a la no disponibilidad Shaw) (otis, 1964) y a la urgencia de procesar fa muestra de la baba problema, nos 11ev6 a fa utilizaci6n de diluyentes de sangre ale para la realizacidn mdtodos inilirectos maniferos y como consiguiente que estos de los contales celulares. Nosotros estamos conscientes Es asi como por rn€todos indirectos cuentan con un gran margen de error. (1934) seffalan un coeficiente de ejempfo Magath e Higgins de variaci6n un 19.6en et mdtoatoinalirecto empleado para establecer el total de que eI mdtodo mis exact.o para efcontaje leucocitos. Estii de rniis seialar (Bfain. L92at Q|uay,1974). celular en aves y reptiles es e1 mdtodo directo y,/o ambientales sobre fos cliniiticas La influencia de tas variaciones (Duquy, 19?0t es muy controversial valores henatol6gicos de reptiles a ale este trabajo ocurrio al, La realizacl6n Ramirez et 1975, 1978). una misma hora del dia, alurante una misma 6poca del afro y en un no periodo corto de tiempo, por 10 que consideramos que estas variables los resuftados. afectaron t6 Por otra parte algunos autores coinciden en sefialar que no existe diferencia significativa en los valores hematol6qicos estabteciatos entre macbos y hembras en algunas especies de reptites incfuyendo al C- crocaditus (Engbretson y Putchinson, lo?6; Ramirez et a], l.?8) - -La tabla-trepresenta Ios datos combinados de 3 machos y 4 hembr:as (rangos controles) A1 conparar 1os resuftados previamente establecidos (Ramjrez et al, 19?8) en animales no parasitados de la misma especie con aquellos obtenialos en el presente estudlo, podemos seialar que muchos de sus promealios se encuentran dentro ale nuestros rangos controtes (Tab1a T), tales como (vcM, HCM, cHcM), nrimero de gl6butos rojos y btancos, indlces eritrociticos hemoglobina y hematrocrito. A diferencia, el nrimero promealio de plaqr:etas (machos 159.000/u1. lembras 164000/u1) se encuentra *irv po. ettcima o"r valor superior de nuestro ranqo. Con respecto al diferencial de blancos, podemos decir que sofo se asemeja en 1os rangos porcentuales de monocitos. segmentados y bas6filos, A diferencia atel trabajo de Ramirez et al (19?8) en el presente estudio no se encontraron formas j6venes de neutr6filosEn el contaje diferencia] ale ]eucocitos de este trabajo se consideran tos siguientes tipos cetulares: linofocitos, monocitos, neutr6fitos, bas6fifos, y heter6filoseosin6filos Frye (19?g) ha sefralaalo esta clasificaci6n como vdlida en la henatologia ale reptiles, En ta actualidad no existe por ejemplo Sain cirons una unidad de criterios al respecto(19?0) no considera en su cfasific€ci6n y por el contrario a tos heter6ficolos, cita en su lugar al azur6filo. (tfateo et al,19g4) Feportes mds recienlei sobre ef A- mississipiensis concluyen que son 5 tos tipos celulares ate Ia serie blanca: linfocitos, monocitos, bas6filos, y heter6eosin6filos filos. Esta {ltin'a especie de crocoditidos es quiziis de ta cuat se tiene mayor informaci6n (Duquy, 1970t Frye, 19?8)hematol6gica De acuerdo a valores henatol6giccs previamente establecidos para estos aninales, tafes parametros como hemoglobina (5-9-12.0 q/dt, Frye, 19?8), henatocrito l2o-3o% - Frye, 19?8-), nimero +e slob;los rojos (6.18-1a.9 x toslur -Duguy, 1970; Frye, 1978; 3.84 I B-7 x 105/ut _Mateo et aI. 1984), n(mero (54.72 -Mateo et a], 1984) , son simitares de heter6filos a los establecidos en el presente estudio. Por e1 contrario datos referentes aI ndmero tota] de globulos btancos (6.4-10-2 x 1\3/ur _rrye, 1978; 6-4 I 2.9 x ru-,/ul -Mateo et aI, 1984), se encuentran por debajo del vafor inferior (Ver tabla T). de nuestro rango. El numero de g16bulos rojos, el hematocrito y la henoqlobina de ta baba enferma estuvo comprendido dentro def rongo control (Tabla I) . Ctinicamente la baba present6 signos de deshidrataci6n 10 que nos conduce a pensar la posibilidad de una anemia Fnmascarada por una hemoconcentraci6n La clarificaci6n de este punto hubiese estado atada por una hilErproteineda o por un incremento de la gravedad especifica (Tasker, 1978) de la orina valores ambos con fos cuafes no contamos. No encontramos una explicaci6n al increnento del VGI9y HGM. De haber significado este incremento una respuesta a una probable anemia ( y como consecuencia aI aumento deI nrimero de fotnas j6venes de eritrocitos) et lncremento de1 VcM creemos que hubiese estado relacionado con e1 d e c r e m e n l o d e l C B G M( s e a r c y , 1 9 7 6 ) . Este ultimo valor resultd estar comprendido dentro deI rango control- 87 . ]ABLA I CONTROLES MBA PROBLE},IA RANGO Hcr (5) Hb (q/dr) Plaquetas cR (ccl x ro5/ur) vcx (ft) 23-J3 6.5 - 9,8 2.200 - 20.140 7 - Il 299 - J62 HGM(pg) CHCH(s/dI) 83 - lr5 cB (cel x lo3/ul) 12-ll fEuT(cel x lo3/ul) (s) 27-)4 o-2 o- 8 28 8.5 r0.620 9 321 98 JO 23 0.8 ll IO 0 7 4t5 144 lo l1 0.4 4 LINF (cel. x lol/ul) (5) tz-7J 47 l9 HoN.(cer x lo3/ul) 0-1 0.4 0 0- 5 I 0 0.6 - 2 I o.1 (r) Eos (cer x rol/ul) 4- 16 ($) rfT (cel x lol/ll) (s) 845 (cel x rol/ul) (s) cel no ldent. (cel x lol/ut) ccl nuc totales (cet x lol/ul) 5-r8 2t-64 o-2 0 - 1l rl-55 740 - r.r45 2 ll 6 I 9 7 J9 70 0.7 I 4 II -25 9tI 35 740 88 El valor absoluto en e1 aliferenciaf de c31u1as blancas se ha venido consideranalo durante firuchd tienpo en la nedicina veterinaria ale mayor significacion en la interpretaci6n clinica alel leucograma (Sctratm ;t al, 19?5). La baba afectada present6 en et hemogram; leucopenra debido a una linfopenia y a una eosinopenia (Ver Tabla I). La inter_ pretaci6n previa alel leucograma se efectud en funci6n ale los vafores absolutos - En mamiferos domdsticos, y eosinoDenia Iinfopenia usuafmente son reftejos de un stress sist6;ico ae enfermeaaa (i. e. corticoides end6genos) (prasse y Duncan, 19?6) - En este caso henros extrapolaalo datos existentes en 1a interpretaci6n clinica det leucograna de mamiferos domdsticos a reptiles, debido a que en la actualiatad carecemos ale datos exclusivos de esta especie. Debemos tambi6n sefialar que el leucograna no es un arma diaqn6stica per-se. Debe tratar de interpretaxse (prasse y Duncen, 19?6) . a Ia Iuz del examen clinico como es bien sabido eh ef transcurso (en este de1 proceso ale coagutaci6n caso generado por trauma vascufar producido por alegollamiento o por reseccion de una porci6n de] dedo) 1as plaquetas Juegan un papel activo en la formaci6n del trombo conjuntamente con algunos gl6bulos (Harker, blancos y fibrina 19?4) - Luego de aalherirse a la pared vascular, las plaquetas liberan sustancias activas (i.e. ADp) que tambi6n contrlbuyen a la formaci6n de1 co6qulo hemostiitico (Dodds, 19B0). Es por estas razones que eI contaje ale plaquetas reatizado en el presente estudio, no es representativo del ndmero de ptaquetas en sangre circulante. Ademiis es 16gico suponer que Ia morfologia de las c6ttrta; sanguineas se veria afectada en ef intento de recolectar sangre posterior a la injuria vascular, aI ocurrir su extravasaci6n a trav6s de una red constituida por el tromboLa presencia ale un gran nimero de n,jcleos y/o cdlulas no diferenciaalas libres constituyen una alesventaja de los mdtodos de recolecci6n de mlrestra de sangre empleados. como ha sido anotado por varios autores (scherpner, 1980; Fowter,1978; Gorzula, comunicaci6n persona], 1984; Staton y Dixon, 1975) , ta presencia ale piedras, y palos es comrin hallazgo semillas en elevado porcentaJe de autopsias ale crocodilialos en condicj.ares silvestr.es. (cuerpos extraffos en el est6maqo) no ha La funci6n ale los gastrolitos sido arin dilusidada. Gorzuta (comunicacidn personat, 1984) consjdera que posiblemente estos ayudan a triturar 1os atimentos mds aluros como pequeios mamiferos y crust6ceos. Gorzula (1978) seiala una nayor incidencia de gastrolitos en los animales que contenian en sus est6maqos huesos, peces grandes y cangrejos, que en aqueltos que presentaban restos por et ale alimentos mas blandos, como renacuajos y pequefros anfibios. contrario, otros autores no est6n de acuerdo en sefralar esta funci6n, ya que consideran que eI est6mago de los crocoalilidos no se asemeja al est6mago muscufar de las aves, debido a que su pared es distensible y no tiene revestimiento interno cuticular, Dor lo tanto no Duede tener funci6n abrasiva (fowler, Io?8) . scherpener {1o80) consrdera que Ios gastrolitos brinalan estabilizaci6n (1969t en eI agua. Igualmente Brazaitis plantea el cambio en la gravedad especifica causado por estos articulos no digeribles, permite a1 animal permanecer sumergido en eI fondo de fuertes corrientes de aguaPor 1o tanto podemos seffalar que la presencia de cuerpos extraffos en est6nago es definitivamente cuestionable. 89 no ha podido ser establecida, con algin proceso fisiol6gico si 1a relaci6rl pudiera correlacionarse con pica o malasia, 1a presencia de gastrolitos si los animales han pasado larqos periodos de inanicion, especialnente como en la 6poca Ce sequra' se en aninales en estado silvestre, Lo que pualiera parecer fisiol6gico (wallach en animales en cautiverio en un problema patol6gico transforma (gastrolitos) encon' y Boever, 1983) . Es asi como 1os objetos extraffos alel son reflejo rnantenidos bajo estas condiciones, trados en crocodilralos pelotas, monedas, botellas contacto de estos aninales con eI hombre (i.e. y que debido a su forma, tamafro o naterial causan dafro aI de vidrio), diversas s i ntomatologias , como gas trointest ina 1 , originando tracto y abultarniento hasta la muertecorporal desde regurgutaci6n, no de Ia baba autopsiaala en ef presente trabajo, En el caso particular patopuede afirmarse que lo encontrado en e1 est6nago sea un hallazgo 16gico, en vista de que fa mucosa estomacal no rnostraba camblos macrosy su sintomatologia con Ia encontrada en estos no coincide c6picos, ale que 1a baba problema, No podemos alescartar la posibilidad casosextraffos, debido a que eI nacho dominante ingerido estos cuerpos haya su libre acceso af afitrentopor problemas de territorialidad no permitia de hasta que se compruebe ]a base fisiol6gica Esto no se podre rebatir Ia ingeslr6n de cuerpos extrafros. y microsmacrosc6picos de hidropericardio histopatoldgicos Los hallazgos de las miofibras c6picos de deqeneraci6n grasa del higado e hialinizaci6n asociados a procesos de alesnutricion cardiacas han sido previanente (Jubb y (ennedy, 19?3) . con respecto a la degeneracion grasa, existen y ale tortugas en autopsias autores que la seialan como conUn hal]azqo (K1os y Lang, 1c?6) . lagartos, no asi en otros reptiles de rep!iles erlfernos .omo en los tarto Pseudomonas SI han sido aisladas clinicamente sanos {Beehfer y Sauro, 1983; KIos y Lang, 1976; wallach y Boever, 1983). (Jacobson, 1980) anota el aislamiento de Pserjdomonas a combates nac\o-Inacho en hematomas atribuidos asociada a Trichosporum, produce una septicemia con pocos en los que esta bacteria en lagartos, Fntre esotos sefrala: escamas henorr.tgicas, discernibles. siqnos clinicos Ademits -axisten otros antes de morir. letargia, anorexia y convulsiones ( J a c o b s o n , y K l o s L a n g , 1 9 ? 6 t R e i c h e nbacb-Klinke ' 1911t 1 9 8 0 ; reportes Wallach y Boever, 1983) que asocian las Pseualomonas con estomatitrs ulcerosa, pneunonias y abcesos Fn varias Fs:ecies de reptlles. de Psaudonona aeruqirosa En et caso de ]a baba problema se ]oqr6 aislar pudiera ha'rer entr:ado Esta bacteria coraz6n, pu1m6n, rifi6n e hiqado. por las heridas que presentaba el animal en varias partes del cuerpo/ y (Duponte et a], 1978) a que estaba sometido, ccnsiguieron debido al stress a ]os 6rganos donde fue aisfada pasar a la sanq!:e y de a]li paulatinamente en patol6qico ale su aislaniento (Rei chenbach-K li nke , 1977) - Fl caracter histopatoldqicos que hallazqos ya no hubo estos 6rganos es cuestionable, que asi 10 evidencien, actuan como resenloflo han comprobaalo que namiferos silvest-res Muchos estudios Ferris et al, ( c a r r i l l o a l , 1 9 6 1 , c l a r k e t 1 9 ? 2 : et al, de leptospiras Fstudios hacterio195?; santa Rosa et al, 1975; wissenan et a], 1955) ' demuestran que estos aparentemente en reptiles l6qicos y serol6gicos (Ferris et al, 1961; Klos como reservorio ale leptospiras tambidn ;ctian 1977), y Lang, 19'16t Mazzonelli y Jelambi, 1980i Reicehbach-Klinke, 90 infectiindose aI ingerir animales de presa (i.eroedores) infectados (Wa]lach y Boever, 1983) . Esto nos motiv6 a tratar de hacer una aista_ miento en Ia baba problenta, ef cuat resurt6 neqaiivo-nJiemo. sen.tar que no se realizaron exdmenes serol6gicos. Los exiimenes parasitoldqicos reatizaatos a ta baba motivo Cef Dresehla estudio resultaron negativos, a pesar de que numerosos la-existencia de una gran variedad de pariisitos ""t;;":';;;;; q"" ti"i.i.rt i".f"= , de] tejido conectivo y hemoparasltos en estas especies (fowter, 197g, K h a ne t a f , 1 9 8 0 r r , t o ; y r , a i s , 1 9 7 6 : M a r c u s , r s t i ; l- a - -u- 'i"t'.-, r . " r r " , r s e t , Rei chenbacb-Kl i nke , I97i; Wailach y eo"""r, r9g:l . Conclusiones y examen fisicos son de utilidad ]imilada en el l: ,L. historia .ti olagnostr.o clr.lico de enfermedades Fr crocoditidos. Sin aa\r-d^ -' observaci6n del compor*amierro det aninat y .u ,uiuci;n-lo; ;;;'"' congeneres fue de gran importancia en la evaluaci6n clinica det caso, Los exarilenes conrptementarios (i.e. hematotogia) fueron ale gran utitiatad en e1 presente estudio, y progresivanrente, i nre,tida que se reaficen nuevos reportes ir6n adquiriendo una mayor importancia diaqn6stica2La t6cnica de obtenci6n de sangre por amputaci6n alistal de uno de los atedos ale los miembros po.i"rior"", 1a t6cnica n.is sencilta en aninares ae qr""'t"iia.----' 3. Los m6todos indirectos para represe.tativos de Ia constitucidn son va I or-s refdti!os. de Ia porcion -resurto -ser contaje celular no son realnente corpuscular ale ta sangre, porque L" raz6n por Ia cual el animal estuatiaato tenia gastrotitos 1. no fue determinada. Aconsejanos evitar eI acceso de Ias bab;s a objetos nocivos extraios dentro ale ta exhibici6n o estanque, por la tenaenci! todavia no justifica<1a de estos animales a ingerirlos_. por el contrarlo si podemos concluir que estos gastrolito; no inftuyeron c Lanfco estudaadd"" "i "".ar" sE] car6cter patol6sico de-ta ls:eyqoriona donde fue aislada es cuestjonaole, dertrrco a que no hubo haltazgos hi s topato l6gi cos que asi 10 evidenciaran. 6El diagn6stico_a1 que se ]leg6 en et caso estudiado fue el de caquexia por inanici6n, 1a cual fue causada por problemas de jerarquia y territorialidad entre esta baba y 1a dominante. por eso se recomlenata evitar tener miis de un macho adulto en un drea restringida (exhibici6n fPodemos senalar las siquientes recomendaciones para et manejo de p r o o, i.p m a s s a n t r a r r o s F - e x p l o t a c i o n o s d a . r o ^ o d r l i d o s : al re.opilar una buena informaci6n con respecto a ta historia clinica, b) observar el comportamlento del animal enfermo y su retaci6n con e1 rest6 det- drlb6: --" ' c) aistamiento; at) practicar ."*p r"io- y-i"^"i ti" m u e s L r a s n e . e s a r i d s p a r a F x d n"" F " e""a*"" s d e t d b"ri"ico oratorro {sarotogia, quimjca s a n Q Ui r e 6 , \ e r n a ro l o g i a , b a c ' - r i o t o o i . , pards i I ologia) : e) diaerdsrico, 91 o en caso de f) en caso de no resporlder al tratamiento, tratamiento; muestras para 1a necropsia y recofectar aleterioro o muerte, practicar y paras i tol6gi cos t g) tonar exdmenes h i stopato l6gicos , bacteriot6gicos resto de1 grupocon eI requeridas las medidas pr.ofildcticas Biblioqrafia Beehler, and antibiotic Aerobic bacteria isolates B.A. Sauro. A.N. population. Proc- of in a captive reptile sensivities the American Assoc- of zao veL., Tampa, I'1orida, pp'1982 0 1 , 1 98 3 . white blood counts on method for making total A direct Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol- Med. 25:5q4-596, avian blood. 1924 - Blain, D- Blake, D.K- for commercial and conservation of crocodiles The rearing Ne{s A'.32I-322,1974. Rhodesia Sci. purposes in Rhodesiain of gastroliths 25t63-64, 1969- two capti\te Brazaitis, P. The ocurrence and inqestion Herpetol6gica. crocoalilian- Brazaitis, P. and Watanabe, t1. The doppler, a new tool for reptile 16:1-5,1982. J- gerpetolanphibian hematological studies. Fn: Zoo analWild Animal diseases of reptiles. Infectious p p T-B. saunder co-, F o w l e r , 1 3 4 1 3 7 . e d . Medicine, 1 9 7 8Philadefphia, Burke, T.J. c.G., Meyers, D.M. Szyfres, from armadillos isolated 2 4 : 3 ' 7 ' 1 - 1 A 1, L 9 ' 7 2 . carrillo, clark. L., group ]eptospirae Trop- geogr. l'4ed' ch. Kressie, J-t Marshak, R.; I]ollister, infection of !e-p!9e.pj-!g icterohemorraqiae zibethicus) zibethicus muskart (q1ql!!3 (mimeo). 1961. report, Doods, w. J. DuguY, R- B. Bataviae in Argentina- Natural occurrence ln the conunon a prelininarv Biochenestry En: clinical Hemostasis and coagutationof Domestic Animals, ed. Kaneko, pp. 672-673, 3rd' ed' A c a d e m i s P r e s s , N e \ , rY o r k , 1 9 8 0 , En: Biology Nunbers of blood cells and their varlatron' p p . v o l 3 . A cademis Press, 93-10o, ed- Gans, of Replilia, of latent SalmoDu Ponte, !4-; Nakamura, R. M.; chang, E.M. Activation in red-eared by dehydration nelIa and Arizona organisms vet' Res' 39 J' Am' (9Ee!99!yq scripta-eleqans). turtles 529-530, r91AEngbretson, - an'l count hematocrit Ervthrocyte v.Lt. G.A.; Hutohinson, Liolaemus nuttiformig' hemoglobin content in the lizard 1 6 6 ' 1 9 7 6copeia 1: 92 Introaluction and anatomy. En: Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, ed. Fowler, p. 94. W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelpbia, 1978. D.!1.t Hanson. L.F.r Alberts. J.C.; Calhoun, J.C.,r Marlowe, R. Epizootiological studies on Leptosprra in Tllinois. I. Serological test on Tllinois aleer in 1957, (mineeo) 1957. Ferris, t r ' e r r i s , D . 1 1t. R h o a d e s , H . E - ; H a n s o n , L - E . ; calton, M.r Mansfiefd, M.E. Research into the nidality of !e-p!-S-g-p-!!.qbel-bE irl campestral host including t})e hog-nosed snake (Heterodon platvrhinus). cornel] vet. 51: 405-419, 1961. Fowler, M.E. Restrain and Handling of wild antl Domestic Aninals, fowa State University Press, Iowa, 1978. I'owfer, M-E Respiratory disease in reptiles. Therapy VI, ed- Kirk,pp- 633-637. PhiladelDhia. 1980. Frye, P. 288 En: Current Veterinary W-B- saunders co., (with emphasis on normal Hematology of captive reptiles En: Current Veterinary Therapy VI, ed.Kirk, morphology). pp. ?92-798. W-B. Saunders co. Philadelphia, 1977. I.L, Corzula, S.: Arocha Plfrango, ..T.; blood by venipuncture 8 3 8 8 3 9 , 1 9 7 6- Gorzula, S. An ecoloqical study of caiman crocodilus crocodilus inhabiting savanna laqoons in the venezuelan Guayana. oecologia 35t 21-34, 19'7AFemostasis lranual, p. Therapl.y vTT, ed. rirk, Philadelphia, 1980. Salazar, C. A nethod of obtajning from large reptiles. copeia 4: 37. F-A- Davis co., Philadelphia,1974- pp. 625-633. w.B. saun,lers .o., cufture of the american alligator. Mc Neas, I. Zoo Yea!book l6: 61-52, I9?9. Jubb, K.V.r Kennedy, P.cPathology of Domestic Animals, y 2. A c a d e m ic P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , 1 o ? 0 . International 2nd. ed., vol- Khan, R.,a-; Forester, D.J.; Goodwin, T.M, , Foss, C.A . A haemogregarine (A1]iqator from the american alligator mississ ipiensis ) . JParasitol. 66. 324-324, \9AO Tbe identification uniteal States Public Eealth Klos, H.c.r Magath, T.N-; Lang, E.N. 1 9 7 6- of unusual pathogenic gram negative bacteria, Eilucation and welfareDeparttnent of Health, Atlanta. service, center for Disease control- zootierkrankleiten. Higgins, G-M- T}e blood 51.23O-241, 1 9 3 4- of Verfag Paul Paley, the normal aluck. Folia Berlin, Haematol. 93 I Marcus, L, Parasitic diseases of captive reptiles. Veterinary Therapy VI, ed- Kirk, pp. Saunalers co- , Philadelphia, 1977. Marinkelle, En: current 801-806. W.B. C-JOsyaldofilaria medemi !.E!. {Nematoda: Eilaroidea) from the snooth fronted cainan, Paleosuchus trioonatus from colombia. Rev- Bi01. Trop. 29 (1): 5-10, 1981. Mateo, M.R-; Roberts, E.D.; Enright, r'.M. Morpholoqic. cytochemical, and functional studies of peripheral blood celts of young healthy american afligators mississipiensis) , {Allioator An. J. Vet- Res- 45: 1046-1053. 1984llazzohefli, Morafes, Otis, boviha en el tr6pico (euenos Aires) XIIJ: Leucocyte anal erythrocyte diluent for reptilian cell counts - copeia 1: 252-254, 1974. K.W.; Dunciin, ,I-Rabnormalities- Ouay, W.B. Ramirez, F. La leptospirosis caceta veterinaria, G.A.t pinto, L.AManual de diaqn6stico Helmintologico rumiantes. Gremerca Editores, Araqua, 1977- v-S. Prasse, J.r Jelambi, venezolano. 3 5 6 , 1 9 8 0- Arocha-Piianqo, ^f arhh.shre-F blood Clinicaf interpretation of leykocyte vet. clin. North Am. 6: 581- T,eucocyte and erytrocyte aliluent for counts - Copeia l. 252-254, 19'74. I'.J.t en C.L.t Fr' r corzula, I ihrFo,r< S.; Fri!isl- reptilian Salazar ,r blood cell C- Ltaer€tology parDetol. 5: 621-62a, 1o1' . Ranirez, F.J.r Arocha-Piffango, C.L.: Montiel, N.; corzula, SElementos figurados, hemoqlobina y proteinas de la sange en eI Caiman crocoalilus tinn. Acta Cient. Venezolana. 29.26A,2'73. 1978.ra- D6Fr-i'iaF Reichenbach-K1inke. cr.-lrv Fiqcher Verled. Krankheil-' Stattgart, 1977. Santa Rosa, C.A-, Sufzer, C., ciorgi, W; da Silva, A.S.r Yanaguita, R.M.; Lobao, A. Leptospirosis in wild life Brazi]: Isolation of a new serotype in the pyrogenes group. Am- J- vet. Res- 36: 1363 1365, 1975. Saint Girons, M.C- Morphology of the clrculatinq blood cellsEn: Biology of Reptiles, ed. Gans, pp- ?3 91- vo]. 3, Acaalemic Press, London, 19?0. Schalm, O.W,; Jain, N.C.; rea Febiqer, Scherpner, C. Carrol, E.J. Phi ladelphia, Vetarinary 1975- Hematology, 3rd. ed. Die krokodile. En: crzimeks Tierleben Vol. 6, ed.crzimek, p p . 1 2 4 - 1 4 1 . D e u t s c h e n T a s c h e n b u c h . V e r l a q , l 4 u n c h e n ,1 9 8 0 . 94 searcy, c-P. Soifer, F. Parasitic diseasses of reptiles. En: Zoo and Wifd Animal Medicine, ed. Fowler, pp. 138_143- W.B. Saunders Co. , Philadelphia, 1978. Staton, M.; Dixon, JStudies on the dry season biology of Caiman crocodilus from tl.e venezuelan 11anos. Memoria ale fa Sociedad de ciencias Naturafes La Sa1le XXXV| 23'7-265. t9i5- Staton. M.; Dixon, J. Breealing biology of the espectacled caiman, Cainan crocodilus crocodifus, in the venezuelan 1lanos. wild1. Res- Report. 5: 3-'7, 191'7. Tasker, J.B. Wallach, The differentail diagnosis of anemia. North America 6: 567-580, 1976. J.D.; A problem Vet. Clin. Vet. ctin. of oriented approach to laboratory diaqnosis. of North America 6: 5I5-a22,. 79'76- Boever, W.J. Diseases of Exotic Animals Medial and Surqical Management, p- 1006. W,B, Saunders Cc,, Philadelphia, 1983- Wisseman, C.L.; Traub, R.; cochenour, W.S; Smadel, J-E.r Lancaster, W-E. Leptospirosis of man and animals in urban, rural and jungle areas of southeast AsiaAm- J. Trop. Hyg- 4: 29-40 , 1955. 95 SIIIIACIoiI ACIInL DEL CAI]ON DE IA OglA, El.l \7E.{EZUEIA llinisterio ctocoatvlus acutus, Andr6s Elot' Seijas Y. sen icio Nacid|al de Farna silvestre del lnbiente y ab los Reclrsqs Natwafes ,Aparbado 184- lrbracay, venezrrela Rencvdbles SUM}{ARY the historical range of Numerous localities within afong the coast of Crocoalvlus acutus were visited information about the venezuela, in order to collect The presence of g. acutus statos of this species. with was conflrned in only 14 of these focafities, qreater than one year olal a total of 293 crocodiles only 35 of the individuals observeal being seen. the were considereal to be adults. On the basis of presence of nests hatchlinqs that it was estimated females existed in active at least 22 reproaluctively the areas visited. A discussion is nade withregard this species in of recuperating to the possibility 96 Tntroalucci6n I,a situaci6n de las poblaciones del caimiin de fa costa, Crocodvlus qg_g!.!€, en Venezuela ha sido resefrada en algunos trabajos recientes (King, Canrbetl y Moler, 1982, Maness, 1982; Medem, 1983). No obsestos trabajos tante, no han contado con la actividaal de canpo para establecer y eI suficiente con mayor precisi6n 1a ubicaci6n estado actual de 1as poblaciones de este cocodrilo en el pais. Con esta finalidad se ha venialo haciendo, desde el a6o 1980, un de numerosas localidades reconocirniento de la regi6n costera de que est6 inscrita Venezuela, actividad alentro de 1os programas b6sicos del Servicio Nacionaf de Fauna Silvestre del Ministerio y de los Recursos Naturales del Arblente Renovables (MARNR). Este por SeiJas y esfuerzo, cuyos logros iniciales fueron plesentados (1981), cobr6 un mayor impulso a partir caballero de novier,bre de que aqui se presenta es s6lo un resumen de 1983La informaci6n 1as observaciones hasta ahora realizailas. Una publicaci6n niis que incfuya algunas proposiciones detallada, de manejo para fa de esta especie, habrd de ser publicaata posteriormente. recuperaci6n Localidades visitaalas v netodolooia Se visit6 la mayor parte de fas localialades especificamente seiala(Medem 1983; Donoso-Barros 1966) y aquellas das en 1a literatura para las cuales se tenia infornaci6n por parte de turistas, pescadores, prensa u otras fuentes. sobre la existencia de g- aqtus. La metodotogia empleada para el reconocimiento de Ias localidades visitadas consisti6 en recorridos diurnos y,/o nocturnos,utilizanalo para ello, la mayor parte de fas veces, un bote de alurninio de 12 pies y un motor fuera de borda de 6,15 o 25 HP- Se recab6 sobre esta especie y sus hiibitats: informacion sefrales sobre su presencia/ que amenazan su huellas. nidos, principales factores etc. Pala el reconocimiento nocturno se emple6 supervivencia, una potente liimpara conectada a una bateria de autom6vil de 12 voltios. E1 encandilamiento de los aninrales permite acercdrseles 1o suficiente como para hacer una estimaci6n de sus tamafros o para su captura. con lazos, y la toma de medidas miis precisas previas a su marcaje y liberaci6n. Para e1 contaje de (9. acutus los animales en cada focalidad se discrimin6 entre crias menores de un aio) e individuos mayores de un a6o, destacando entre estos dltimos La presencia y localizacidn a los adultos. de las crias y nidos, para estimar ef se tom6 como criterio ndmero minimo ale hetnbras reproductivamente activas en cada fugar. La longitud se catcul6 distintas mdximo de con estas de ]os rios y eI perimetro de fos embalses y laqunas por nedio de un curvimetro y cartas geogriificas a escalas: desde 1:25-000 hasta 1:250-000. E1 nfnero caimanes observados para cada localidad se reLacion6 longitudes. Resultados Gran parte de la regi6n costera venezolana, excfuyendo toalo el ]itoral del Distrito durante 1a realizaci6n Federal, fue visitada def presente trabajo5610 en 14 de los sitios recorridos fue posible conprobar fa existencia de g. gS]l!!S.. El nimero mlximo de animales de mes de un aio que pudo ser contaalo. para todas 1as local.ialades, alcanza la cifra de 293 ejemplares. En ta Tabla 1 aparecen los val-ores para cada localitlaal, y la relaci6n entre e1 nimero de animales y las longitudes recorridas. Un total ale 20? inalividuos de q- acutus, irlcluyendo crias, fueron capturatlas. El mayor de est.os animales era de 1.500 llun ale longl(Tabla 2). tud total De estos cocodrilos, 36 fueron retenialos para Ia realizaci6n de un ensayo ale cria en cautividad. 5610 35 de 1os caimanes observados en Ias distintas localidaates fueron consialerados adultos, y se estim6, en base a la piesencia ile nialos y crias. que existen al menos 22 hernbtas reproaluctiva(Tabla 3). mente activas. En la Tabla 4 aparecen las localialades para fas cuales no fue posible coinprobar, o neetar, 1a existencia de q. e.S.U!.!.C, inalic6ndose el tipo de reconocimiento realizado, la fecha, y la fuente que sefrala la existencia de esta especie en eI lugar. A contj.nuaci6n se hace una breve descripcl6n de 1as localidades para las que se pudo conprobar la existencia de caimanes y se seialan aquellas caracteristicas o aspectos relevantes que pudieran estar amenazando la supervivencia de esta especie. EMBALSEDE PUEBLOVIEJO: Presa sobre e1 rio pueblo Vieio, ubicada a unos 20 km de la cludad ale Lagunillas, en ef Estaalo Zufia. Esta obra fue construiala en e1 aio 1960. Dista 30 kn, en linea recta, del Lago de Maracaibo y estii situada a una altura aproximada de 60 nretros sobre e1 nivel del nar, cubriendo una superficie de 1-OOO El iiiea es ale acceso finitado ha. y est6 parclatmente protegida por Ia Guardia Nacional. Para 1a fecha de la visita, 13 de lunio de 1984, los niveles del embalse estaban muy balos, provocado pot la fuerte sequia que afectaba Ia zona y no se encontr6 vegetaci6n acuiltica en los bordes de la presa. Estos factores parecen estar afectanalo a la pequefia poblacidn de C. acutus presente en eI ya que fa mayor parte de 1os animales capturados, lugar, particuparecian muy flacas. fadnente las crias, La siembra del pez qILSLIA parece haber provocado un alesequilibrio ocellaris, ecol6gj.co que pudiera estar afectando a los caimanes alli presentes. EMBAISE DE TACARIGUA: Presa sobre el caio El Cauce, a unos 4 km. de la poblaci6n ale Boca de Tocuyo, en el Estado Fatc6n. l,a represa tiene por finafidad suministrar agua para riego y consumo humano de poblaciones vecinas. Algunas fincas que roalean el enibalse han deforestaalo hasta e1 borde mismo alel agua,lo cual efimina a estas 6reas como posibles fugares para 1a nidificaci6n de 9. acutusLAGUNADE JATIRA: En realidad tambidn es un embalse y estii (Ernbalse de Tacarigua) conectaalo con ef anterior por un estrecho canal de unos 3O0 metros de largoEs miis pequeffo que e1 embafse y de aguas mds someras y con mucha veqetaci6n de Tacarigua acu.itica, Io cual dificulta su recorrido. En reconocimiento nocturno ale una pequefia parte de esta laguna, e1 11 de febrero de 1984. s6fo se observ6 a dos caimanes, ambos adultos. No obstante, cinco adultos 98 observados 200 netros dias 30 de 41 crias y E1 pozo fue cl6ndose el eD un pozo de unos 500 m2- ubicado a una distancia de ale 1a laguna, aleben provenir de Ia misma. AIfi, los y 12 de novienbre de 1982, se capturaron septienbre se comprob6 Ia existencia ale, al menos, tres nialos. secado en 1983 para regar tierras cercanasr flesconodestino de todos los animales - RIO TOCUYO: Es uno de los rios m6s largos que desenibocan en fa costa Caribe de venezuefa. 5610 los tftinos 16,5 km- fueron recorridos. En ese sector los bordes estiin muy intervenidos , los y la mayor parte de 1as fincas cultivos llegan hasta la orilla toman el agua directarnente del rio. Los agricuftores, ademiis, los barbechos a1 cauce. En e1 recorrialo arrojan con frecuencia lealizado el 23 de agosto de 1984, se observaron caimanes juveniles y subadultos, pero tan s61o una cria. CUARE: ubicaclo en ef Estado I'a1c6n al sur de la poblaci6n de Chichiriviche. En este fugar existe un refugio de fauna silvestre por un con una superficie de 11.825 ha., mayormente repres€dtada -(traregolfete rodeado ale nanglares unas salinas ale inundaci6n 1' tenporal. En recorrialos nocturnos de junio y septieribre ale 1981t enero de 1982 y febrero ale 1984, han sido observaalos un m6ximo de dos cocodrilos, aftbos adultos, en 1a boca del caio cuacabana. En febrero aie 1984 se observ6 las hueflas de un adulto en las cidnagas ale El Buquillo. En agosto de 1982, uDos muchachos destruyeron un nido recidn construldo en fas cercanias de Ia casa del refugio. MORROCOY: El Parque Nacional Morrocoy, en ef Estado Fa]c6n, tiene por una una superficie de 32.090 ha,, mayormente constituialas intrincaala En el lugar red de canales e islotes de mangfares. presi6n y aprovechandento turisticoexiste una creciente El tugar parciales ha sido visitaalo por los sectores ale Cayo en recorridos Punta Brava, Caffo El Le6n, Ensenada ale Morrocoy e lsta de Piijaros. s61o en Punta Brava e Isl-a de PiiJaros han sido observados ca.imanes. No se han localizado nidos ni crias. RlO AROA: Ubicado en e1 Estado r'alc6nHa sido inspeccionado en toda su longitud desde eI punte ale Palna Sola hasta su desembocadura. EI rio esta nuy intervenialo en ambas m6rgenes, particularnente hacia la desenbocadura, donde existen casas a la orilla En ef sector palma Sola-La Caracara se observaron nisna ale 6ste. siete crias, muy alispersas unas de las otras, una ale ellas estaba debajo del propio puente de Palma sola. Existe una fuerte presi6n sobre los caimanes por parte de los pobladores. debialo a los supuestos o reafes daffos que ocasionan a los aninales dom6sticos. En enero de 1984 obtuvillos informaci6n sobre la muerte ale tres subadultos, cocodrilos matados por un lugarefio. RlO YARACUY: La nayor parte de este rio corre por e1 Estado Yaracujr y a partir de la poblaci6n de l,a Hoya, marca ef limite entre este estado y el Estado Carabobo. EI rio corre a travds de una e:.tensa principalnente zona dedicada a fa aglicuftura, cafra de azricar, pala terminar en una amplia faja ale terreno, de unas 5.000 ha., que conforman un delta: zona de ci6nagas. pantanos y albdferas ale penetraci6n. dificil 99 El sector recorrialo abarca la mayor parte alel rio que va alesde el puente de Santa Maria, a 70 km en linea recta desde 1a costa, hasta su alesenrbocadurar con la excepci6n alel sector entre e1 puente de El Pefr6n y 1a desembocadura de1 rio MarcanoLos recorridos se realizaron los dias 23. 24 y 27 ae enero; 16 y 1? de mayo y 7 y 8 de agosto de 1984. 5610 en el trayecto que va (VENEPAI) hasta 1a desenbocaalura no se observaron desde Limoncito g- acutus. RIO MARCANO: Este es un pequefro afluente de1 rio yaracuyEs rnuy angosto, poco profundo y cubierto ale veqetaci6n acudticaen su mayor parteEl rio es usado para sacar agua y regar cultivc cercanos. Fue visitado el 7 de diciembre de 1983. TURIAMO: Esta localidad se refiere principalmente a una pequefra ]aguna ale agua salobre ubicada hacia ef extremo nor-occidentaf de la bahia del mismo nonbre / en ef Estado Aragua. E] fugar ha sido visitado 14 veces desale e] mes de agosto de 1980, hasta jmro de 1984. En tres oportunialades: 1980, 1983 y 1984, se han conseguido nialos. e1 de este iltino affo fue depredaalo por humanos - En ciertas oportruidades fos caimanes abandonan fa laguna y se dirigen hacia el cercano rio San Miquel, en la misma bahia. Esta ]ocalialad puede ser consideraala bastante protegida, en priner luqar por estar ubicada dentro del Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, y en sequndo lugar por Ia presencia cercana de una base naval, fo cual restringe el ingreso de personas al iirea. No obstante se sabe de la muerte de tres ejemplares, subadultos y adultos, entre fos aio6 1 9? 9 y 1 9 8 0 . LOS TOTUMOS-I,AGUNA GRANDE: En 1as cercanias de Cabo Codera, al noreste del Estado Miranda. El iirea consiste Drincioalmenre en lagunas y canales rodeados de manglares. en algunos-lugares poco profundos existen praderas ale Thalassia. Los caimanes han sido observados tar.,bi6n en e1 mar, a unos 100 metros de ]a orilla. El sltio ba sido visitado en dos oportunidades: Julio de 1982 y agosto de 1983. No se harl encontrado nidos ni criasCANAI,ESDE RIO CHICOT Situados cerca ale 1a ciudad alel mismo nonrbre en ef Estado Miranda. Alli existe una serie de canales y artificiales naturales usados con fines turisticos y recreativos, principafmente para la prdctica del ski acuetico. Esta localidaal jufio ha sialo visitaala en cuatro oportunidades: de 1982, aqosro de 1983r y narzo y julio ale 1984. Existe, al menos, una pareja de ya que se han conseguido crias y nidos sucesivamente tos adultos, a f r o s 1 98 3 y 1 9 8 4 . LAGUNADE TACARIGUA: ubicada en eI Estado Miranda. Esta es una faguna costera bordeada ale manglares en su mayor par:te, se encuentra protegida por Ia figura ale parque nacional y posee una superficie de 18.400 haHa sido recorrida parciafmente en dos oporlunidades en agosto de 1983 y julio de 1984- Se observaron en los ca6os Hondo, San Nicoles y Piritalr en fos dos iltirnos tugales hay evidencias. nidos y crias, de la existencia de un minimo de tres henibras adultas. Uno de los nidos en et Cafro piritaf. fue depredaalopor hunanos en 1984. 100 RIO NEVERI: Este rio, muy sinuoso y de aguas refarrvamente tranquilas, atraviesa,en su iltimo tramo, a la ciudad de Barcetona, en el Estado Anzoiitegui. Los recorridos reafizaalos tos dias 10 y 23 de julio d e 1 9 8 4 , a b a r c a r o n d e s a l ep u e n t e s u c r e , . " . i a" la ciuilad, hasta eI puente de la pobfacidn " "Soto nt." de Waricuaise observaron g. acutus, algunos de ellos crias, entre el sector cercano a Ia planta de 1a Cerveceria polar y ef puente La Vofca. algunos jovenes que habitan en Ia poblacidn de Na_ricuat, Pe ::t]erdo.a EalnDlen exrsten caimanes eh los rios Naricuaf y araguita. En los primeros meses de 1984, tres caimanes. uno ae Sltos-nravor de 2.50 metros, murieron en manos de pobladores de la zona. Discusi6n La exploLacion comercial a qran escaLa del caimiin de Ia costa se lnIclo en Venezuela en el afro 1929, aproximadamente , . Esta ocurrao de manera simutranea a ta explotdci6n'de1 caimiin aei Orino"o. glg-cody-lus rnternedius y a niveles tan attos que para mediados de rv4u amDasespecaes se podian considerar escasas, (Medem, 19g3; Mondolfi, 1965). No obstante,no existen cifras qrr. p..*it.r, conocer con exactitud, y nr sjquiera .on Eproxinaci6n, el numero de c- acutus cosechados durante esos aios. Tampoco se saben las localidades principales donde se reatizd esta a;tividad. De aclrerdo a informaciones obtenidas de luqareios y conocedores de algunas de las localidades visitadas, se desprende que fa exptotact6n tue particularmente importante at sur det ta;o de Mar;caibo, en ef rio Yaracuy y en la laguna de TacariguaInmediatamente despuds de haber finalizaalo el aprovechamiento comercial, no se realizaron estudios que permitieran establecer ta situaci6n exacta en que habian quedad; 1a; polfa"io"es-Je-c.acutu"Los resultados obtenidos en este trabajo no permiten, p". I"E-, h a c e r , c o n p a r a c i o ne s y p o d e r e s t a b l e c e r s i h a ' h a b i d o , ' o . " o , afq,rr]a recuperacion de ]as pobtaciones diezmadas. Ef dnico valor que puede ser conparado no permite ser optimistaManess (1982i cont6 23 de estos cocodrilos en el Refugio de Fauna Silvestre au c.r... en 1975. Durante 1a realizaci6n del presente trabajo este refugio fue visitado,en cuatro oportunidades ;n los a;os 19dr, tsA2 y 1ga4 siendo dos (2) 1a cjfra maxima de cocodritos observados La presion directa sobre las poblaciones de C- acutus no ha cesado. o" su pieI tas supuestas propieaiades c.r.ati"". y91g: ale su sE:a.sa, _"+ e .t caracter magico que se Ie asigna a sus colmitlos, su real o inf\rndaala amenaza sobre et hombre y 1os animales dom6sticos, etc., ha significado un permanente tncentavo para la persecuci6n y muerte de estos animalesSin enbargo, 1a princrpal y_.,i" pr.o"rrp"nta amenaza sobre esta especie es ta ctestruccron d; hdbiiats. in muchas de las localidades visitadds se desarrotlan actrvidad;s aoricotas y otros tipos de actividad humana en ta oritla misma de t;s cuerpos to cual vrold disposiciones visentes en ta Ley Foresral !o1e s1 us e y3 , los y Aguas. Esto afecta a fos tugares utilizados por gacutus para la construcci6n por otra parte, de sus nidosla; &eas han vFnido soporLando una crecienLe pi.'.,0" q:1::91i.": po, p.,t. de urbanrzadores, para convertirfos en centros ae recreac-i6, qr" terminah, a la larga,con las poblaciones de esta especie. 101 ale 293 animales de miis de un afio, contada en fas localiLa cifra por alos pueale consialerarse como conservaalora daales visitatlas, porque todavia quedan algunas localidades lugar. en primer razones: por visitar como es el caso de muestreadas, o insuficientemente los rlos Tocuyo, Aroa y Yaracuy, toda la regi6n sur alel lago de para fas cuales existen algunas refelencias Maracaibo y otras/ y recientes ale este cocoalrilo sobre la existencia histdricas (Laiz-Blanco. 1 9 ? 9 r M e d e m , 1 9 8 3 t S e i j a s , 1 9 8 4 ) ; y e n s e g u n a l oh E a r , porque no toalos los animafes que ocurren en una zona pueden ser de 22 hemlcras reproaluccon ]a cifra estimada vlstos o coniaalos. de Ia poblacion de se puede hacer un cilculo tivahente activas, Este c61cu1o se basa en las 14 6reas mencionadas. estos reptiles (chableck, para otras especies de Crocod]rlia en observaciones 1956) y ha sido usado por OgCIen (19?8) para estimar las poblaciones De en los Estados unidos. de g. Bg.glgE en e1 Estado ile Ftorida las henibras usados por estos autores, acueralo a fos criterios cada aio constituyen entre el 4 y 5x de la aaluttas que nialifican para estos reptiles poblact6n. si estos valores fueran ciertos poblaci6n estaria entre en 1as dreas visitailas en venezuela.la que tlebe ser tonaala de mds de un affo, cifra 440 y 550 indivialuos con mucho cuiclado ya que en este caso no se tiene una pobfaci6n y pequeias poblaciones aisladas. de g. acutus, sino ndltiples una mayor aproximaci6n a fa Futuros estudios podrian perrnitir reafialad. pero no de g. acutus en Venezuela es critica, La situaci6n sin embargo.s610 de sus poblaciones, irreversible. La recuperaci6n de un ptograma de protecciin serii posible con la puesta en prictica proteccionista, necey manejo a largo alcance. La s61a politica suficiente. saria en todo caso, no seria de habitatst fa recuperaci6n El freno a la aceferada destruccidn 1a formaci6n de una de rios y represas; de las zonas protectoras de esta especie (espefavoxable a la recuperacidn opini6n ptblica de una eficierte existe) a traves ciafmente en las zonas donde ella alebe estar acompaiaala tle medidas miis endrgicas campafia educativa, y repidas, como podria ser fa cria en cautividaal y por un tiempo (por ejemplo un afro) de animales recidn nacialos capturapruttencial iniciar este proceso con la incubacion alos en el campo, o incluso la mayor elimina, o alisninuye, de huevos. Este procediniento que provoca una gran n'iortafialad de los anilEfes parte ale los factores los cocodrifos serian liberaalos en esta etapa. A1 tdrmino del aio de origen y otros serian para en ef sitio en una proporci6n poblacionales son muy bajos o, iireas alonale los niveles repoblar Existen antecedentes incfuso, donale esta especie haya desaparecido. (Blake, 1974) con de este tipo ale manejo con Crocodufus niloticus resultaClos satisfactorios. critica en que se encuentran las La superaci6n ale 1a situaci6n de la realizaci6n poblaciones de .q. gqqlgC en Venezuela. requiere ale organismos deberia partlr ale un esfuerzo que, en principio, pero que deberia involucrar ale afguna manera piblicos interesados, 1os valores restaurar 56lo asi ser6 posible a toda la colectivitlad. y econ6micos de esta especie. cientificos, ecol6gicos cul.turales, i02 rdr:,lA^i ni on+ ^c son nomerosas las personas que colaboraron con la realizacidn ale este trabajo. particularmente en la fase de cafirpo, ebtre elfas la mayor parte del personal de Servicio Nacionai aie l,auha Sifves_ quiero destacar 1a valiosa pai.ticipaci6n ale !."; 19 obstante, Ram6n Rivero y cerardo Cordero, quienes me asi;tieron_en ]as {ltimas etapas de1 proyecto. Biblioorafla Casfer. C. y J- Iira1983. de1 sector Los otivitos. Zo a 5/rC/5O39 pp. Blake, D. K. 19'74- The Rearing of Crocoaliles for conmerciat anat purposes in Rhodesia. Conservation The Rhodesia Sclence ( 1 0 ) . News 8 315-324. Estudio raunistico ale los Mangtares MARNR. Serie Tnformes cie;tificos Chabreck, R. 1966. Methods of Determining the size and ccrr{)Gitico,s population of AIliqator proc. 2oth. Annua-L in LouisianaConf. S-Ec a m e a n d F i s h C o n n n .2 0 : 1 0 5 _ 1 1 2 . King, l'.W.r H. W. Cancell y p.E. Moter. Status of the American Crocoilile(New Ser. ) : Publ. 84-89. 1982. Review of the In: Crocodiles. IUCN Laiz,-Blanco, J. 7979. Conservaci6n del Ecosistema ,,Isla de Aves,,, con Especial Enfasis en el Controt y Marcaje ate la Tortuga Verde {g}elonia_rygee) y de las Aves Resid;ntes y Migrarorras. Functaci6n para la Defensa de la Naturaleza. FUDENA. A2 DD. Maness, S. 1982. Status Crocodiles. rucN Medem. E. 1981. Crocodylia 354 pp. of Crocodvfus acutus, Caiman crocodilus c_!.9S-99!lJE !!9qod1lus in VenezuefaIn (New ser.) | PubllI'7-12O. Los Crocodllia de Sur AmdricaVoI- l. Los de cofonbia. Edt. carrera ?a. Ltda. Bogotii. Medem, F1983. Los Crocodylia de Sur Amdrica. Carrera 7aLtda. Bogotii. 270 pp. Mondolfi, E- 1 9 6 5- Nuestra Fauna. El Faro], Vol- l2l4) | fI. Edit- l-I2. Ogden, J. C. 1978Status and Nesting Biotogy of the Anrerican Crocodife, Crocodyfus acutus, (Reptitia, Crocodilidae) in I'lorida. J. Herpetol. 12 (2) : 183_195Seijas, A1984. Estudio Faunistico preliminar de 1a Reserva de Fauna Silvestre de ]as cidnagas ale Juan Manuel, Aouas Blancas y Aguas Negras, Estado zu1a. serie Inform;s leGlicos DGIIA (MARNR) A4 PP. /IT/147 . 10.1 Seijas, 1981. El ''Status" Pobfacional del A- y L. caballero. carniin de Ia costa (Crocodvlus acutus) en venezuela. (Resumen). Acta cient- venez. 32. {SupI. 1). p. 8r. 1977Venezuela. Aguas. Reglamento de la LeY Forestal de Suelos Y 104 TABLA 1 NUMEROMAXIMO DE CROCODYI,USACUTUS MAYORESDE I'N AftO, OBSERVADOS EN I,AS DISTINTAS LOCALIDADES VISITADAS Distancia Recorriaia (Km) localidades Pueblo viejo 30.25 Laguna de Jatira Na trExirc ObservEdo invkn. 1 31 I,02 3 5 visitada Ibcha 13-6-84 2'7-9-42 Represa ab Tacarigua 15,00 2 4 o,27 25-4-A4 Rio Toct!'o Secbor A 11,00 I 8 0,72 23-A-44 Sector B 5,50 1 9 1.63 23-8-84 25,00 5 2 0,08 19-t-82 4 5 Cuare I4orrocay Rio ArcB sector a-1]-42 A 14,60 11 a,'75 26-r-84 Sector B 36,60 56 1,53 22-A-44 Seetor A t'7,oo 2 2,OO 24-t-84 Sector B 6,00 3 2I Sector C 13,30 I 27* 8-8-84 Sector D 13,20 1 35 '7-a-44 1 3 1-12-84 I4 18 2 4 19-8-83 nio c}dco 3 6 18-8-83 Lag- Tacariqua 2 16 17-8-83 Rio Ne\.€ri 1 4 nio uarcano 4,90 Tlriarm * Recorrido Diurno. 3,50 3 , 67 7.47 3-4-84 23-7-a4 293 1C5 TABI,A 2 NUMERODE INDIVIDUOS DE CROCODYI,UIIACUTUS CAPTURADOSEN DISTINTAS LOCALIDADES DE VENEZUELA Localidades 4 50rrun. 450 run. 1- 500 nm 1.000 Pueblo Viejo Embalse de Tacarigua Laguna Jatira de Rio Tocuyo 1 3 3 Morrocoy 4 1 Rio Yaracuy 36 6 Turiamo 42 2 12 2 Laguna de Tacarigua 1'7 3 Rio Neveri 6 1 r70 31 Rio Aroa Totales Nota: Los individuos ale menos ale 4 5 0 mm de longitual es decir. animales menores de un aio- 5 6 total = 201 son crias, 10€ TABLA 3 NUMERO DE ADUITOS OBSERVADOS Y NUMERO MINJMO DE HEMBRAS RE:RCDINNAMENIE EN ],AS DTSTINTAS LOCAT,IDADES ACTTVAS DE CROCODYLUS Aqglqq, VISITADAS Aalultos Locafidad N! minimo 0 + Reproduc. Activas observaciones Pueblo viejo 1 2 crias r.:d,n: 5 3 Tres nidos 2 1 Crias - 1 una cria Cuare 2 | Un nj"do en 1982 I\4orrocoy 1 3 3 Crias d- .r:+ir: Rio Tocuyo. Rio Aroa. Sector A muY dispersas en 1982 en 1984 en 1944 muy dispersas Sector B Rio Yaracuy.Sector A Sector B 1 1 Una nidaala en 1984 Sector C 3 - Visitada Sector D 2 3 Crias Rio Marcano 1 - Turiano 4 1 Los ToLunros. Laguna Grande 2 - Rio Chico 1 1 Nidos en 1983 y 1984 r.^d,,n: ria Tacarigua I 3 Nidos y crias Rio Neveri | 2 Crias 35 22 en el dia muy dispersas Llr nido 106 afiG 1980,1983,1984 en 1943-84 muy dispersas 107 TABTA 4 LOCALIDADES VISITADAS DONDE NO SE OBSERVARONINDIVIDUOS NI SEfrALES SOBRE LA PRESENCIA DE CROCODYLUSACUTUS Locafidad y Fecha de fa Visita Estado zulia{ocirretas (l€rzo 1983) lie Tipo cle Reconociniento D - atiurno: N = Nocturno r-indn y cran Eneal (.bril 1984) fuente D. y N. Ibtsal l€dqrl, D. y N. Parcial Luqarenc (V3) Fep!€sa Socuy (Jurio 1984) N. Parcial I€presa 1UL4 (.nrnio 1984) N. Parcial- (1,/2) N. lbtal (Junio 1984) Lugarefros Luqarefios Navegable (4 Ifti Iac Olivitos oaarzo 1983) D. y N, Parcial SiIEllare (Julio D- Parcial 1981 l,ugarenos C€sler y Lira, 1983 1984) Estado F,alcin-cano (Iebrero 1984) E1 Doce D- Parciaf Rio Aragrita (rcbrerc 1984) estado Yaracut'-Gffo El h€al (Septia$re 1981 y n€ro 1984) Represa CurBJripa {JrBdo 1984) N- Total (32 Knd N. Sector cfarines_La Boca Luga.refrG Dcnc,6o-Barrc, N. Total 1966 AledafiG Laqma ab ChacalEta (Julio 1984) Eltrevista colfo de Paria (rEbrero 1983) D. Pa.I:cial F.stado l&']]aqas Reser\/a Ibresta.l (leDrero redJl Lug€reffc6 La Reina rrnare Estado Sucre Rio C€riacD y l€nglares (,Iu.lio 1984) Naveg€b]e (3 Km) N. Total Dstado Mirarda Belria de Glat'aciin-IaguE (Julio 1982) Estado .Anzo.itequi-Rlo (Marzo 1984) N- ltrtal con Pescadores Dor:ro€o-Bat:ro€, 1966 D- y N. Parcial de Grarapidxe * nl 'rl\Enter aparece ta refersrcia miis reciente que seiala 1a presencia ale g. acutus IEra lllra deterfiLinada focalidadNo cbstante,la rrByor IErCe ale los lugares filercn visitados por existir inforrEciin de 1u9areffo6, o por enccntrarse en eI 6rea de distrihrcion hist6rica db la eslEcie. 10t CENSO AEREO DE CAIMANES (CROCODYLUSIN"ERMEDIUS) EN EL RIO TUCUPIDO {PORTUGUESA, VENEZUELA) CON OBSERVACIONES SOBRE SU ACTIVIDAD DE SOLEAMIENTO Cristlna Ramo y BenJamin Busto Universidad Nacionaf Experimental ',Ezequief Zamora,, de los Lfanos Occidentales cuanare - Venezuela STJMMARY (crocodylus A crocodile Tntermedius) population lras found afong the Tucupido river in Portuguesa state, Venezuela. This river originates in the piedmont of the Andes at approximately 1200 rneters above sea leve1, and enpties lnto the cuanare river. A dam is being constructed on the Tucupido river next to the dam of the adjacent Bocono river, the conlcined dams wilt be able to flood an area of about 13,000 hectares. The Tucupialo river was observed fron an airplane fivetimes at difterent hours of Lhe day from the bridqe of the Guanare-Barinas road until the river is approxinately 300 meters above sea 1evef. Sixty-six crocodiles were counted aluring the five flights. Of tbese, 32 were shorter than 2 meters in fength, 26 were between 2 and 3 tneters, and one was longer than 3 neters. These sightings repleseotant least nineteen indlviduals, 5 between the brialqe and the dam and 14 above the dam. A binodal pattern of baskinq activity was found, with maxlmum basking at 10 a.n. and a second peak at 4 p.m. 109 Introducci6n El Caimiin del Orinoco (Crocodvlus intemediFs), es una especie cuya distribuci6n se encuentra restriirgrcta a la cuenca de1 rio Orinoco, desde el Delta Amacuro en Venezuela basta e1 rio cuavaire en Colcr$ia (Medem, 1983). El alto valor comerclal de su piel, provoc6 una explotaci6n intensiva hace algunas d6cadas. Pol esta raz6n/ Ias poblaciones de esta especie disminuyeron driis ti camente , hasta tal punto, que actual(Blohm, 1973rRiveromente estd considerada en peligro de extlnci6n B]anco, 19?4r Godshalk y Sosa 1978; Medem, 1981. 1983). Los datos miis recientes acerca del estado pobtacional de esta estrEcie en Venezuela, han sido aportados por Goalshalk y Sosa (19?8-1982) quienes durante un censo efectuaalo en 1os Lfanos Occidentales, observaron indicios de 2?3 individuos en los rios Guanare, Poltuguesa, Cojedes, Tinaco, San Carfos, Capanaparo, Riecito, Cinaruco, Meta y Orinoco. Posteriormente, en 1981, Franz et. al- (en prensa) / en un reconocimiento adreo, encontraron una poblaci6n importante en el rio Caura (Bofivar) cerca alel Salto Par6. En la figura 1 se seffala fa distribuci6n del Caimiin del Orinoco en Las primeras observaciones sobre cainanes en el rio Tucupido, son cuatro ejemplares: un macho de 1,20 m. de longitud, capturado ef 2 de noviedbre de 1980 por D. Taphorn y c. Rios, una hembra de 2,56 m. capturada el 24 de enero de 1981 por R, Siinchez y dos juveniles de poco tiempo. uno de 36,5 cm. y otro que no se midi6, capturados el 24 de mayo de 1981 por R. Sdnchez. Estos caimanes se mantienen en cautiverio en 1as instalaciones ale 1a Universidaal Nacionnal Experimental de los Llanos Occidentales Zamora" "Ezequiel (UNELLEZ) en cuanare. Posterlormente en Julio de 1982, realizanalo un reconocimiento a pie por fa orilla pudimos observar un ejemplar de aproximadamende1 rio. te 2.5 m. soleilndose en eI borale. Mes tarde, el 23 de septiembre ale 1982, sobrevolando una parte del Tucupido, tuvimos Ia oportunidad ale avistar 6 caimanes. Toalos estos datos evidenciaban fa existencia de una poblaci6n inportante, ademes 1a presencia de juveniles recidn nacidos indicaba que era una poblaci6n con parejas que se estaban reproduciendo activamente. Esta informaci6n nos 11ev6 a plantear la realizaci6n ale un censo a6reo ya que era imposible hacerlo por lancba, debido a las condiciones det riona<-rrn^i,4h ?la1 ^ra^ EI rio Tucupido nace en 1as cercanias de fa fila Cerro Negro, a 1.200 nsnm, aproximadamente . Antes de desembocar en el rio cuanare, recorre 1as siguientes formaciones vegetales: Bosque Premontano 11C Semideciduo, Bosque Tropical Siempreverde, Sabanas con Chaparros y Bosque Tropical Semideciduo (Ministerio ilet Ar,biente y d; tos Recursos Naturafes Renovabfes -MARNR- 1982) , recibiendo acrua de quebradas (Riquera, Higuerones. diversas Los Bafros, r,as cirpas y Los Hierros). El clina de la zona se caracteriza por teDer dos estaciones bten (junio a octubre) marcadas; una fluviosa, en ta que ocurre el gO! de la precipitaci6n anual, y otra seca (diciembre a marzo). Esta estacionalidad influye mucho en e1 caudal def !:io, que es de rdgi_ men pluvialLos gastos medios det mes n6s hrimedo y n;is seco, son respectlvamente de 50,7 m3ls y 0 m3,/s (Ministerio de obras pibfi_ cas -MOP- 1976). En 1a dpoca ale lluvias el agua es turbia debido a-Ios sedimentos que arrastra, pero en fa 6poca seca, el agua es ya que casi no hay corriente. cfara, En su curso afto, eI lecho es pedregoso, para dar paso, en su curso medio. a un lecho pealre_ goso que alterna con grandes pozos y ptayas arenosas. At llegar: al puente en la via cuanare,Bari nas , han desaparecido los cantos rodados y eI lecho del rio es arenoso. Los caimanes se aletectaron en fos alel rio entre eI puente y la cota grandes pozos en una secci6n aprdximada de fos 3OO msnm. Actualmente el Ministerio def Anibiente y de los Recursos Naturafes Renovables -MARNR- est6 construyendo una represa. con fines agrico1as y de electricidad, 10 km. aguas arriba def puente. que acunula_ rii agua hasta un nivel mriximo de 26? msnn, esta_represa_se conectarii con la del rio Bocon6 (ya finalizada) por un canal de 7OO m- de fargo y la superficie mixima de ambas sera de aDroximadanente ($op, 19?6) (Frq. 2). I3-000 bectireas Metodolooia Pa.a 1os vuefos se utifiz6 una avioneta CESSNA 170, en la que iban dos observadores. Ef censo se realiz6 en el nres de diciembre de 7982En esta dpoca el rio estaba bastante seco v ef aqua erd clara pudrdndose drstinguir los caimanes con faci-Iidad-Se sobrevol6 cinco veces e1 rio Tucupido, atesde et puente situaalo en la carretera c\ranare-Ba rinas , hasta donde se convertia en un y los caimanes alelaban de aparecer, torrente invirtidnalose de 20 a 30 minutos en el recorrialo. Los vuelos se realizaron a distintas horas del dia (09:40 a 10:10, 10:56 a 11:20. 13:00 a 13:20, 15:07 a 16:32 el ? de diciemlore y 08:15 a 08:39 el 8 de diciembre) con objeto de deterninar e1 patr6n de soteamiento. cuando se divisaba un caimen, se estimaba su tamafro, incluydndolo en alguna de las categorias siquientes: 2-3 m., yi3 In. <2n., Se anotaba si estaba dentro del agua o sotedndose, y el tipo de sustrato (drena o piedra) - Los caimanes eran donde se encontraba reconocibfes desde e1 aire por la forma alargada ale su cabeza. Por este m6todo Franz et al, (en prensa), estiman que los caimanes nenores de un metro, no son visibles- 111 Resultados se observaron 66 cainanes de Durante los cinco vuelos efectuados, l-os cuales 32 154,24xt eran menores de 2 metros, 26 (44,071) estaban entre los 2 y 3 metros, y s61o uno (1,692) era mayor de 3 metros (Tabla 1). 5 se situaban entre Se cens6 un miiximo de 19 caimanes dlstintos, y 14 aguas arriba de la mistna- Por fo e1 puente y 1a represa, 2'7 l7'7,I4Zl en general se encontraban en los pozos mAs profuntlos, secciones donde el rio presentaba un lecho arenoso y A (22,86A\ No obstante dentro de esta ultien donde e1 lecho era pealregoso. s61o se observ6 un ejemplar sofeanalose sobre un sustrato ma cifra pero pedregoso, el resto.(? caimanes) estaban sobre este sustrato dentro del agua se observ6 E1 mayor nimero de cairnanes, (16 ejemplares) e1 segunclo y tercer censo, (entre 09:40 y 11:20), tanto agua como soleandose. alurante alentro del los datos se exponen en de soleamiento, En cuanto a la actividad del agua, a mealida que Los caimanes comienzan a salir la fiq. 3. se observa un maximo a las 10, el sol va calentando el anlcinete; en e1 nrinero de ejemplares que esten fuera ilel agua y despuds este la entre fas 11 y las 14:00 hofas, nrinrero desciende bruscamentei mayoria se encontraba en el aguar Y a las 15:00 horas se producia Este menos acusado que el primero. otro maximo en el soleamientor patr6n binodal es parecido a1 encontrado para ta Baba (gg!4gq durante la 6poca seca {Ayarzaguena,1980t en los lfanos, crocodrlus) 19?5), y para e1 cocoalrilo alel Staton y Dixon, 1975; Marcellini, ( c o t t , E1 sobrecalen( c r o c o d y , l g s 1961) (Figura 3). niloticus) Nilo del dia, hace que los animales tamiento en las horas centrales su temperatura. al agua, para regular retornen nos con el fin de obtener mAs datos acerca ale su comportamlento, instalamos cerca de un pozo en ef que se soleaban cinco ejemplares. Durante 1as tres horas y cuarto que permanecirnos ocuftos observansus cabezas sobre la superficie alofos, s610se pudieron distinguir pequeio sali6 a solearse durante ejemplar tan s61o un alel agua, hacia e1 hohbre, Esta actitud de desconfianza algunos minutos. ya que el iirea es probablemente ha sido la que los ha preservado, por cazadores, que conocen la existencia visitada frecuentemente de cainanes en e1 rioEo este nismo pozo se observaron algunas babas, pero mientras los estas se situacaimanes se encontraban en ]a parte miis profunda, observamos tambi6n como un caimiin intenban en las aguas someras. una iguana, que estaba sobre Las ramas t6 atrapar aunque sin dxito, en el bolale del rio. Impacto de 1a Represa sobre los caimaoes provocari canibios de la represa, Es indudable que la construcci6n no sabemos Por el monrento acuaticos. en tos h6bitats sustanciales de caimanes situada estos cambios a la poblaci6n c6mo afectariin La consecuencia miis inmediata es la de la misma. aguas arriba ll2 inundaci6n de las playas de1 rio, utilizadas tabto para e1 sotea_ mlento como para efectuar la puesta. Hay evidencias de que, en condiciones aalversas, los caimanes pueden construir sus ;idos en gredosa, asi T. Blohm encontr6 un nido de estas caractertstierra ticas el,l las mergenes del enbalse de camatagua (T. Blohm, com.per.) y F..Medem (1981) reporta como un caso excepclonal, un nido de caimiln en el Alto Ariporo (casanare, colornlcia) donde no existen playas arenosas, y las orillas son de greda y cascajo. Este nialo estaba construido con ramas secas y hojarascas amontonailas, y contenia 43 huevos. Por otra parte, el mayor vohimen de agua, y los cantrios originados en Ia densidad y composjci6n de las pobtaciones de peces, afectar5n de alguna manera fos hiibitos alimenticios de 1os caimanes. Pudiera ocurrir una migraci6n hacia la cabecera de] rio, Dero lo estimamos poco probabfe, ya que en esa parte, el rio pres;nta un lecho pealregoso y carece de grandes pozos donde los caimahes podrian encontrar refugio, otra posibilidad, seria 1a miqraci6n aguas abajo a travds de 1as compuertas de la represaSi esta poblacidn reacciona bien a fas nuevas condiciones ambientales podria extenderse a travds de las ori1las, de las 13.000 has que van a quedar inundadas. Conclusiones Los resultados de este trabajo constituyen un aporte adicional al conocimiento actual deI estado de Crocodvlus intermedius. EI hecho de que se haya localizado una poblacidn en ef piedemonte, hace pensar en la posibilidad de que queden reductos miis o menos importantes de esta especie en otros rios ale esta zonaPor otra parte, ef reconocimiento adreo se revela cono un m6todo para obtener datos de densidad relativa, eficaz aumentando tas posabilialades ale localizaci6n de nuevas poblaciones en lugares inaccesibles por fanchaEn cuanto a la mejor 6poca para realizar 1os !'Lle]os, seria el comienzo ale la dpoca seca, cuando las aguas hayan bajado y no sean turbuIentas. Y a fin de obtener fos nejores resultaalos, se reconienda que los censos se efectien en dias soleados entre tas 09:30 y l1:30h. aq ra de c i mie4-gg Queremos agradecer a fa UNELLEZ, eI flnanciamiento de los vuelos,sln el cual Ia realizaci6n de este trabajo no hubiera siato posible. Asimismo queremos manifestar nuestro reconocimiento a Stewart Reial, magnifico piloto, a craciela Minguez por mecanoglafiar el texto, a Roberto Escalona por Ia reafizaci6n y por rittimo de 1as figuras, al Dr. Stephan corzula por la revisi6n del manuscrito. 113 Biblioorafla Ecologia del Caimen de anteojos o baba AyalzaJuena, J. (1980). (Caiman crocqdifus L.) en los Lfanos de Apure, Venezuela. Tesis Doctoral, Facultad de cienclas Biol6gicas de la Universidaal Complutense de Madrid, 216 pBlohm, T. (19?3). Cbnveniencia de criar crocodilidos en venezuela, con fines econ6micos y para prevenir su extinci6n. Slmposio y Pesca Fluvial y l,acusInternacional sobre Fauna Silvestre tre anaz6nica. Manaus, Brasil. cott, H.s. (1961) . scientific results of an inquiry in to the ecology and economic status of the Nile crocodile (crocodvlus niloticus) in uqanda and Northern Rhoalesj,a ltans. zoo1. Soc. London, 29 (4): 211-535 p. Franz, The discovery of a R-, s. Reid y c. Puckett (en prensa). population crocodvlus intermedius, in of orinoco Crocodile, .nforme sin publicar. Southern Venezuela. codshalk, R- (1982). status and Conservation of Crocoalvlus in venezuela. Proc- 5th work Mtg. cSG, SSc, l_I!g!!edi!q T U C NP u b l . . N e w S e r i e s , 3 9 - 5 3 p Godshalk, R.y E. Sosa (1978) - El caimiin del orinoco. Crocgdllbg intermedius, en los Llanos occiatentales venezola-nos con en venezuela y recomenobservaciones sobre su dlstrrbucr6n daciones para su conservacr6n, informe presentado a FUDENA ( w w F ). c a r a c a s , 8 4 p . patterns and alensities of D.L. (1979) . Activity Marcellini, venezuelan caiman {g3:1(l4_q9pSd!_!ng) and Pond Turtfes (Podocnemis v_gqli). En: Vertebrate Ecology in tbe Nor:thern NeotropicsJ.F- Eisenberg Ed. smithsonian Institution. washinston, 263-2'71 p. Medem, F. (1981) de colombia. lleden, F- (1983) - Perri, Bolivia, sidad Nacional Los crocodylia ale Suramdrica. coLCIENcTAS. Bogotd. 354 p. L Los crocodylia I,os crocodylia de Suramerica. II- Venezuela, Suriname, Guayana Francesa, Ecuador, Brasil, Paraguay, Algentina y Uruguay. Univerde colombia y cOLcIENCIAS. Bogot6 2?0 p. Ministerio del Ambiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables. sistemas Arnbientales venezolanos. Proyectc MARNR. (1982) . caracas, vEN/'79/O01. Mapa de vegetaci6n actual de Venezuela231 PMinisterio rro: lo1, -MOP- (1976). de Obras Publicas plan de Desarrol]o. ReD(bllca 134 p- Programa Guanare-Maspade venezuela, Decreto Rivero Blanco, C. (1974). Hdbitos Reproductivos de la Baba en los tlanos de Venezuela. Natura 52: 24_29 p. Staton, M.A. y ,t.R, Dixon {1975). Studies on the dry season biotogy of Caiman gf999qi_lg:i. crocodilus fron the Venezuelan Llanos. Mem. sc,c. ale cienc. Nat- La salle, 35 (101): 237_265 p. Indice de Tablas v tri.glleg Tabfa l. Nunero y tamafio de los tipo de sustrato sobre Fi@ra Distribuci6n 1. caimanes observados, activiatad e1 que se encontraban. de crocodvfr:s intermedius I-ocalidades dcnde se han enccntrado (tonado de Medem, 1983) Rios con fas cidas: 1234. 56. Ric Rio Rio Rio Rio Rio principales poblaciones y en Venezuelacaimanes ate caimdn cono_ cojedes (codshalk y sosa, 19?8) ', ') CatrEnap€ro ( cina]1rco ( " ,, ( Meta (Franz et al., err prensa Caura Tucupido (Ramo y Busto,este trabajo) Fi$ra 2. Enbalse de los rios Bocon6 y Tucupido, La represa alel rio Bocon6 ya estii finalizada, Ia de1 Tucupid; estii en construccion - Fiqlra 3. a) Patr6n ale soleamiento patr6n ile soleamiento alatos de: b) c) d) e) Ayarzaguena (1980) SLaton y Dixon (1975) (1979) Marcellini Patr6n de soleamiento de1 cocodrilo ( 1961) cott def caimiin en el rio Tucupido. de ]a baba en tos llanos ;egin det Nilo segin 115 TABIA ] NUI,IERO Y TAMANO DE LOS CAIMANES OBSERVADOS, Y TIPO DE SUSTRATO SOBRE EL OUE ACTIVIDAD SE ENCONTRABAN Hora N&rEro Cairoanes Tamai 22-33 ? Actividad glef__eqta_q919 ji!4gee sustrato arena piedra ? 08:15 08:39 09:40 11 11 10:10 10:56 11 13 11:20 13:00 12 13t20 16:07 16132 TOTAL 66 32 43 23 27 l1 116 EMBALSE Conol d.l.i.rcon!rion aocoNorro FI6URA 1 118 !. inr..h.daqr - CAIMANESSOLEANOOS€ . - - CAII'ANES EN EL A6UA F I G I J R AI 119 CAPTIVT FEARTNG OT ORINOCO CPOCODI]-ES ON IIATO GUARAL - \'ENFZUEIA M}.S-A John Thorbj arnarson and Tonas Blohn center tlato Masagualal crocoCilian Apartaalo 69, caracas 1010_-4 Introduction pleselve is ranch/wildfife Hato l4asaguaral, an ?.500 ha cattle The Venezuela' state, Guarico llanos of ii the central i.""t"a anount of biorogical been the site of a significant ;;;;h-;"; a v tiCe variety ot topics h a s c o v e r e d v ' o r k 1 9 4 4 . research since and a sreat 'leal l:otany, studies of invertebrates,, i;;i;ai;q stu'lies of the including ecology, on vert;brate ot ( S t a t o n "orL a nd Dixon'1975( C a i m a n c r o c o d i l u s ) . spectacleal caiman over 85 scientif ic publications rS79T:----o--aate; i'97?, l'arcellini have resulted fron wory. on lJato lrasaouaral) ' support of To!r'5s and financial through the inltiative Pecently. elohn, iato llas;guarial has also becone the site of a captive a criticarlv progran for orinoco croco'liles, and reaiing ;;;;it; habitats riverine in the found endangeied species once comonly prograrn reintrocructlon goal of the principal The of tha 11anos. supported The work at Pato Mas;guarat is beinq jointfy schenes. para la De the FunCaci6n Group, ;t the rUcli criocodile specialist society zoological New York the {FUDSN}), flnsa de la llaturaleza and the Flor.ida State l4useum. Captive Breeding of Orinoco Crococliles has recently,been The Orinoco Cr:ocodile, Crocodylus inter.nedius, (l-su recoqnized as one of the ltor.Lds l2 rrosL endangered anrrars 'lrainage livel orinoco the on." widespread throughout isgsi. in both coLorbia and !./as iunteal to n;ar extintion tie crocoaife then a cor"t\ination Since 192C-1950. the Curing Venezuela Period popufation recovery preventeC has of poorlv understood factors an extrenefy to to cecline have conlinued populations i.a'i"a"i 1evel. critical of the InVenezuela recent concern for the continueC survival e f f e c t ive s e n i r L ( f i i n d e v e l o p i n g n e h species has spurred nanagement one applicable ptograrT the crocodile. for .ir..i""tl." crocoCiles and re-introducingrearing ii ciptively .il.t"uti". recovery -while it is areas to speeC population into protected is.no solution itself, anal of in lreeainq captive that i.otq'""i""a werl a popuLations, of viable su;vival the ;;;;;i;q i;; -rnanased jfe proqram of hahitat Ptotectton, ProperlY enforced--'ri1Ci can ettecErvely and crocodile reintroductions i"qulations j a n The rodel proqran p o p u l a t i o n s' c r o c o d i l a l e c i l r d t e d i.Jiiiri". for this rype ol program in India has demonstrated the Potential Gavial i s 93!99lgcus p3]-g:gig and with crocoaly I us gorosus, c . (sinqh, 1984) , 12C The captive breeding prograr: for the Orinoco crocodile represents an overall program, speatheaded by the Conision Ele i part_of Lrocccilidos o f F U D E N Af o r t h e ) e h a b i l i t a t i o n of crocodile populations in Venezuela. By l,rorking tooether !,rith other private and governnr\ental otganizations such as the Universidaal Na;ional ',Ezequiel zamora" Experimental de los Llanos occidentales (IINELIEZ), the Fundaci6n La Safte, the rnsriluto Universitarro de Tecnolo.rfa de yaracuy, the Sociedad Conservacionista Aualubon de Venezuela, and the Ministerio del Anbiente v de tos Recursos Naturales Fenovabfes, FLDENI. hopes Lo create a-n effective progran for the 5 craocodilian national species native to Venezuela, The rnajor goals of this progran are to develop and initiate recovery plans for the two species of crocoalifes (C. intert\edius, C. acutus), and to ensure the proper nanagernent of th;_i.ore abundant spectacled caiman (CaiFan crocodilus). Captive breealing of orinoco crocodifes has been problenatic an the past. Very few specir.ens of C, intermedius ;re in captivity (Blohn' 1973) anC nany of tbese r,'e?e Sousea under, suboptiinal conditions. The first captive breedinq r^/as acconplishAd in 1974 at Cachamay Park, near puerto Oralaz in \renezueta. (Ramlrez et al 1977) ivhen 2 fenafes proatuced a totaf of 56 younq. Shce then Orinoco crocoCiles have bred on Fato EI Frlo,-ovned bv ur. fv6n Darto l4aldonado (Apure State) alrd on Hacienda Refuqio de Fauna Ef Paralso owned by TornSs plohn (Aragua State) (Biohn1982) . Hato Uasaguaral The establishment in 1984 of the captive breeding operation on tlato Masaguaral grew out of an urcent need to provide a stock of crocodiles for reintroduction, as nell as a desire to devefop standardizeal husbandry techniques which then could be appfieal to ps !,orp progressed, sturtiii oLher projects in Venezueta, were expanded to include nitd and captive populations of the spectacted caimar, as well as an educational and traininq role. The principal goals of the current $ork at lrato lrasaquatil are; l) Provide a stock protected areas 2) Develop 3) Experiment of crocodiles for reintroatuction and other breeatinq purposes. appropiate, vrith the low cost husbandry feasjbility of techniques. ranching fnvestigate the popufation ecology of qajilg! aim of developing nanagement recoNltendations sustainabfe utilization- Cainan. with the to ensure Provide a center for trainino Venezuelan stuCents biologists in crocodilian rrranagement and researc\ 6) And disseninating technical 12L infornation into on captive and real:ing. vrork has the captive breeding of orinoco crocodifes, concerning progressed steadily of the first br.eeding since the arrivaf pair in october 1984. This pair had been kept at Refuglo de Fauna El Parafso since early 1978, whele the produced 13 h:f.hlihd in lqFO Tha.lrrrcnt stock incluales 5 adult crocodifes (2 male, 3 fenafe) as well as 9 subaduft fenales nearing naturiby. began courtship established inrecliately The breeding pair first (oct- Dec. 1984). The female oviposited on 14 Feb. activity period of 86 days, the female qtas lfter an incubation 1985. nest 18 hatchling crocodiles anal carrying observed opening the The young were left in the adults. to the water (11 nay 1985). being Fleven were removeal in septenber 1985 and are currently reared in concrete tanks. Afong lrith Pen reared the hatchling to examin the hatchling crocodiles, econorflic feasibility Cainan ale of ranching being Cainan. consjst of a Facilities at Lhe r'reeding center currently four 25 m. x 25 r. crocodife dornitory/fabor:atory buildinq, breeding pens, a large (80 n, x 25 n.) natural enclosure for pens anC a fooal prepalation adult Cainan, 7 concrete hatchling Ilater for the concrete tanks in suplied by and auI6lEfshed. water storage systerc. to a 10.000 liter windmill Additional breeding enclosures and hatchling !,/i11 be built during alry season. and grovt-out pens center, Besiales its function as a captive breeCing anC rearin!' work at the Yasaguaral Center is aimed at a nurber of other to Venezuelan students is being offered topics. Training servants in Guard officers anal civil National biologists, For tne Parks departanents. the launa Service and National past tr^'o years, Hato Masaguaral has served as the site of a managenrent and research techniques, course in wildlife training Thls Institution. taught by Dr. B. Pudran of the smithsonian Plans ale also being course r,/ill again be taught in 1986. r.7ith a short course deaLing specificially naale to offer and research Training in caPtive propagation crocodilians. fror tbe Instituto for several venezuelan students techniques de Tecnologla de Yaracuy has already t,egun. unlversitario greatly The project has Lenefited fron support and technical (tlew York Peter Brazaitis advice of a number of indlvialuals: ( N a t a l P a r k s D e p t . ) and Dr. zoological Society(, David Blake State Museun and chairF.an of the GsG,/ F. I^layne King (F]orida ssc/urcN). the work already underway, fot continuing f'uture plans call of Orinoco stuCies of wild populations anal afso initiating iter is to Perhaps, the hiohest prioritY crocodiles. status surveys corbined v/ith undertake a series of systenatic Tbe these !ti1C populations. into the ecology of research progran problen that now faces learing greatest the crocoCile 172 and the future survival- of the species is the lack of protected habitat, and adequate enforcep.ent of existing wildlife regulations. with the cocperation of the Ministerio del lmbiente y de fos Becursos Naturales Renovables, and the National cuard, it is hoped that adeguate protection of the crocodile can be achieved. REFERXNCES 1973. Conveniencia de criar crocodllidos e n V e n e z u e l a c o n f i n e s e c o n 6 n - L c o sy p a r a prevenir su extinci6nProc. Sinp.Internl. Fauna Silv. Pesca, Fluv. I-acus, AmazManaus:1-33. Blohn, qusbanalry of Orlnoco crocod.iles 1982. (Crocodyfus interinedius) in Venezuefa. crocoalil,es rucN publ. N.s. rsBN 2-8032249- x 267-285. T. l4arcellini, D. patterns and densities 1979. Activity of Venezuelan Cairan (Cainan crocodilus) (Podecnenis Vogli) and pnd turtles P-263111 \tavtal-trira I-^^l^^!, i- +he :Torthern Neotropics (J. F. Eisenberg, ed.). Smithsonian Tnsti tut jon, !lashington D.c. C.C. Castillo and S.J. Gorzula - 19?7. Proyecto Venezof ano sobre Cocodrilos. Herp- Reviei, 8 (4): 130. ssc, 1985 Species Survival Cotrunission Newsletter Na 5. cland Switzerland. Singh, L. A.K. 1984- Situation Beport: India Central Crocodile b-reeding and nanagement ProjecL, crocodil€s IUCN Publ. ri.s. lsBN 2-990329 05 - 1 P . 1 6 5 - 1 7 0 . Staton, M.A. and Dixon 1975. Sludjes on the dry season Liology of Cainan crocodilus crocoalifus fron the venFii6r-an-TfEi6E-,,eil--E6El-iienc. Nat. La Salle 35 lLoI) | 23'7-266. Staton, M.A. and Dixon 1977. Breedinq l^ioloov oI the Spectac]ed Caiman, Cainan crocodilus crocodilus in the Yene;i;6 Lfanos Dep. Int. FGF I,'iIdI. Seriv.. I^rildl, Pes. Rept. 5. 1I€ CC!4PII+.TIONOF A GOSS_INDE}€D 'IROPI':4L BTBLIOEAFIII IOR lHE A4ERICSI{IJ,LTGA'IOR STUDYOF TRENE IN TI]E ITTERAIURE COI(ERX.iIIiGAN N.IDANGIFfD SPECIES 1. Lehr Brisbin, JR., Savannah Rive! Ecology Laboratory P- O- Drawer E. Aiken, South Carolina 29801. USA Charles A. ROss,Department of Vertebrate National Museum of Naturaf History Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560, USA M.c. Downes, 1? Aflen's 3235, victoria, Zoology Roaal. Heathnont Australia and Brad Ganunon, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory P. O. Drawer E. Aiken, South Carofina2ggol, UEA Like any other field of natural science, the conservation and nranagement of the world's crocodillans require ready access to the published literature and data bases available for the various species of concern. Since many crocodilian biologist frequently I^'ork afield in underdeveloped or remote areas of the Uorld. obtaininq access to such literature and alata resources can often be a severe problemOver the past few years, the Nationaf Environmental Research Park (NERP) program of the University of Georgia's Savannah (SREL) has compfied and published River Ecology Laboratory cross-indexed workinq bibfiographies on topics of relevant environmental interest to several of tbe laboratory's research programs (Felly and Smith 1975r Jackson. 1981, Smith et aI., 1982) . The compilation of each of these bibliographies involved cbtaini4 copies of each of the references listed and reaaling eacb in sufficient detail to allow it to be classified as to subjectrnatter, into one or more categories of particufar inportance to research species. These references on that particular are then filed by accession numbers which allow the retrieval of listinqs of all references containing information on any one or conbination of one or more topics. This report describes lhe compilation of a simifar cross-indexed bibliography for the American alligator (Alliqator mississippiensis) - An overview of recent research on the American alfigator conducted at ts}Ie SFEL durrnq the 1960's and 1970's, has been published elsewhere (Brisbin, 1982). Thls bibliography for the alligator, at nearly a final staqe of ediling, nolr contains with each reference having been 2695 titles, obtained, verified, read and classified as to subject matter, into covers 28 categories as ]isted in Table 1. This compilation the world literature from the nld-1700's throuqh the spring of 1984. The compilation of this bibliography was based in turn, on an update of an earlier biliography on the afliqator, which of 995 titles 124 had been, 9o^pll99. and published and Brisbin, 1978) . in a similar forinat (Murphy, Brown The compilation of two successive bibliographies of the worlat lit:ralyr: for the alfigator permits a cornparison of rhe frequehcies l,'ith which various topics have been coverea by t}le references rn these two collectionsFurthermore, comparisons of these f!€quelrcies with similar frequencies cafcutateat for only tbose ar-ticles published-from. 1980-1984, proviale a unique ;pportunity to compare cnanges o! parterns of topic coverage over time. As indicated in Figure 1. there has been a noticeabie shift over a 6_ye;r perrod (19?8 through 1984) in tbese patterns of ropic coveraae- rn rhe initial (Murphy, Brown anat Bri;bin, bib.Liography 1978i, a skelred pdttern (Figure 1) indrcated that Lhe majority of the tropics were dealt with by only a fe!.r papers each, while o;ly a few of the categories received extensive coverage in the literature. Thts skewed pattern of relatlvefy few corMron topics anal many rare ones w a s g r a d u a l l y r e v e r s e d t h l o u g h L 1 . r eu p d a t l n q o f t h e t 9 ? ; J biblioqraphy and tbe addition of nore refeiences to form the present 1984 conpilationAs indicated in Figure 1, those references published since 1980 showed an even more equitabte distribu.ron, with. most_of those categories k'hich had reieived only rare coverage in the 1978 conrpilatlon now being addressed in the literature with d nuch nore greater Frequency. The trends over time ln the frequence of coverage of each of the specific categories are indicated in TabIe 1. this data shows ,Tnternat cfearly tlat the two toplcs of Anatomy,, and ,,cenera] Pbysioloqy" dominate the early titerature on the American atligator. being addressed by 38.5% and 2'7.42 of atl of the references cited in_the 19?a bibliography. Tl]e wide coveraqe of these two topics reflects the intense scientific interest that crocodilians apparently engendered in the early days of biofogicaf resea_rch, as a "missing 1ink,' between the anatornical and physioioqical complexity of the more prinitive reptiles on the one ha;d, an; tbe nore advanceat olros on the other. Being one of Lhe mosL easily obtained species of crocodilian, the .\.rlerican alligator thus becane a conllrlon cl,hia^+ for treatment in rexrs and other ituaies b;i; ;";p;;;;i;"-;;:;;y and comparative physioloqy "f of the vertebratesThe alecline of alliqator numbers in the ,{i]at was first noted by naturalists as early as the beqinnings of the 2oth century, and by the 1940,s - 1950,s, rhe firsr signs were becoming app.r.it ir., trr" general world literature, that alligator populati;n ni:mbers in tne wild_were declining to seriously fow numblri. subsequently, with an officidl recognrtior of Lhrs problen and the resu-Ltant ticri-^ of the p.lnerican ittisator " as an endansered species in reeel-i-marked change became apparent in the aubject matter alealt with by the r'rorfd literature on this specres- This undoubtedfy resutteal from a combination of two factors: (1) as alligator ,]ir*b... o"..*" low in the wild and legat restrictions were iniosed against their being taken, it became difficutt or impossrble to obtiin specrmens for use as subjects of studles rn comparative anatomy or ;hysiology, and the conmon caiman (Caiman crocodilus), whose use ,]lt restricted, "ru. of such began to replace the alligator "o as a subJect 725 as an enalangered (2) the official of the alligator listing studies; to obtain support for species rnade it easier for researchers needeal to in those areas which provided the information sludies populations. wild al]iqator manage conserve and more effectively neglected in the These subject areas. which had been comparatively in frequency of afl sholred marked increases early fiterature. (some by as much as 500-5002 coverage by the world literature and incluled 1980-84 citations), vs. the betwee; th; t9?8 compifaton and Management", as: "Habitat", such topics "conservation and "Mortality "Reproduction", "Popula-tion Estimates anal Density", in (Table t}le changes l). Thus. anal "Food Hablts" Age structure" literature of frequency of coverage of tbe alligator tie patterns of both diminisbed over time (Figure 1) are seen to be the result research and a for faboratory use of the species as a subject topics relateal to to those in attention concomitant increase (Tab1e 1) ' populations wild alwindling and manage to conserve efforts may be an extreF€ example of this process, Afthough the alligator awareness an'l shoi{ that public the daia presented here clearly species plight endangered of an the of lega1 recognition official on the subject matter covered by t}'at can have a profound effect and that moreover, this pubtisbeal world literature species' period of time (in the short a relatively e_ftect can occur over To the extent that such present case, over less than seven years). of research effort the proportion i" subject matter reflect rtritt. concern, the data of that is being expanded in these areas programs anc presenteal here suggest that world conservation of research the allocation influencing are eiiectively leqislation management an'l in desireal ways to acbieve goals of effective efiorts of endangered wild populationsconservation Ackool,rleddements of this manuscript ltas supported by the National Preparation Env-ironmental Research Park Program of the savannah River Ecology (DE-ACO9-?6SR00819) between the unaler a contract Laboratory, of Ecology Department of Energy and the Institute United St;tes provided to M'C' Downes was Support Georgia. of at the University Governn'Lent of Papua New Guinea'Research Division, by the wildlife through the kindness of slace tor c-A. Ross was made avaitable united States Museum of c;orqe zug and clyde Jones of the to c-A. Ross bv the was also support Fistory. Nati;nal lrovided the New York zoofogical Societv and Fund, u-s.A., world wildlife united states Fish and of Enalangered species, the office service. wifdlife Literature cited studies of the Jr. 19a2- Applied ecological Brisbin, 1.L,, at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: American alfigator an overview of program goals anal atesign. In: Proc' Fifth Working Meelinq of the IUVN/SSC Croc. Spec' Group, F'rnKing (ed-). Publ. Intern, Union conserv Nature and Nat' Res' clanal, switzerland. r26 Felfey, ,I.D. and M.H. Smith- 1975. A Biblioqraphy for the o1d_ Fleld Mouse, Peronvscus polionotus Wagner (Cricetidae: (DEp- NTrs SREL_5) of rhe savannah Rodentia) - Publ. River Ecofogy LaboratoryAiken, SC. ltackson, J.A. 1981. An Annotated Biblioqraphy of the Redcockaded woodpecker. publ(sRo-NERp,8) of the savannah River National Envitonmental Research park. Aiken, S.C. Murphy, P-A., C. Brown and I-L- Brisbin, Jr. 1978. Bibliography for the American alligator, Aftidator mississippiensis. Publ. of the Savannah River Ecology LaboratoryAiken,S.C. Smith, M.W., C.I. Aquadro, M.r1. Smith, R.K. Chesser and W.J, Etges. 1982. A Bibliography of Electrophoretic Stualies of poDulationsBiochemical Variation in Naturaf Vertebrate Texas Tech. Press. Lubbock, TX. I27 <€ d! IE eu ( Ed > I r! Eo >! E O. oa .oo i <! oai qo c lo a! oi E OE o< A! ai€ - E o <! qo ar o l1 r2a J t < o a € 6 E oi a o o3 orl < olE .4.H E J Eo i !! ac ol > o c o o <' o ol! t/E 'F < e 41 a3 i;; E q ! o ! E o q 99 o ! i o >{ >o!o < cc,o6 o & 0lo i oi ado6 _ < t6 E - or! a6 :t? r29 oto i! ! o E€ e ltd p.lla !"c d_to u6l u q o o uE aaq u or 9r! d o ol! ! rl 6 olq 6q ! oi 6qr aoi 3 coo 6 >J I !J >! F E t t O !F U O > EC EE o dE -cq ar o o > d' 'e N 4 >n - ! d ! q € > o r! a aa ET !! <.r 3:.ip6 3E .<c -ei r ,4 E q: i4 4 A c 6 @ aoie o tu q o 6 0! & d! oE c< ai E & a o qE € E 6.i or! -! 4 e!o i i a |i: oi*; dqi E 130 a -cqn 9.9tr1o* i--.n- atrl E o (9 P LT. ' 1; trl d8 aial=- l! o .!: t i,..- ! | 3 t I ..1 _: E4 LT @ =^ f,v z ^ .- . . : ^ - a-:i; E: .t ro 20 30 PERCENT COVERAG E 131 FI.RIDA ALI.,IGATTR:ECONOI'{ICS, INRVEST, AND CONSERVATION Hines, T., Abercrombie, C., percival, F. and Woodward, C. Wildlife Research laboratory 4005 c Main Street cainesvlfle, FT, 32601, U.S.A, Past and Present Status Throughout much of this century crocodilians have suffereat worldwide depletion because of unrestrained comnlercial harvest and habitat alestruction. During the 1950's and 1960's, Florida popufations were no exception, anal it became necessary to extenal (Alliqator fu11 legal protection to the Ame.lcan alligator nisslssippiensis). populations By the mid-1970's were well on their way to recovery-if indeed they had evex been so depleted as some baal feared (Hines 1979)-- and by 19?5 I'lorida came and Fresh Water Fish Commission offices ere receiving 4,000-5,000 nuisance alligator complaints from the public each year (Hines During the mid-1970's, alligator research and management activities centered around assesslng population status (I,{codward and Marion 1978; Wood and Humphrey 1983) and developing techniques to handle the nuisance afligator problem (Hines and woodward 1980, 1981)- Soon thereafter more intensiv€ studies of life history anal populatlon dynamics began (Dietz and Hines 1980), and by 1981 a definite commitnent to investigate sustained yield nanagement bad beeD made. Allioator Prooram Direction Three basic pernises eventually came to underlie these i restiqations. (1) alliqators To begin with. we decideal that woufal some day be harvested anal that the constraints {2) within of resource conservation, harvest revenue would be maximized. Also, we became (3) a portion absolutely convinced that of the harvest profits be returned, shouLd alirectly or indirectly, to benefit the conservation of the species. we believe this last consideration is particularly inportant because although the trade in products has lonq been an econonic, crocodilian force worldwide, little inclination or opportunity has hitherto existeal for any revenues to be returned to the natural system. Tbe idea of econotnic feedback from cornmerciaL wildlife harvest to tbe enwirorn€nt (Palnisano et a]. 1o7t),Fapuahas rcc€ntly bec<rr€ widely recognizeC in l-uisiana New Guinea (Rose 19e2), a,nd Zirbabwe (.non.1982) here onqpins crorodrtian nanagenent pr.grans presentll' er.ist. F\rrthenure, in Flonda we ha\..e profosed that the ccncelt of \ratue-added conservation be explicitltr lncor?orated in the State alhgator rBrLaqenrent plan. Research and Manaoement program of commercial exploitation A purposeful for maximum levenue carries adaled responsibilitles to build a knowledgable basis for decision naking- O nsequently. a long-term managementoriented population research effort is underway, An alliqator 132 nodef is being aleveloped to serve as a guiate for research and management. Fully aware that explicit projection models are onty as good as the data they include, we have set out to test the harvest concept experimentally. In 1981 an experimental harvest of l.2m and larger afligator was initiated in norlh-c€ntral Florida on Orange anal Lochloosa Irakes, two areas which containn substantial populatlons alligator that have been extensively monitored since 1976. The objective of these harvests is to test t}le effects of specific removaf rates and to provide improved data for a populatj.on model. In 1981 the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the Floriata Cooperative Fish and wildlife Research Unit, and the Florida Alllgator Farmers' Association project initiated a joint to aletermj.ne impact of egg and/or hatchling removat on alligator populations. This study is currentfy in progress on 4 central Florida lakes. obviousfy it was alesigned to complement investiqations lnto the harvest of larger animals. Fufl evafuation of these two experimental stualies would be premature- Nevertheless, based on these investigations, as well as several life history studies, we have gained insight into the approximate vafues (monetary and demographic) of various sized alligators. Using this information we have diagrarmed the monetary and alenographic costs and benefits of a controlled harvest. I'he objective assist wildlife of our approach is to managers in designinq harvest strategies that are economically and ecologically optinal. Eqq and Hatchfinq Halvest: Cost anal Vafue A heficopter, airboats, and an egg-transport boat are typicafly employed for egq collection. Nests are tocated by helicopter, and airboats are guided toward the nests by an airborne observer. Using a heficopter and 3 airboats, we have removeal as many as 1,800 eggs in an 8-hour period. Obviousfy the per-hour costs are quite high, and in some alligator habitats such operations are not practicable. Collection of hatchlings is most practically accomplished at night, by airboat. Since we generally attempt to take young alligators before they disperse fron the nest site, focation of nests by heficopter has again proved beneficial, Many nests are inaccessibfe, pods can not be collected and their hatcbling until they move to the open narqin of the fake. Because of this delay, oLrr lEtchting collection efforts are often protracted over 2-3 monthsCosts for egg or hatchfing removal depend upon habitat conditions popufation and afligator density. Cost per fertile egg have thus far averaged about $5. For hatchlings, expenses have ranged between 57.32 and $12-86 per animaL. These figures are based on airboat operating costs of $1o,/hr and aircraft time at $11o/hr. For these and subsequent analyses, wages were arbitrarily figured at S5lhr. In actual operations, some petsonnel have been paid lessi some have been paid much more, It should also be noted that 133 planniDg is requireal to achieve the above level of extensive Wage costs for planning have not been economj.c efficiency. incfudeal in the analyses we report. farm of raising a cohort of The cost to a Floriala alfigator size has not been accurately detenirir€d. alligators to harvestable co6ts ale dependent on the number of animals being raised,grolrth For rnortality, capital investment, and harvest strategy. rates, purposes of this discussj.on? we assume that the farm starts with raises them to an average total length of 190cm 1000 hatchlings. aluring those 4 years. Baseal in 4 years, and incurs 102 mortality farmers. the on aliscussions erith a number of Pforiala alligator per alligator to harvest size cost of raising 1000 alligators slaughter was estimateal to be S75-S125 depending orl the operation. costs were estimated to be $30 per animal. Hide and neat marketing costs ailal another 910 to cost per animal. using the above fiqures, per-animal ue arrive at the following costs: cost of raising ^^ei ^f .1.!,^h+^r cost cost of marketing of collecting afligator to 190 cm products hatchling Total $ 100 30 10 10 cost from smith's Alliqatox Farm in 8e11, Based from harvest figures 7.4 a 190cm alligator has a 50cn belly wj.dth and yields Florida, for farm-raiseal kg of meat. over the past several years/ prices proalucts have averaged 93.00,2cn for hides and S11.oo./kq alligator for meat. Based on these fiqures, the value of an average 190cm is: afligator hide neat (50cm belly (7.4k9) s 1so width) 81 Total If one subtracts estimate the net value raising costs from total value of a wild hatchfing I 231 value, then one can to be approximately s81. Hunter Harvest Lal<es has harvest on ora$ge and Lochloosa The experimental 330 alligators larger provideal an annual harvest of approximately have been operateal to assure that exact than 1.2m. Check statioDs alata quotas are aalhereal to, that all necessary biological harvest i5 recorded. are colfecteal from each animal, anal that hunter effort processing tine for both neat estimates of per-anlmal Tn addition operationaf anal hide are alocumenteal. Hourly wages anal airboat costs are fj.guled as above. The average prices are baseal on S49-21 per l-iDear meter for hitles anal $11.02 per kilogram for meat. 134 Hunter Harvest: Cost ald Value It is difficult to evaluate precisety the attscrete costs of harvesting adult alligators particular !.lthin size_classesHowever, anafysis of check-station records for our experimental harvest indicates that cost will increase with the si;e of the target alligator-and that for animals larger than 3 neters, the rate of increase will be rapid and nonfinear. ?he approxi.mate value of an average hunter-harvesteal anlmal (c. 2.3m) hli oeen about S200. When the prices for meat and skin have been high, very la.ge anirnals ( 3.5m) have generateat total revenues in excess of $1000 (I'iqure l). Value to the Population In managing the harvest of a wild crocoalilian population, it is important to consialer lrhich age,/size cfass will become the primary target of exploltation. To make this decision resDonsiblv, one must consider not only the monetary economics ot harv;st but also the potential value of harvestable animals to the residual population. Any precise evaluation obviously demands rather complete kao\rlealge of crocodifian popufatio; dynamics, anat we alo possess such detaifed not presently information for the American alligator. Nevertheless. we can derive a very approxj.mate relationship between alligator age/size and alemographic vaiue. Doing so requires us to estimate a large number of alligator population parameters. Most of the values we have used are employed without knohrfealge of their accuracy. Values for a few parameters have not been observed at all. Rather, they have been estimated - through 'rtriangulation', by computer simutations involving a nodifieal Leslie matrix. Another difficulty,perhaps even more serious, is that we do not yet understand the nature of any density-dependent mechanisms by which alligator populations might compensate_ for harvest. In other words, when Ig.lf l-Sg-E g! gCf. value-!9-!be-population ggrye (Fioure 2). yg.tf ;hould conslder its oeneraf Ehglg rather dimensions. !lE! lLg precise ID deriving our curve, we assumed that the onlv imDortant values were reproductive, and we atso assuned t}lat, d;moo;aDhicattv speaking, ma.Les were reproductively trrefevant. rhe irorizonial axis of our graph is demarked by field-identifiable fife stages; i.e., it is scaled mostl"I by size. This somewhat unusuaf scate was necessary because of our determination to present value 99 g classes which can be practiaatlv functj^on of population taroetea for exploitation. In other words, we dial not use age as a scale because one cannot reasoDably expect conunercial hunters to discriminate among animals by age class before harvesting them. (Similar considerations also apply to the determination of sex.). Basically. then, we alevelopeal our value curve to aaldress questlons of expected demoqraphic cost upon harvest of a randomly selected (L). Value v/as assumed proportionat ahimal of lenqth t; the nunber of mature-femafeyears al] alligator coulal be expected to iLa n^h!!rr+i^h ^r E (v:c) = K*P(F:c)*(Y.F,c), where is the expected value of an anirnal to the population, E(v:c) given that the animal is a member of agelsrze class ct that an animaf P(I':C) is the probabifity class ct of age,/size it is a member that is female, E(Y:F,C) is the expected number of years aD aninaf given nature inalividual, spend as a reproductively class to agelsize female and belongs animaf is the given will that C. value of a maturefor the expected we alo not have gooal estimates is not lnportant However, for present purposes. this female-year. expected value is in this that a4y variation lf we can assume if in the above class nembership (i.e., lndepenalent of aqe/size I<). into the constant. this factor equation we can incorporate but our research correct. is not strictly this Almost certainly, into our vafue curve because of that any bais introduced indicate rn any case, this assumption be minimal. this assumption will expected class its refative allows us to graph for each age/size (RELATIVE we for convenience, population VALUE) t value to the to value is equal maximum that its variabfe so this have scaled 100.0: R E I , A T I V EV A L U E f O T C 1 A S S C = 1 O O * E ( V : C ) , / E ( V ). of our value The rough estimates which entered the calculation of Percentages a number of sources. derived from curve were experimental fenales by size class were taken from Florlda rates for animals less than 2 years olal harvest alata- survival data. SurvivaL rates from orange Lake recapture were estimated estimated from sizeyears older lrere or animals 2 for immature Annual harvests. and Louisiana of Florida class distributions set at 0.9 rates for mature animals were arbitrarily survival crowth rates for animals less than 2 meters were estimateal or data. Growth rates for frn orange Lake recapture extrapolated and Joanen (1979). from chabreck lrere taken animals larger assumed to occur at 40 years of age. sen;sence was arbitrarily intensively on Again we would enphasize the dangers in focusing the details of our curve's shape. Nevertheless, the followinq curve our value-to-popufation points seem important to us. First, has the basic shape one would expect on generaf demographic peaked and exhibits principtes. Second, the curve is strongly t}lat sma]l These factors inalicate skewness, extreme negative animals-and very large animals, which are afmost excfusively Ior for harvest!argets appropriate males-- are particularty the same for almost 50 hatchlings example? one can remove population cost as taking one 2 meler animal. When this fact is information consialered along with the e conomi c s - of-harvest stand strategies altigator exploitation presented above, certain better than others. out as clearfy 136 Dis cussion At least 3 sets of information are needed to determine efficient-Lv the appropriate size-cfass target for commercial exploitation of; (Fiqures 1, 2, and 3) . A potentiat c-rocodilian population manager should understand the relationship between size ctass anal expected demographic value to the residuat popufationSimitarly, the comrnercial worth of indlvidual animals from the various size classes shoulal be approximatefy known. With this information, one can consialer tarqeting size ctasses with hiqh comnerical_to_ demographic vafue ratiosAmong Floridad alligators, for example, such ratios are particularly favorable with respect to smalt and very large anlmals. There remalns, however, one crucial inqedient missinq from this cafculation. Those of \'ou who dre familiar with Florida alligato!s would quickly poi;r out that a commercial hunter would eventually go bankrupt if he or sbe hunted exclusively animats over 4 meters. Certainty each aninal in that size class would be worth a great deal on the commercial market, and certainly they would alf be reproductively expendabte males- But there sinply are not enough aninats that biq to make their exclusive pursuit worthwhite in the tong run. In other words, a manager pfanning size-class selective harvestlno of a crocodilian population afso neeljs some idea of rhe relarive abundance of size classes (Fiqure 3) i The information we have sketcheal in Figures 1, 2, and 3 provide grounds for deciding U!f!! ErZC cfasses are most appropriarety targeted for exploitationThis information does not, however, directly address the question of whether crocodifians should be commercially hunted at af1. As you might expect, ]^re have debated this most crucial question among oursetves a number of ttrmes. And four very general points have emerged from these alebates and from our studies of corunercial altigator exploitation.First, it is probable that the dynamics of harvested altigator populations are influenced by several factors nhich we have not vet been able to evafuate. Among these factors are the fottowing: (i) we ao not know what compensatory mecbanisnrs might operate in an exploited (b) The wariness that develops in hunred crocoditians popufatronalmost certainly provides some insurance against over exploitation. (c) Some alliqator habitats in rlorida are difficult to iunt, and this problem of access also helps preserve some poputations from excessive harvest. Second/ sustained yield expfoitation is not universatty apprcpriate even where wild crocodilian populations can withstand sub;tantiat harvest. For example, it has been suqgested that conservation and wlfdlife commercialization are incompatibfe under some socio-ecotlomic systems (Uope and Abercrombie,elsewirere in this volume) - FurtheriDre, Magnusson (1984) points out that ranchinq sone less valuable crocodilian species rs slmply no! econonically viabte- As an absolute nrnrmum, wildlife manaqers should avoid proposlng strateqies whicb inply a net financial drain or exacerbate social tendencies toward natural resource destructionTherefore, the social economics of any destruction, Therefore, the social economics of any contemplated harvest scheme should be evaluated before significant co]Iunitments to sustained-yield llanacenent programs are made- r37 animals varies alenographic value of individual Thiral, potential This is fai more size class. be targetable very substantiallY than for species such as crocodilians the case for long-lived (e.9., deer), and this \"/hite-tailed species manageal traalitionally For exanple, alespite our harvest implications. fact has important demography, we can at least unalerstanding of alligator imperfect not 2m animals will be certaln that harvest schemes tarqeting yie1d. nraximize sustained can enhance of wildlife that cofiunerciali2ation we believe Finally, are met- (a) Persons involved only when two conditions conservation in must be encouraged to develop a vested interest ln exploitation with togethe! staoding populations substantial naintaining (b) A significant portion of harvest revenues habitat. appropriate (directlY and habitat to species or indirectly) nrust be returned conservatron conclusion species could commerciaf value of several cocodrilian ?he potential programs and also generate conservation finance sustained-yield hunan neeals. Eowever, surplus revenues to address lmportant programs need a sound exploitation sustained-yielal effactive reasons) anal biological research base since (for social Toalay we to overharvest. vulnerable are particutarly crocodilians In harvest studies. of our alligator initial results have outlined be done. to remains much wort obviously as elsewhere, Fforida, stimulate alDropriate we hope the Present paper wiIl Nevertheless, iliscuss ion. Referencles Anon. of crocodiles parks policyconservation 1982. National News 16.214-215science zimbabwe. The zimbabwe in chabreck, R.H. and T. Joanen. 1979. Growth rates of American 35:51-57in Louisiana. uerpetologica atligators Deitz, D-c, and T-c. Hines' 1980' Alligator copeia 19AA.249-254. Florida. nesting in north-central in !.li.es, T.C- 19?9. The past and present status of the alliqator agencies Florida. Proc. Ann. Conf- s.E. Assoc. Fish a wild]. 33|224-232 control in Hines, T.c. and A-R. woodward- 1980. Nuisance alligator wi]al1. Soc. Bull. A13).234-242Ilorida- Hines, nuisance T.C. and A.R. woodward. 1981- A leport on Plorida's Sym. program. Proc. Non-game anal Endangered Wildl. alligator Georgia Dept. of Natulaf Resourc. Tech. BuIl. WL5. 73-?6- Magnusson, w.E. 1984- Economics, developing captive propagation of crocodilians. 1 2 . 1 9 4 - 1 9 7- 138 and the countries, Soc.BuIl. wildl. palmisano, A.W., T. ,toanen, anal I-.L- McNease- 1973- An analysis harvest progranr. of Louisrana's 1972 experimental alligator Agencies 27t 144-206. Proc. Ann- Conf- S-E- Assoc- Fish & wildlRose, M. 1982. Crocoalile management and husbandry in Proc. 6 Ann. Meet. TUCN.crocodile specialists Tayfor, Papua New cuinea. Group. 13pp. D. and w Neal. 1984. Management impfications of sizeclass frequency distributions in Louisiana alligators populations. wilaf. Soc. Bull- 12:312-319. wood, J.M. and S.R- Humphrey, 1983. Analysis transect data. univ- of Florida coop. Tech- BulI. 5. Unit- cainesville, of Fforida alligator wiId1. Resource Woodward, A-R-, and W-R. Marion. 1978. An evaluation of factors Proc. Ann. conf. affecting nights-Iight counts of alligatorss.E. Assoc. rish & wtldf. Aoencies 32.291-342. 139 c) F s' (/,' ->\\- & 0) E ol 6 6 _5 (l..v f" s/'s oor@ QOOOOOOO (D Fra) \i (t NOtlvrndodoI 3ntvn c\l ; 0) {, (9 ol o s" r*.+o -{ 0 S arta:' at uJ t42 HUNTERS. HTDES, DOLI,ARS, AND DEPENDENCY:ECONOMICS OF WTLDLIFE EXPLOITA?ION IN BELIZE Christine A. Hope,Department of Sociofogy, Colfege of Charfeston, Charleston , South Carotina 29401, tSA Cfarence L.Abercrombie* Departhent of Sociology,Wofford College , Spartanburg , South Carolina 29301, US?. * Presente Address: Unit cooperative Fish & wildlife 11? Newins-ziegler Research lnstitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences UDiversity of Florida - cainesville, Florlda 32611, US!- Introaloction As heirs of nineteenth century progressivism, Western social scientists have until recentfy arqued that Third Worlat natiobs would achieve much-needed improvements in quality of tife Lhrough ,,development,' an almost organic process of internal, progressive (Almond and Powelf 1966. pye and Verba 1065; Rosrow 1960). However. it is preseotly difflculir to discern any general pattern of natural, progressive devefopnent in the tropical countries. Recent critiques of this developrnent theory atribute its failure to its insrsrence, in extrene, t})at each nation is, and has been for years, an independent actor on an otherwise empty stage (Era;k 1969, Villamil 1979, wallerstein 19'74, 1,9'79).By contrast ahe crirics, or (Wallerstein dependency theorists 1979) emphasi"e that it is not possible to understand what goes on within a Third World nation until one recognizes the present anal historical relationship of that nation to other internationaf actors. Social scientists applyinq alepenaiency theory to Thiral trortd countxias have most often emphasized the effect cotoniat of poficy, traate relations, anal programs of economic devefopment on ioricirltural unalerdevelopment (e.g. Ashcraft 19?3, Franke and Chasin 1980). ?hev argue that Third World agriculture has been shaped by the industrially developed 1\rorld to benefit the industriltly devefoped worfd: raising crops for export has been promoted over ;aising food crops for domestic consumptionr cash-crop agriculture has been expanded into ecologically marqinal areas; devefoping forergn markets for agricultural products has been stressed io tbe detriment of internal markets (Ashcraft 1973, Franke snf Clasin 1980. Morgan 1979). Consequently, the peopte of many Third Worlal countrles devote their major enerqies and resources to providing inexpensive agricultural products (e.g-, sugar. bananal, coffee, marijuana, etc.) for the developed world- Thus they end up in debt for more expensive manufactured products and, incr-asingl!, tor food to sustain thernselves - L43 can be applied to the that a similar analysis we believe of wifd plant and animal species for cohmercial export. exploitation while conservationists interesed in such matters bave become increasingly sensitive to the economics (including the preservation economics) species or extlnction international of (National Research council 1983) , they have not systematically outfined how resource exploitation in a Third world country exogenous to the national can be driven by forces largely Ratber, their analyses have concentrated on the internal borders. dynamics of the resource in question (e.q., Glastra 1983). often, an therefore, native are simply defined as the villains "poaclers" sucb studies (e.9,, BarboLrr 1976. Loftas 1977. Myers 1978) . and investigation tbere is flttle of the ways in which the poachers',/ hunters' activities are linked to the economies of the alevelopeal wor1d. This report will extend the application of dependency theory to the by considerinq tbe specific expfoitation of Third world wildlife hunting in BelizeIn so doing, we sha1l show case of crocodile how the \rnderdevelppment process has sbaped the ancient human and we shafl discuss the social, econonic, activity of hunting, expfoitation. consequences of this type of wildlife and ecological skinning we contend tbat tbe whole process of hunting crocodiles, them, selling, reselling, tanning, finishing, and retailing the which exist hides provides a microcosm of the refationships historiacally between the underdevefoped Third WorId and the rich, developed countries. Methods We gathered the information upon t hich this report is based during visits to Belize in the summers of 19'78, 1979, 1980, 1982, and 1984. As part of our project to assess the status of the wild populations in Belize. we talked with hunters and crocodilian hide dealers throughout the northern two thirds of the country. In prior Efsewhere we contacts ]ed us to infornants. places for asked people encountered on the, road or in other public (The focal terminology) anal those information about "aIligators" who hunted them. Data gathered fron interviews, alonq with information alocuments and from individuls obtained from historlcal with the international crocodile hide trade, allowed us to famifiar construct a reasonably complete picture of commercial crocdile expfoitation in Befize. The Belizean crocodi le-Hide Trade gjIlg 1980, the crocodite hide business in Belize operated as poor/ hunts at night frorn a Belizean, typically fol1ows. A rural hand-built dorey- Battery-powered handlamps are used to illuminate eye-shines. The experienced hunter ascertains the size of a crocodile than 1 meter) to bring and, if the animal is farge enough (greater a reasonable price, k111s 1t with a shotgun. crocodlfes are skinned place where they were killedThe hides at a camp close to t}e are salted and rolled for transDort homer the flesh is discarded. The hunter carries his croc hides, plus the skins of any spotted cats to a nearby village. Here he sells he may have killed, all the hides to the local hide dealer, usually a storekeeper for whom the hide business is a sidefine. In 1980, hunters received $4-$5 (a1I currency per tinear figures are in U.S. dollars) foot for crocodile hides. After gathering a supply of hides, the loca1 dealer transports them to a farger city where he se1ls them to the only man in Belize with a permit to export hides and skins. Tb,is exporLer, a man of European descent, pays the loca] deafer $4-S? per foot for the crocodile hides and then reseffs them to a Belgain holding company for about 910-915 per foot- What happens to the hides next is a still-hidden part of the process, but they have usually been eventually sofal to an Italian processing firm that turns them into bandbaqs, belts, and shoes- These products will be purchased by retail firms which, in turn, se]1 tirem to persons of the norlal's upper classes. A seven-foot crocoilile can yield products costing as nuclr as 92500 retail. Of this $2500, the hunter woulal receive about S35 and the local hide brokers about 915- Very approximately, the remaining among the partj.es involved in the lransport ,processing, S2450 is divided and sale of crocodilian products as fol1o\"/sr S30 goes to the foreign broker and transporter, 965 to the tanner, S120 to the manufacturing Iaborers and seanstresses, contractor, and $1100 to the manufacturing To put in another way, 982 of the money 51135 to the retailers. derived through the processing of thrs particular tsropical wildlife resource circulates among people in the developed world. (1976) description This pattern fits alnost perfectly with Braudel's of 16tb century merchant capitaf accumufation. As noted above, hides are bouqth cheap. They pass through a chain of midallemen (\./ho do not disclose the prices for which they will sel1 the hides) and are processed into expensive luxury gooalsl Materials which eventually can be sold for hiqh profits in Europe are purchased overseas at prices sufficient the supply. As we shall see, in the to maintain supplying to levefs country / money inflow drives resource exploitation which woufd presumably not otherwise obtain; local surpfuses of cash go to purchase imported, European goods that are sold at usualfy profit. considerable The dynamics of the exchange system are largely externaf to the supplier area which, over time, is increasingly gain. stripped of its natural resources without appreciable Belize as an Underdeveloped Societv To understand the above process requires some knowledge of Belizean geography and history. Located along the caribgean coast south of Yucatan, Belize encompasses c. 23000 square krlometers and falfs mostly lnto the tropical moist forest life zone. The country was Honduras: it received complete lndependence formerly known as British .c ^ertral ir roql rrr-].a Arnerican anal Caribbean neighbors, BeIrze is sparsely populated, anal much of the land therefore or agricultural remains avaifabfe for wlldlife exploitation Severaf factors to the in Belizean history are directly relevant present pattern country's There rtas of natural exploitation. relatively little human impact on wildlife from the tine of Mayan 145 (c. 1000 A-D.) until population colfapse (trorst the 16th century 1974). However, from the first days of contact, Eutopean inrerest in Belize r^ras aimeal very explicitly at the exploitation of natural resources, anal by the middle of the sixteenth century, regutar Iogginq operations had begun (Ashcraft 1973, Ci:oss 1979, Frosr 1 9 74 ) Like other caribbean societies, Honduras was createal British virtuafly dg !-gye, in response to the needs of the Old Worfd.The particular O1d WorId needs Belize was designeal to fulfill involveal, exclusively, the exploitation afmost of forest resources with ninimum capital investment. This was evidenced. for exampte, rlr the minimal pubfic works progran: because timber was transported afmost entirely by water, a system of roads. which could have linked potential internaf markets, was not constructed. Furthermore, the general colonial strategy affected the human population very directty. Since early Belize contained too few Amerindians to work harvest, the tinber populated her new ,,co1ony,' with Britain imported West Indian slaves (Ashcraft 1973, Dobson 1973). After (1834) these persons usualfy emancipation remained as forestry wage Iaborers (Ashcraft 1973)), and, into the present century, rnany Belizeans would be more properfy classified as low-paid $rork crews than as colonists. With exclusive emphasis placed on forest products / colonial policy probibited actually the developnent of (Ashcraft 19?3). For a1l agriculture for at least two centuries these reasons, British Eunalurans long ago becanre accustomed to working for money-- and to eating imported food, wearing imported clothing. using inported tools patterns These long-term socio-economic have persisted to influence the structure Belizean huntingof present-day Like subsistence agriculture, subsistence hunting simply could not mature, anal the hunting of Belize invofves exploitinq wildfife for its "traalition" monetary value. presumably loqging crews did occasionally suppfement their imported food with forest animafs, but in general Belizeans preferred apparently to shoot something they could seIl. Perhaps it is significant thaL the full alevelopnent of conmercial croc products hunting occurred at a time (c. 1930) when major forest (IoArrood, mahogany, and chicle) (colonlal were losing value Reports); it was simply a case of partial resource-switchingIn other words comrnerclal hunting in British Honduras did not grow out of a longstanding subsistence hunting tradition as did commercial fur-trapping in Canada (Lealcock 1954, Martin 1978, Tanner 1979) and commercial (Ricciuti elephant-hunting in Africa 1980) ; instead, it simply extended the establislred Belizean Dractice of usino the foresc !o The Hunters There are certain similarities between some commercial hunters in Befi2e and the traditional hunters in preliterate societies- These similarities involve mostly wilderness skifls and self- identificatio]]- 146 primarily spend most hunters, of the older generation, some belizean specifically identify season hunting and fishing--anal of tbe dry Their detailed knowledge of both focal and themselves as "lunters." to find and evaluate potential ability remote hunting areas and their game on the basis of ninor clues are similar to skills of traditional (Jones and Konner 1976, Laughlj,n 1968, Marks 19?6). hunter-gatherers descriptions, Like traditional hunters depicteal in anthropological (up to 100 tong distances these "master" BeLizean hunters often travel (often perlods a week kn) and expect to be continuously afield for long Finally, 1il<e hunters in both preliterate or longer). {Marks 1975) (Kennedy 1974, Schole q! g-1. industrialized societies and hiqhly pleasures of 1973) , these Belizean hunters talk about the intrinsic away from hunt--simply being away from home, out in the wilalerness, life. tbe probfens of daily hunters in Befize However, there are also a great many part-time crocodile and who ale much fess knowledgeab.Ie who take an occasional about wilal areas and much fess committed to the hunting way of fife These men continue to work at another than are the master hunters, job (usua1ly wage labor on plantations projects) or on road-building even during the dry season and go hunting after ltork, on hol-idays, junt or wtren their work takes them into wild areas. They typically by road, and they hunt aninals only in areas easily accessible of afl types. master hunters in Befize are alifferent from traditional Even the hunters in rnost respects. some of our informants subsistence buth c€rmErcial or with lheir father, nrentioned huntinq with a brother huntinq 1s for the most part a sofitary enaleavor. There crocodile hunters, organizations of crocodile and informaf are no fornal rare. In our experience,the contacts between them seen to be rather home are not known for that in their nen who hunt crocodiles own relativesand neighbroloods-sometimes not even by their village crocodile hunters did reveal a few sqErstiticns Although individual there was little of shared about crocodiles and hunting, evidence beliefs, synbols, or ceremonies among the commercial hunters with whom we spoke hunting. especially for Iarqe By contrast. traditionaf subsistence is often done by ]arge groups of men and boys, sonretimes animals, (Marks 1976) - Typica]ly the reputation organized into hunting guilds of each hunter is widely shared comnunity knowlealge- hunting in such js often surrounded by a variety ceremonies of synbol-rich societies preparation and sharing the for huntinq, hunting itself, and beliefsr provide major organizing from the fruits of the hunt frequently entire conrnunity (Marks 1976, sackett 197o, Tanner I9?9) examples In some senses, the Belizean clocoallle hunters are classic of alienated labor. Some of this rs evident in the vexy language they use. Hunting is referred to as "the job" (as in "I have been years now"), and potential hunling locations doing the job for forty are evaluat€d on the basis of how much cash they can expected to yiefd ("I could have a thousand-dolfar niqht there")Their work is unlike larqely a means to an end rather than an end in itself. (Jones and Konner societies hunters in at least some hunting-gatherinq 1976) , Belizean hunters generally observe animals only in order to learn how to hunt them more efficientlyFor exanple, most are unable to identify them and locate crocodile nests or even to alistinguish r41 frorn tbe nests of iguanas. Typically, hunters have direct use onlv for the money they make from hunting and not for the anirial products per se- Tlis is true even for those few hunters who preferential.ly pursue aleer, peccary? or pacar they sefatom consume the neat but rather se]l it in the farger towns - Crocodite hunters have only vague ideas about wlere the hiales are sent after the local dealer buys them, and littte knowlealge about the finaf use of the bides ("What is an alligator skin reafty good for anyway?,') Without knowledge of wortd prices (the Belizean and trends niddlemen also lack such knowtedge), the hunters are not in a position to decide when to hunt intensivefy and when to cut atown o huntinq to maxinize financial qains- Similary, hunters have littfe power to bargain for a better price. In essence. althoucrh they have considerable freedon in day,to-day working conatition;, they absolutfy lack control over the products of their tabor. lntraditional hunting-gathering societies. the fruits of a successful hunt are often shared with af] menbers of the coNnunity (l,eacock 1954, Marks 1976, Sackett 1979).In contrast, Iittle of the money received by Belizean croc hunters finds its nray into the "less aleveloped" sectors of the Iocal economy- Interview; indicate that for most Belizeans, hunting is just about a break_even proposition. Many of their earnings, therefore, go to purchase inported goods (batterles, shotgun shells) neccesary to support the next hunt- The remaining money is spent partialty within the tocal community and partially for inporteal food and consumer qoods. Consequences to the Resource The method of resource exploitation introduced by colonialisn anat carried out by the conunercial hunters today probably has ecologicat consequences as wellMost subsistence hunters understand that they just so many anintals as food, and indiqenous can utilize subsistence-hunting traditions may lnclude customs and taboos helpfuf in preventing overexploitation (Mari(s 19?6, of wildlife Rappaport 1968). There is some evidence to suggest that subsistence hunters nay (for reasons somewlat more conptex than a simpte caloric budget) adjust their hunting effort so that returns per unlt effort remain constantNietschmann (19'72), for example, found that when hunting pay,offs dropped betow c . 0 . 7kglhunrinq_i1our , Mlskito Indians began to alecrease their truntlnq effort. Smith,s ,'agrovitasi atong the trans_ (1976) study of three similar-sized Amazon highway is more directly suggestive. Where prey density had been reduceal, hunting effort also contracted. Therefore, atthough total hunting take varied greatty across the villaqes, take per unat effort remained remarkably conslantCtearty these mechanisms could be important in preserving poputations of exploited species. Tlre stability projected above for a simplifled s ubs i s tence-hunt rng model does not necessarify persist in a comerciat_hunting system such as tle one in Belize. To begin with, there are no obvious ul)per limits to the amount of cash a hunter might desir:e to accumufate or spenal- Also, the closed-system modets which appty to many subsistence huntinq situations are fundamentatly attered when their feedback loops are intercepted by exoqenous information from a ,Larger system- For example, the v/orld economic system may set 14S new values for prey units. thereby changing the amount of huntinq effort a given prey density wilI motivate. For k-selected anlmat; like crocodilians, such destabilizations are ]iketv to be catastrophic. conclusion Thus far, a number of forces have combined to preserve the Befizean crocodile popufation from imtnediate atanqer of extinctionThe relatively late start of extensive co).nrnerciat hunting. afong witb the fact that many areas of the country are stitl itaccessibte by road (an ironlc effect of Betize,s particular type of underdevelopnent) have combined to assure Belize a continuinq source of crocodiles in the short term. Intensive crocoalile hintino has not involved many people since c. 1982- However, this situatro; could change rather rapidly if Betize experiences an economic recession with resulting unemp_toymenr, if the price of crocoatile hides qoes up for even a brief perioat, if good roads are built into presently inaccessible hunting areas, or if there are severaf lono, consecuLive dry seasons, A fe\r countries in the worfat have begun to experiment with exploiting crocodilians as a long-term source of national income by instituting managedi sustained yield harvest operations (Hlnes qg q!1984) or by establishinq farms to rear tbe animals (Ashfey in press, cardeilac e! eI- 1981. cee in press, Fose jn press). There is littfe in Belize's past or present to suggest that such projects wilt take root there. The najor buyers of hides have many other sources anal, of course, have a stake in keeping the nore tucrative parts of the process located in Europe. Local hide dealers are witfing to make money off crocodiles v,,hife it is convenient, but thev ca. easify shift to other money-lnaking schemes lvhen the crocodifes are gone. They (and the hunters) lack the caDital and exDertise needed to manage sustained yield exploitatio;. llhite the master hunters note the diminishinq supply of crocodiles !,/ith sone regert, the entire historical pattern of resource exploitation in Befize has rdughl Lhen to make money on wha+ever they .an wherever they can (if lbSI don't get the remaining crocodiles, others uilt). As in so many other ex-coloniat situations, Betize wiII be teft witho\rt a resource and with no perceptible gain. T.i r ar: +,r ra Alnond, .r +aA c. and c,B. PowelI. 1966- Conparative approach. Little, Brown, Boston. potitics: a de\,ElolnEntal A s h c r a f t , N - 1 9 7 3 . C o l o n i a l i s m a n d u n d er d e v e I o p m e n t: p r o c e s s e s o f pofitical change in llritish Honduras- Teacbers College Press, Ne\,r York. 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Latin America: underdevelopment Monthly Revier./ Press, New York- frank, Amahuaca I-ondon. or revolution. Franke, R.W. and B.H, chasin. 1980. Seeds of famine; ecofogical destruction and the developnent dilemnra in the west African osmun, Totowa. Sahe1, AIlanheld, Frost, cee, M- 19?4. A biogeoqraphical analysis of some relationships (British Honduras). in Belize. between man, land, and wildlife oregon State Univunpublished Ph.D. drssertaLion, R. In press. Some comparisons between crocodi le- farminq and crocodile-rearing in Zimbabwe. Proceedings of the S:ixth Specialist Group. working Meeting of the IUcN crocodile zinbabwe, 1982. clastra, crocodilus depfeted of g3l[g4 R. 1983. Notes on a populatlon S u r i n a r T r . B i o l o q ical conservatlon 26(2): by hide hunting in 149-162. Jones, N.B. and J. Konner- 1976. iKung knowledqe of animal behavi,)r" hunterpp 325-348j! R. 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The sefling JAN-lEB:26-30- Nationaf of rip-off- International people: subsistence Seattle. hunters game: Indj.an-aninal relationships of California Press, Berkeley. grain. of the Penguin, zebra. Harnondsuorth. International Wildlife Research Council. 1983. Crocodiles as a resource for the tropics. Feport of Ad lioc Panel of the Aalvisory Committee on Technology Innovation, Board of Science and Technology for Internatlonal Developement, Office of International Affairs. National Acadeny Press, Washington, D.C. Nietschnrann, B. 19?2. Hunting and fishing focus among the Miskito Indran, Eastern Nicaraqua. HumanEcoLogy l(t):41-68. and S. Verba (eds.), 1965. Political development. Prin^eton Univ. Press, Pye,L. culture and political Princet on. Rappaport, R. A- 1958. Pigs for the ancestors: ritual in the ecology o f a N e w C u i n e d p e o p l e - Y a . L eU n i v . P r e s s , N e w H a v e n . Ricciuti, E-R. 1980. The poachers- Animal Kingdom IEB-I4AR: 25-31. Rose, M. In press. Crocodile management and husbandry in papua New Guinea, 1982- Proceedinqs of the Sixtb Working Meeting of the IUCN Crocodile Specialist croup, Zinbabwe, 1982Rostow, W.W- 1960. The stages of economic growth: manifesto. Canbr.idqe Univ. Press, London. a non-communist Sackett, L- 1979- The prrisuit of prominence: hunting in an Australian aboriqinal community- Anthropologica 2I. 12) 1223-246. SchoIe, 8.J., D,A. clover, D.D. Sjorgren, and E. Decker- 1973Colorado hunter behavior. attitudes, anal philosophiesTransactions North American Witdfife Natural Resources c o n f e r e n c e 34 | 2 5 2 - 2 6 4 . Smith, of game along Brazil's N- 1976. Utilization highway. Acta Amazonica 6(4J t455-466- Transmazon ideology and Tanner, A. 1979. Bringing home aninals: religious m^da ^F hr^a,,-r-i-h ^f the Mistassini Cree hunters- St. Martin's Press, New York. capitalism and national J. (ed.) l9T9.Transnational Viflamil, on dependence. Eumanities development: new perspectives Higtrlands. Press, Atlantic agriculture r. 19?4. The modern world-system: capitalist wallerstein. and the orrqins of the European world-economy in the slxteenth century. Academis Press, New Yorkwallerstein, I. 1979. The capitalist Press, Cambridge. world economY. Cambridge Univ. ALLIGATOR NESI FLOODTNG TN THE SOUTHERN EVERGLADES: A METI]ODOLOGY FOR MANAGEMENT Terri ifacobsen and James A- Kushlan TnstiLute of Ecology, Unlve16iLy of Georgia, Athens, ca- 30602, and Department of Biology. East Texas State University, Ccftrerc€, 'I\. 75428 Introaluction The nanagement of natural resources in relatively affluent countries such as the United Stetes is generally uncomplicated .by a need fo! tlre resource to generate revenue. In areas such as Everglades National Park, located in southern Florida, policy a preservationist is manalated by law, such that the Evergfades is viewed as a resource to be nanaged solely for its perpetuation. The Anerican (Allioator alfigator mississippiensis) bas an important ecological (Kush]an 19?4) and is fundamental to the role in the Everglades processes qoverning the marsb continuation of the naturaf ecosystem- In that the alligator is not t.o be viewed as a han€stabfe ecological rather than economic criteria for are crucial its survivafManagement objectives for the Everglades alligator include the preservation of it's role in the ecosystem, in this way maintaining the Everglades ecosystem for future generations. During our eiqht-year study of Everglades alliqators, fluctuations in environmental conditions have provialed us uith opportunities for natural experimentation - Research has focused on describing the responses of the alligator to the primary human inffuence on the system, that of an altered delivery of surface \"rater into the park. With the construction of extensive deep-water canals throughout the Everglades watershed, !.rhlch drained surface water Evergfades and halted overland surface flow, the water now enterilrg quality, Nationaf Park is not only of artificial having by-passed processes available the natural filtering in the marsh system,but the flow is entirely controfled by four flood control gates along the park's northern border (Fig. 1). Of concern to this research are the effects of the tining and extent of water flow on the Everglaales wetland ecosystem, and in particufar on the alligator. In this short report we discuss one aspect of our study, the flooding of alliqator nests, which reacbeal nearfy 100% in two years of the study. Of interest was whether nest flooding was a natural and in what frequency and extent itwas occurrence. likely to the alternation to have occurred prior of water flow patterns. geared toward We undertook a predictive modelinq effort Here we sununarize the results addressing these questions. of our anafyses, empbasizing the implications for the management of the Evergfades ecosystem. This report abstracts the results of a complete report as yet unreleased by the South Florida Research Center (Superintendent, Everglades Nationaf Park, Homesteaal/ Fl. 33030, U.S-A.), in which is contained the aletaifed statistical drawn here. analyses that support the concfusions Methods Everglades National Park is located in extreme soutlwestern Florida, USA, and contains about 1.5 milfion hectares of Everglaales habitat, incfuding freshwater pinelabds. marshes, mangrove estuaries, hamnocks, and open bays. Infornation on alligator nesting success was collected in a 10-km2 area in the Shark River Stough, tbe major akainage area for surface water flow into the park (Fig- 2) . Other l0-kn2 areas of marsh dlstributed along the length of Shark Slough were studi.ed with fess intensity, as was the lower end of Conservation Area 3A (Fig.2). Aftbough most information was collected in the primary study area, this area reflects average retationships among water conditions and alligator nest ffooaling tlroughout Shark Slough, a contention demostrated by the fact that the extent of nest flooding aluring our study period in the primary study area approJdnatd the average nests ffooding in otber study areas in the northern and southern parts of Shark Slough. We aletermined the number of nests each year from l9?5 to 1982 using fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters. and ground searches. In the primary study area, all areas not visible from the air were searched thoroughly on foot to provide complete counts of all nests. These ground searches alloweal us to cafculate that 13.9 percent of the nests present were not spotted during aerial surveys. We measured all but five nests built from 1975 to 1982 in the primary study area (n=71) - Al one nest an aggressive female preventeal us from approaching on the ground, and four other nests were not located prior to hatchingEggs in each measured nest were counted and examined for viability. The time of egg deposition was estimated from eggs collected from each nest using embryological timing criteria (in prep.). developed by Grabowski et a]. At each nest visac we noteal the habitat of the nest and took several measurements (Fiq.3), inclualing the height of the nest above the plevailing water fevel at the nest site, the distance from ttre top of the nest to the top of the egg cavity, and the depth (extent) of the clutcb or egg cavity. From these measurements we calculated tbe height of the center of the clutch above the lrater levef at the time of measurmement- We then expressed the clutch heights as leve1 elevations (m I'ISL)to correspond in meters with the units of stage nEasurErFnt. Water stage data (m MSL) uere recoraled daily within the primary stualy area. and we calcufated mean stage vafues from these daity readingsWater conditions varied over tbe study period anal arnong the study areas. Such water fevel variability is an inherent characteristic of the Evengfades system, and each year provj.ded us with a temporal experiment on the effects of water fevels on alfigator nesting. Air temperatures were recorded the climatological station located along the northern border of the park. We use the midpoint between the recorded ninimum and maximum daily temperature to approximate the daily mean temperature. Results NESTING PRODUCTMTY. Afligators reproduce durtng a nesting season wtrich is relatively consistent and predictable from year to year. Nesting of the afligator in the Everglades takes pface aluring the boreal surnner. From 1975 to 1982, the average alate of egg_lating (n=71 nests) was 26 June (s=11 days). with the earliest ;esting recorded on 9 ilune and the latest on 2? July. The average date of egg laylng occurred one month after the average beginning of the raany season as water levels were rising. The nesting season, therefore, seems to reflect a balance in selective pressures. Nesting occurs late enough in the year to coinciile with the hiqh ambient temperatures needed for incubation but early enough for hatching to occur before seasonal water levets usually peak,thereby reducing the chances of nest flooaling. Egg aleposition generally occurreal from late June to early July.T})e mean faying date aliffered significantly anrong the years fron 1975 to 1982, and was strongly correlated with spring air temperatures. The nean annual egg-laying date can be predicated by the nean tenperature in April and the^mean temperature in May-June using y = 2 4 1 . 6 2 - 5 - 4 5 X 1 _ 2 . 1 8 x 2 , { h e r e ^i the following relattonship: is the estimateil laying date expressed as the number of days after May, X1 is the mean daity air temperature in April (.C) , and X2 is the mean daify air temperature in May-June (6c). Il1 general, i1: appears that alligators nest earlier following a warmar spring season and delay nestinq jn cooler years. Ior alligators in the soutbern Everglades, the average cfutch size during our stualy v/as 30 egqs (mean=29.'t, s=7-52, n=19e nesrs). and the annuaf nesting effort from 1975 to 1982 ranged from 16 to 58 percent of the known-breeding females, with an average of 29 trrrcant of the females nesting per year- The clutch size and nesting effort are substantially fower than in Louisiana or North llorida (Joanen 1969, Dietz and Eines 1980, Joanen and McNease 19?3). In fact, the annual nesting effort in the Everglades is less thao haff of what it is in Louisianar{e are studying the possible causes and effects of the lower proaluctivity xate in our ongoing anatlses of the population ecology of Evelgfades alligators. A fower clutch size means tbat EvergLades alligators bave a lo\rer annual reproductive potential than do other poputations studied. Given a 25 percent lower clutch size and a 50 percent tower nesting rate, an Everglades alligator appears to produce on average one third as many eggs per year (5.0 viable eggs per nature female per year) as do Louisiana (15-9 viable alligators eggs per mature female per year, Joanen 1969) - As a result fewer hatcbtinos are Droatuced per nest in the Everglaalesmay mean that the Everg]_ades population alligator has less"hrs abifity to buffer the adverse effects of mortallty agents effecting nesting success anal productivity. A single egg nay? therefore, be of a gieater vafue t; the stabiiity of the Everglades popufation than it r\,ould be to other ipopulations so far studied. Thus, any factor affecting nesting succ;s; woulal nave a relatively greater impact on poputation tevels of Evergfaales alligators than they woutd on such oah;r poputations. 155 The single most crucial factor in nest success in the Everglaales is nest flooding. The loss of eggs by flooding resufted in an average annual foss from 1975 to 1982 of 2?.9 percent (s=3?.1 percent) and a meallan loss of 5.4 percent. In years when little or no nest flooding occurreal, water levels did not reach relativefy high levels during the suiuner nesting season. In 1975 and 1977, floodlnq occurred onfy in two particularfy tow-lying nests- In two years when flooding 1,'as significant, 1979 and 1982, ffooding was attributed to an unnatural increase in water alischarge levels PREDICTING AND MANAGINGNEST FLOODING. The ability ro anticipare the occurrence and predict the extent of alfigator nest ftoodlng would permit appropriate water management decisions by managers of Everglades Natlonal Park. To this end, we have develooed a method by which we can predicthe extent of nest floodlng in a qrven year. For anafyticaf purposes, we define clutch height as the height of the center of tbe egg cavity. A nest in considered to be flooded if the ambient water fevel reaches this pointWe can predict with ease whether any particufar nest wilI be flooaleat in any year during our study b1' comparing its clutch heiqht to dny water 1evef. I'or our model to be predictive outside of the time of our st.tidy, however, we .r',rouldneed to know the clutch heights of all nests constructed each year, and this cao be done by neans of a predictive relationship. During the study period, we found tiat clutch heiqhts differed signiflcaEtly among years (r'=7-11, p O-001, df=?;63) , and that we could predict tle mean annual clutch heiqht by uslng the water levef during the last two weeks of June, the period when nests construction (Y = 0.663 X + 0.899, r= O.q51, is occurrinq p 0.001, n=8 years). Wha- this retationship implies is that hiqher water levels during the earfy sumner correlate with nigber ctutch heights. The mechanism for this appears to be a multivariate response in nest constructionWe can account for 92 percent of the varlability in cfutch heights during our stuaty and can atrroure 46 percent to flexibility in the height of the site chosen for nest constructlon, 43 percent to the height of the eggs within the nest mounal, and 2 percent to the beight of the rnound itself. Thus, under conalitions of hjgher water levels during the nest construction process, alligators appear to be choosinq higher srces, placing egqs higher in the nest mound, and to some extent builalinq higher nounds. With this information we have constructed a nrodel which inctudes both the linear response to higher 1{ater levels and thxesholds beyond !,/hi ch alligators are unable to compensate atue to the limitations (Fiq. 4) - civen imposed by the low-lyinq marsh habirat this model, we can estimate the clutch height of all nests 1n any year by inputting water conditions characteristic of earlv sumer. Eloodrng exLent car Lhen Le deternrned by exanrr rng Lhe r;xinun water fevel achieved durinq the incubation period. 156 There are at least four uses of such a model tbat predicts nest flooding. First, the model can be used after a current nesting season to estimate the amount of nest floodinq occurrino as a result of tbe highest water levefs reached th;t year. S;cond, upon anticipatinq a rise in sufiher water levefs in the park as a result of a management action or a change in upstream water conditions, a manager could predict the impact on alligator nesting success. Third. if critical water fevels r"rere derived frorn computer simulation using hyalrologic nodels, the effects of simulateal hydrologic scebarios on afligator reproductive success could be assesseal- And fourth, the model permits estimation of historical nest losses. including those that occurred before int.ensive water management began 1'[e noted earlier that our modef uses alata from the primary study area as being indicative of conditions throughout Shark Sfough. To support this, we compared the observed nest ffooding data in the primary stualy area with the estimated nest flooding in study areas I and V, located in the northern and southern enals of Shark (Ilg, Slough, respectively 2) . In one year ffooding occurrect in all areas, with a 44 percent nest floodinq in the primary stsudy area/ 79 percent loss of nests 1n area I, and 25 percent loss of nests in area V. Thus / in years when flooalinq occlrrs, results fron the primary study area appear to be about average for both upgradient and downgradient areas, and can accurately represent nest flooding throughout Shark SloughHISTORIC NES? IOSSES- By extending the use of the flooding model period, to historic we can compare and evaluate the recent effects of water management practices. We calculateal the estinated nest Ioss to flooaling that occurred historicafly beqinning in 1953,when (Frg. 5) . lie found that the hydrologic data first became available extent of nest flooding has increased considerably, from an estimaLed annual foss of 4 percent under naturaf,historic c€naliticEs, to a recent annual loss of 20 percent, rising by a muttipte of five l i m e s s i n c e a c t l v e w a t e r m a n a q e m e n tb e g a n i n 1 9 7 1 . B y o u r b e s t estimates deriveal from our model it seems that nest losses to flooding did not at any time approach 100 percent aluring the bistoric period of data available to us. The estimated maximum flooding reached just 33 percent in 1966. The nearly complete ffooding of all nests that rire observed in 1981 and 19a2 was apparently unprecealenteal during bistoric time. What then is the fundamental cause of the water level conditions that flood alligator nests and how have these conditions changeal since scheduled lrater deliveries began in 19?1? We approached this question by evaluating the predictability of the Evergtaites (1953 to hydrologic system- We found that durinq tle historic period 1962) , the maximum summer water fevel, which was the water level that would potentially fIooal alligator nests, was highly correlat.ed - water ]evel in the last two weeks of June. and with two variables alischarqe in June and Juty. Historically. much of the variability ln maximum suinmer water levels coufd be attributed to antecealent hydrologic conditions that prevailed in each year, and primarily to water fevels in late June, which alone accounted for over 86 percent (r=0.928, p 0.001, n=10) (Fiq. 5). Thus, the of the variability maximum water levef that occurred durinq the risk period for L57 nest was predictabfe from water affigator nest construction, the same conditions of significantly with annual clutch heights. conditions during that correlate the time The relationship between water levels aluring the early summer and the maxirnum water levels reached during the risk perioal breaks (Fiq. 6). down after 19?1 during the recent water management period From 1971 to 1981, the maximum water 1eve1s during the incubation period were no fonger refiably predictablewater fmportantly, level during tbe last two weeks of June from 1971 to 1981 had no to maxlmum summer water leve1s. From thls analysis severaf relation points can be made. First, there was at one time a relationship between water fevels during the critical time for initiation of (early suiLmer water levels) and those water 1evels alligator nesting nests ( sunftrer maximum water that threaten flooding of alligator levels). Floodinq conditions under contemporary water managernent practices by water conditions in early can no longer be anticipateal sumner- The unnatural occurrence of high late summer discharge into in .recent Everglaales National Park has leal to increased nest flooding years, in part through disruption predictabilitsy of of the natural the Everglaales hydrologic system, Dlscussion Public oplnion of the alligator is important to its preservation, a biologistsone vielr that is weff-recognized by crocoalilian population view of the alligator is that its status no fonger needs in to be a matter of concern. ,f,acobsen and Kushfan (in prep.), their review of the alflgator's status relative to the managenent of problem alligators in the park, summarized how legal protection for alligators has loosened considerably in recent years. The status arises because in current popufar view of the alligator's recent years most populations have benefitted from legal protection from the Endangered species Act, and have largely recovereal from the effects of huntinq and their subsequent decline in numbers. Recovery in parts of rlorida has been cited in a request by the State Game and Fresh Water Fish Corunission to reduce the alliqator's status to "threateneal by sintilarity of appearance". under the responsibifily thus bringing alllgator management completely harvest program in north of the state. currentfy, an experimentaf Ilorida the state's intention to nanage the alligator as reflects harvestable a commerciafll resource popufations There is a temptation to assume that because alligator appear to be resilient in some areas. threats to their continued survival no longer exist. A reclas s i fi cation of alfigators throughout populations Fforida includes in southern Florida and in Everglades National continue to exist. The long-term Park, where threats proaluction in the wetlanals of southern ef,fects of limited alligator Fforida are made evident by contrasting the relative size of the afligator nesting population in areas of the Everglades that have haal a history of unnaturally high water condit.ions, such as the southern end of Conservation Area la (Fiq. 2), with that in southen Shark Slouqh, using aerial nest censuses as an index for comparison- 158 In most years, nesting in the deep water marsh of Conservation Area 3a was very limited. On the average the nesting poputation there was less than 10 percent of that in the shatlower and more typically fluctuating marshes in the park- The fack of production in a targe geographical area such as Conservation Area 3a realuces considerably the potential size of the total Everglades altigator pop\rfation. Should high water regimes become prevalent in the park. lre could expect that similar dislocations and reduction of the alligator popufation would follow. The encroachment and subsequent ]oss of f-ormer willow ponds ln nearby Conservation Areas reflect in part the foss of adult alligators there- This inadvertent experiment in water management should provide insight into the future of the populatioh alligator in Everglades NatioDal park if product_ivity is not maintained at historic levels through proper water rnanagementIn the Everglades, alligators are often seen in artificial ponds and borrotr pits in visitor use areas, where concentiations dre usually apparent ollly during dry months. Seasonal nunbers reveal fittle about the biological heatth of the Everglaales altigator popupulation. Even though felr animals are being added to the population, the visibility of o1d adult altigators may distract from what othed"rise woutd be a major concern. Current adverse impacts on the long-tern population status of such a long-1ived species may take decades to show their effect. Thus , one slroulal not casually extend reports populatidr of alligator recovery in some parts of Florida to incluale the status of the alfigator in the southern Evergfades, and in Evergtades National Park in particularour studies inalicate that allioators in the Everglades marsh may face pressures unusual rn oth;r poputations. Maintaining an annual pulse of young alligators into the system by avoidance of unnatural nesting failure woufat seem to be criticaf previous studies nodefing to maintaining the aalult population. hunted crocodifian populations have demostrated that continual production of young is critical to poputation stability. In fact. those models sbow tbat factors that aredetrinental to the D.oduction of young have a greater effect on lonq-term populatron ]e;ets than do factors such as huntinq and alrought that affect aI1 age classes (B]omberq et a]. 1980, Niahols et ai. 1979). The lono-te;m effect of nest floodrng and Lhe loss of youno in the Everglade alligator population must be determined in a similar way. It would seem that these modef findings may be partic\rlarly refevant in the Everglades, where fluctuating water fevels potentially tbreaten tbe successful production of young alligators by flooding nests- Consequentfy, managing to prevent unnatural nest failure is crucial to the londterm survival of the alligator popufation in the Everglades ecosystem, and should such management not be undertaken one can expect continued deterioration of ecosystem processes in the Everglades. Literature Cited Bfomberg, G-E-D., C- St. pierre, K.D. Smith, S.M. Cade11, and S.R. Pett. 1982. Sinufated poputation dynamics of crocodites in proc. of 5th the okavango River, Botslrana. IN crocodites working Meeting of crocoalile specialist Group, cainesville, Ffa159 Deitz, D.C. and T.C. Hines- 1980. Alliqator Florida. copeia 198012) t 249-258 - nesting in north_central proc.Toanen, T. 1969. Nesting ecology of alligators in Louisiana. Ann. Conf. Southeast Assoc. came and Fish Conun. 23: 141-151. ;Ioanen, T-, and L. McNease. 1973. Developments in alligator research in Louisiana since 1968. Presented at symposium of the American alligator council Winter Park, f']a. 20 p. (nimeo). Rushlan, J.A. 1974. Observations (Alfiqator nississippiensis) copeia 1974:993-996. Nlchofs, on the role of the in the southern Anrerican alfigator Ftorida wetlands. J.D.. 1-- Viehman, R.ll- Chabreck, and B. Fenderson. 19?6. Simufation of a corunerciafly harvested alligator population ln Louisiana. Louisiana State University Center for Agricultural Sciences anal Rural Development. 59 p. (mimeo). 160 N80 -r99 P.i9 i5A qE8 6 F=< a -T o); i Y.Z uJ ; . o€' ,E o3 EJ g-8 .q E . OE E H F 99 ! qdd $-\e.-- r ]-BE ' F P ""b0 .X d B-1 i. ,n i/i a iz^ r> E. 161 CONSERVATION.,AREAS VoUc, Conol I \l 1______i NORTHEAST SHARK SLOUGH \' \ L_-1 Por* Eo.tndort- - - LcvCC Figue 2: I,lap of sorth laorida sholring the focation of five alligator study ar€as (nunbeed :rectar€fes) in Shek Slough, Evaglades Nationaf Park, ard neanby focations. Consewation areas 34 and 38 to the ncr?th at e separated frcrn Slla].k Slough in the Ever:glades National Park by levees. 162 r+t ol ol I uJ o= * E.A 3 IJ c't I z6 (-zi o4 v= o.O EE id -l 0) 888 -loo ta. P o,Si z ,o)! !! r! bp ,.1 + p 163 Mox Clutch Height Min WoterLevel Figur- ,: Scnen t'c d;dgrdn o' n-sr flood ing. il_usb^aEing l.Lnedr coope'rsdr.lon ir cluL-t he_Ahr for u'aien tev.t a,r,_i, the.fast tlo neeks of Lhme, bounded by t}lneslrolds which dehnit the cornpensatory abifity. At the 1ce€r tlEeshotd, nesEs ar€ constr'ucted at the levet of the narsh. and at the upper .Lln_esholaar the njgnesr e'-varion pl.ovja^o bv rhe aval-LaDle llEDltat- 161 z z |.)q't@Foo)O-N.., o(,o!.r()(|()(I|@.o(o c6(o|-ooo-Norr()(tF60 oio@@@(oFt.FFFnF|\.r-F od YEAR Figure 5: Percent of alligator nests ffooded in the Everglades ilor 1953 to 1982. Values prior to the study pericd, \rldch began in 1975, \,ere estinated \rsir€ the nest floodirg mdel. ft'or 1975 to lq8l. n.,s L flocdi-g extenl was n.a-Lrl':d in rhe pri,ndr) cudy arFa. the nearly coryfete ff€odirg observed in 1981 and 1982 was apparentfy mprecedented under hisroric conditjo's. 165 t953-t962 65 40 -za o- F t97t-t982 B 565 = >40 25 to 1.25 t.40 t.55 t.70 t'85 2.o0 ?]5 MEAN STAGE , J U N El 5 - S O r m M S L figu'e o: P.eldlion oI the ndxi,TLsnuHt-r aepLh (cr) in Lhpr.indry study area, Everglades National PEr'k, during the incubation p€riod arid tlte nea,n watex 1e\,e1 (m MSL) estiGted fl.dn Jlme 15 to 30. These fiElllres illustrate the breaLdor.'n 'i.1 predi-LdD:1iL' oI rF Ever€ldo- nydlo logi^ qys-.n in r.ecent vears. a (top) - HisToric period. .Iq5l - 1962. r=0.928, p 0.05, n:10. b (botton) - tucent per.iod, 1971-1982,r,-0.465, D 0.05. n=12. 166 CLESSIEI(ACICN AID POPI'IATICN SIA1IE OT IIIE A|{MICaT A$TIGAIIR Ted ifoarEi ard Iarry l.4d{ease IouisiarE DetrErhent of Wildlife erd Eisheries crand ctEder. I-ouisiana 70643, USA Intloducticar since passage of the Endangered species Act of 19?3, the u.S. Fish and Wildlife Servlce desj.gnated that the American (Allioator alligator mi ssi ssippiens is ) be pfaced in three basic classifications. endangered, threatened, or threatened alue Eo (S/A) throughtout similarity of appearance its range in the soutbeastern Utritecl States. These categories sirnpfy alesignate status of the animal in relation to its recovery or rate ot recovery. Generally, tbe endangered status lndicates a low population within a geographi,c area? whereas, the threateneal status indicates population an increasing well on its way towaral recovery. ThreateDed alue to similarity of appearance inalicates a recovered population. Other important factors are considered in making these deterrninations . These incfude habitat evaluations t state research, management, and enforcement progtrams; natural mortality factors: utilization; the adequency of regulatory mechanisms; anal miscelfaneous other factors, Today, alligators are classffieal as threateried in 20.3 precent of their ralrge, as endangered in 48.9 percent of their rante? and as recovered Ln 30.8 percent of their range (T'able 1). The historic strcnqbold of the alligator is for practical purposes the 51.1 percent of the range presently (threatened cfassified as recovered S/A) or threatened. Peripheral range areas and counties with limited (a large percentage of tbe overall habitat range) will probably retain a restric*,ive classification status {T'able 1) . classifi.caticn status reviews are periodical-Iy conalucted by the U.S- rish and Wildfife Service, usually as a result of state petitions to change tbe legal status of the alligator. The collection of bioloqicaf pertaining infolmation to status reviews has greatly enhanced management capability for the alliqator. Since the IUCN,/CSGmeeting in South Africa in 1982, the U-S. Fish and Wifdlife Service reclassified the biological status of the alligator in onfy one state. The entire State of Texas was reclassified to threatened S/A, effectively returninq nanagement authority back to the State. The American afligator in Florida has been proposed for reclassification from tbreateneal to threatened due to similarity of appearance (Federal Register 20 June, 1984). A final rule, if approved, will change the status of all alligators in Floriala to the special cateqory of threatened due to slmilarity of apearance. 167 Population Status bv State Ten states contain alligators in a1f or parts of the state. In populatj-ons are incleasing general, throughout alligator the have stable range. Areas on the fringes of tbe range generafly populations and cannot biologically harbor hlgh alensities characteristic of states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Tbe 1984 coastal marsh population, where nest LoUISIANA: population r,ras levels. count indices were used to calculate projected to be 412.198, an 8.8% increase over the estimate for water levels affect the degree of nestinq a factor 1983. estimates whi"ch must be consialered when naking annual popufation (llcNease a;al Joanen 1978). Nest count baseal on nest transects 10.1 estirnates have shown an annual increment of approximatefy percelrt since initiation of the survey in 19?0 (Joanen and vcNease 1984). In areas of the state where the nest count stanalaridized night counts were c\onalucteal method is not feasible. Night transect fines. count alata were then along establisheil nodeling. Louisiana personnel surweyed 13 applied to population aifferent areas of the state in 1q83, covering a tcfal distance of 93 niles. slightly above the A-Iugators per ndle a1€raeed 6.0 for the 13 transectst range{riab averaqe of 5-4 for the sanE year (Chabreok 1984)- llcltease and habitat witbin lduisial]a c\castal Joar€n (1978) reported available alligator nlarslles cqrprise 2.9 rT'illion acr€s, Taylor (1980) reForted statwide alfiqator habitat for n.n-nErsh as l.L llrilflon acres. Service is currently FLORIDA: The U.S. Iish and Wildlife the status of the alligator in the State of Florida. revievinq the alligator from its The service proposes to reclassify due to present classification of threateneal, to threatened of the Endangered sindlarity of appearance under provisions proposal presents The reclassification species Act of 1973. threateneal with evidence that the species is not biologically prepaied by Mr. wendell Neal of the Infornation extinction. Service and as aalvertised in the Federal U.S. Fish anat wildlife alDro.imately of 20 June, 1984, Vol. 49, Ne 120, indicates Register wetlands are occupied by alligators. acres of llorida 6-7 million habitat estimateal 3.6 nillion breakalown of alligator A further flooded 1.2 milflon acres of permanently acres of f!€sh narsh. and streams acres of lakes, and rivers wooded swarnps, 1.? million was lost tlue some habitat Neal reported c€mprising 200.000 acres. use and the ccnstrucEicn and conversion to agricultural to drainage projects. night count data Alligator of levees for flood controf collecteal before 197? abd compared to nlght count information tvpe show increases in collected between 197?-81, bl/ habitat lakes averaged Alorida observeal per mile. nunber of alligators prior to 19?7 and 13.8/mife from 1977-81. 11.9 alfigators,/mile to 1977 and 13.3,hile Fforida marshes averaged 11.3/mi1e prior lrere obvlous when night sotne general conclusions fron 1977-81(a) the number of observed atligators,/ count alata were anafyzeal: mile denostrated increases when pre-197? and post-1977 periods were compared, (b) smalf. nedium, and large size classes were 168 weII represented, (c) atugator indicating sulvivorship is adequate, populations are well dlstributecl throughout Ffortda's major (d) thele were no major shifts habitat types, and finally in size class composition (Nea1 1984) . GEoRGIA: A 1984 alfigator populatioD survey intticateal population increases are occuring in most of ceorgia. ib analysis of population trends by counties showecl that 55 were increasing, 45 were stable, and 1 alecreasi"ng. Cotnpared to 1982 surveys, in 102 counties reporting populations, alligator 1984 estlmates ih€eased from 11 to as high as 10X. A total of 5-824.000 acres of alltgator habitat was reported in the 102 country atea (S. Ruckel, personal conununication, 1984) . Georqia personnel surveyed 12 differeDt areas of the state in 1983, transecting a total alistancie of ?7.? per mile averaged 4.4, slightly mi1es. Alligators below the rangewide average of 5.38 in 1983 (Chabreck 1984). TE)GS i populations Afligator are consideretl to be stable to increasing. Census date (night counts) on inlahal habitat and coastal routes. and aerial nest counts reflect well a population over 100.000 alligators of all size classes occur within the Texas range. Night count surveys covering some 32 tniles indicated 4.4 af ligators,/mi le. Habitat in Texas is reported to comprise over 3.62 million acresr incfutling. 54.400 acres of brackish marsh, 186.240 acres between bracki.sh andfresh narsh, 52.480 acres of fresh narsh, and 3-328,000 acres of inlanil alligator The habitat. inland habitat is compriseal of sma1l inlanai marshes and bayous, swamps, 1akes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, creeks and ditches. stream nifeage for historical alfigator range in Texas i.s estinBted to be 9,649 niles. Alligators currentfy occur in more than 90X of the historic range in Texas. Afthough the greatest alligator concentrations in Texas occur in the middle and upper coastal populations counties, significant occur inlanal in suitable habitat (Thompsonet al. 1983). SOUTH CAROITINA: Of 28 counties coDtaining alligators in South carolina, populatioDs. 15 reported increasing Increases were (13) counties estimated to be as rrruch as 5-10 percent. ThirteeD (increase reported stable to sliqhtly populations increasing 5Z) (Tom Mulphy, personal connnunication 1984). The best habitat is associateal with the coastal impoundnents and marshes comprising approximately 100.000 acres in Georgetown, Cbarleston, Coll"eton, anal Beaufort Counties. The next tier of counties i.nlanal represent moderate to hiqh alliqator alensities and a significant amount of particularly habitat in Berkley and ;Iasper Counties. fhe amount of suitable afligator habitat from these countles to the fall line diminishes rapidly poDds supporting with generally rsolated sma11 populations. South Carolina reports approximately 250.000 (T. Murphy, personal acres of alllgator habitat statewide (84U ) occurreal in seven rlver conmunication 1982). Most nestlnq drainages. The drainage6 in oraler of hlghest nest counts were: the Santee, Cooper, Conbahee. Savannah, Ashepoo. Pee Dee, antl (Wilkinson South Edisto Rivers 1983). 169 range is lirniteal ln Arkansas. fhe ARKANSAS: The alliqator's trelral for Arkansas alligators is a stable to sliqhtly increasing population. Since 1972, the state restockeal 2.?00 alligatols from Louisiana in 40 of 45 counties fying within the historic range of the apecies. From thts restocking effort, successful has been Clocunented in five counties reploduction that were (s. Barkfey, prevlousl]" personal corununication void of alligators 1984). Night coutrt alata totafing sone 56 hiles of survey lines per mile (chabreck 1984). indicate 1.25 alligators popufation MISSISSIPPI antl OKLAHOMA: No cuffent estiinates are night count alata for available for these states. Mississlppl 75 mi.les of survey lines indicate an average of 1.00 alligators per mj.Ie, well below the range-wide 1983 average of 5.38 per mile. However, this data compares favorably with alligators its nelghboring state of Arkansas which recorded 1.25 alligators/ niles for 1983 (chabreck 1984). in only Mccurtain country. oklahoma reports allj.gators occurring increasing This snall population is characterized as slightly (F. Jaines. personal comnunication 1984). estimates are avaifable for ALABA A: No current population seven night count routes coverlng 117.5 mifes in length Alabama. per mife (Chabreck 1984). vele lun anal averaqed 5.2 afligators conducted, 4 were run in one coastal Horrever, of the 7 surveys populatlon. D(cfidinq country, Baftlwin. known for its high allj-gator per mile of survey averaged l.6t thls one country, alligators anal Arkansas's findings. comparable with Mississippi occurreCl in lor alensi.ties on night NoRTH CARoLINA: Alligators Highest count survey routes in coastal North Carolina. alensitles occurred in estuaries of the cape Fear # 3 Watersheal were found to be Alligators anal in lakes of the Neuse Watershed. bases, national forests, aoal clumped in areas such as military property. plivate Alfigator alensities decreaseal bY watershed No alligators were founal Dorth of Albemarle from south to north. linit of the befief that this is the northern sounal, supportinq alligators was The population of visible the alligator's range. total ttle estimate was expanded to an estihated reported at 443. population Althouqh there are no recent night size af L.7'72. the saftpling in Nortb Carolina, count data from survey routes with the express in 1979-80, was established ilesign, established purpose of provitllnq to compare the baseline alata with rhich Now that North Carolina has a results of future surveys. program, their it is hoped that nongame and enalangereal wilatlife so that popufation surveys can be repeated at 3-5 year intervals, (Phil Doerr, personal conununication 1984). trenals can be nonitored Avai lable Alllqator Eabitat popuLations range iricrease in alligator slnce the noticeable anal also wide, states have been eval-uating these populations (McNease anal Joarlen 19?8, Joanen habitat classifying alligator and McNease 1980, Taylor 1980. Thonpson et a1. 1983, wj"lkinson of exist in the quality obvious alifferences 1983, Neal 1984). has been anal in most cases, habitat Iabitat for afligators 170 into 3 allstinct habitat classifieal types: coastal marshes? inland fteshwater slramps antl mai-shes; and naturaf rivers, man-made lakes. Surveys have shown that populations alligator vary accoltiing to habitat type. Also obvious differences may exist in populati-on levels within a single habitat type. McNease and Joanen (19?8) found certain ecoloqicaL features exist in one in the same habitat type just type and may not exist a few miles away. In the coastal marshes of Loulsiana, interspersion of land/water ratios anal water levefs were two important factors that must be taken into consj.deration when evafuating alligator habitat. Probably the best example of this in Louisiana are clense soli.d stands of Panicum hendtomon which provide littLe or no open water,no habitat aliversity, and very poor alfigator nesting habitat. However, Panicum marshes interspersed with ponds, potholes. and open lakes provide sone of the finest nesting habitat to be found on the Louisiana coast. Inland lakes, both man-nade anal natural, possess varying degrees populations. of alligator Important factors that must be considered when evaluating these areas as afligator habitat are vegetative cover and water depty. l,akes which seen to proviale the best alligator habitat are those which have Eome open freshwater marshes attacheal, or those which have vegetative cover extenaling frorn the shoreline out into the open water areas. lreshwater swamps attacheal to large river systems or lakes probably proviale the largest single habitat the range type lrithin of the alligator; however, possess the lowest alligator concentrations when compared to the other habitat types. The exception woulal be swamps which possess inibealaleal open to this freshwater marshes of sizeabfe acreage. riverine cenerally. swamps lack the proper interspersion of vegetative cover and lanal,/ water ratio of the coastal marsb zone or inlanal lakes. Riverine systems are alsd known for their extremes in seasonal water level fluctuations alonq with extreme currents. (wetlanals) reported by 5 states The amounts of alligator habitat are presented in Tabfe 2. Although any lretland habitat has the potential of being used by alligators, the frequency of use varies cohsiderably. Salt water marshes, farge aleep open water in Louisiana have been found to be used Iakes, and farge rivers onLy occasionaLl.y and only by the aalult segment of the populatioD. A careful review of the alifferente habitat types along with a better unalerstanding of their value to alliqators if of the utmost importance in the management of a resource. Wetlanals in tbemselves do not qualify as alligator habitat, but rather the true estinate suitability of habitat can be neasureal by studying lretlands which possess alistinctive ecoloqical features anCI populations. comparinq th.is to existing alliqator Literature Citeal Chabreck, R.H. 1984. Cooperative sulvey6 of the in southeastern United States durinq 1983. Univ-, Baton Rouge. 3 pp. Mimeogrpah. t77 American alligator l,ouisiana State Joanen. T., anfl L. McNease. 1980. Managetnent of the alligator as a renelrable resoulce in Louisiana. IUCN, Survival Service Conrmission, Crocodi.le Specialist (In press). Group. Joanen, T.L., McNease. c., Perry, D. Richaral and D. Taylor. proc. 1984. Louisiana's afligator managernent proqram. (In Southeastern Assoc. t'ish and Wildlife Aqencies 3e: review). ItcNease, L., anal T- iroanen. 1978. Distribution and reLative abunalance of the afllgator in Louisiana coastaf nrarshes. Proc. Southeastern Assoc. Fish and Wildlife Agencies 32: 1 82 - 1 8 5 . Nea1, W. 1984. Endangered anal threatened wildlife and plants, proposal to reclassify the fegal status of the American alligator in Florida to threatened due to similarity of appearabce. Federal Register 49 (120) : 25342-2534A. Taylor, D. 1980. population An alligator moalel and associated ninlmum population estirnate for non-rnarsh afligator habitat in Louisiana. La. Dept, of Witdlife and Fisheries. 32 pp. Mimeograph. Thompson, B.C., F-E. Potter, Jr., and W.C. Brownlee. 1983. Managenent plan for the American alliqator in Texas. Texas Parks anal Wildlife Dept. 41 pp. llilkinson Phlfip M. 1983. Nesting ecology of the American allj.gator in coastaf South Carolina. S.C. Wildtife and Maline Res. Dept. 113 pp. Mimeograph. r72 TNBITE 1 Affigatq' Classificaticn T'rreaterEds,/A Status hry State - Septsirer, trhnber of @lmties Ddanqered lbreatened MississilDi lbtal 55 A.tabarB 33 Non'th C€rolina 2l I'o{as 1984 2T 't4 74 ArXallsas 3 3 cklahoTla 1 1 81 Lidsiana -63 64 64 23 5 2A 217 90 444 South Carolina r3'7 702 63 Florida IU|AI 27 30-8 44.9 7',73 20.3 T}B[E 2 Available Habitat dligator Habitat Tt"e state Coasta.1 matEh rnland {etland* Iouisltsrra Florida S. Carolina Itesh na.rsh f loo&d irooded s,vtalrtr) Lales Ri!'enF and streans pefirEnently coasta-l nErsl€s and in{)ottrdlEtts Inland lletlandt coasta.l n6!sh Inlard r,tetfand* Te:Gs Ihclassified Georg1a * S!"dtq)s. lakes, Reported for Eive states pcnds, rilrers and strear€, r74 &etland trErshes, resenr'oirs. 2.900.000 1.100.000 3.600.000 1.200.000 1.700.000 200.00 100.000 1s0.000 293.OOO 3,328.000 5.824.000 LOUISIANA'S ALI]IGATOR MANAGEMENTPROGRAM perry, Ted ,Joanen, Larry McNease, cuthrie and Davial Richaral Louisiana Department of wildllfe and Fisheries, Rt. 1 Box 20-8, crand Chenier, Louisiana 70643 and Louisiana Department of Wildlife anal Fisheries Minaten. Louis.iana 71055 Introducti.on Louisiana's program to manage the alligator first on a sustaineal yield harvest was initiated in 19?2. Tlle man,gement progran resulted from 15 years of research, dedicated enforcame;t, and enactment of effective state and federal faws governing the taking, possession, and transportation of alligators anal their_products. By 1970, such legisfation was in effect (Joanen et in touisiana ar. 1981). Public Law 91-135, known as the,,Arnended Lacy Act,', was passed i.n December 1959. l,acy Act provisions nade it a federaf clime to sell ol transpott in interstate or foreign comnerce any form of wildlife or products made from wildlife taken in violalion of the laws of any state or foreing country. In 1970, the Louisiana Legisfature enacted Act 550 giving the Depaltment of Witdfife anal Fisheries fulf authority to regulate the attigator in the State. Louisiana 1aw cfassifies tbe afligator as a non-game quadrupeal along with wild fur-bearing animats vafuable for thei; skins or hides. The aIllgator is, therefore. considered a conunercj.al wildlife speciesr anal Act 550 formed the framework which permitteal the implementation of a closety regulated cofimerciaf harvest (Palnisano et aI- 1973) Alligators occur throughout the State and popufations have atemostrated alramatic increases in recent years. The majority of habitat and the largest segment of the alligator population are founal in the southern f/3 of the State in coastal marsh anal cypress tupelo stramps. Due to its value and vulnerability to hunting, the species requlres special regulations which must be designed to regulate the harvest of surplus animals yet equatly dist;ibute the kill in relation to populatioD tevets. A compfex system of applications, licenses, tags, and report forms was necessary to ijiplement the management program. The authors acknowledge A. Ensminger, Chief of Fur and Refuge Division of the Louisiana Department of Wildfife and I'isheries for his unselfish support anal overalf supervision of a sometimes controversial affigator plan. naking it possible for the management and researctr program to become a realityThe alligator program would not have been successfuf without the oi rn.rry "ooperation Louisiana Department of Witdtife personnel, and Fisheries primarily empfoyees of the Fur and Refuge, came, anat Enforcement Divisrons. ?he Louisialra State University Department of Experimental 775 Statistics monitoring Methods provi.aeal program- expertise anal implehentation fo! a complex anal Materials nest censuses have been conalucted annually in INVENTORY: Aerial the coastal marsh zone since 1970 and r"/ere used to project (Chabreck 1966, McNease and ifoanen population levels alfigator (s amps, anal upland fakes and streams) 1978). In areas of the state lrhere the aerial nest count methotl could not be applietl. a for non-malsh areas was used as minlmum populatj.on estimate (1980) used data from size (1980). Taylor alescribed by Taylor cfass composition of adults taken from night counts antl hide These data were measurements to alerive these minimufi estimates. to existing the harvest in proportion useal for distributing populations. coastal marshes alfigator habitat within Louisiana Available comprises 1,178,000 ha (2,900.000 acres) (cbabreck anal Linsconibe according to 1978) and is subdivided into 3 malor suballvisions sub-Defta, and Active Delta Zones. The origin: The Chenier Plain, Chenier Plain makes up 445,000 ha (1,100,000 acres) and is The Sub-Delta Marsh located in the southwest corner of the state. zone contains 640,000 ha (1,570,000 acres) and extends from the border. The Bay complex to the Mississippi-rouisiana vermilion Active Delta comprises 93,000 ha (230,0O0 acres) and consists of Rlver Delta. the present Mississlppi and divideal according to salinitl Each narsh zone is further (Chabreck and linscombe 1978) . The flesh marsh made vegetation up 392 of the area or 460,000 ha (1,131,00O acres) , intermediate narsh compriseal 23% or 2'11,000 ha (667.000 acres) , and the compriseal brackish marsh, minus marshes over 10 ppt safinity, do not normally 38x or 447,000 ha {1,102,000 acres). Alligators lnarsh 10 ppt salinity, utilize the saline marsh type, nor brackish hence 360,000 ha (880,000 acres) of these types were omitted from the survey. (1980) reporteal totaf alligator habitat for nonstatewide Taylor marsh areas as 474,000 ha (1,1?1,000 acres). He further subalivided babitat avaifable into upland streams, swamp streams, cypress tupelo 2 habitat types were and cypress tupelo swamps. The fatter lakes, the most important for alligators. ESTABLISHING IARVEST RFCTILAT]ONS:ThE LOUiSiANA DEPATTMENTOf 10 seasons for the taking of and Fisheries authorized Wildlife alligators for the sale of skins between 19'72-19a3 (Palmisano et al. 1973, McNease and Joanen 19?8)- The lst bunt, authorized in 1972, was confined to 1 palish in south\test Louisiana which according segment of the coastal nest survey housed the largest to the serial population. Tbe hunt area was graclually expanded narsh alligator uDtil 1981 when the season was opened state\"ride (?able 1). 716 No season was afloweal in 1974 as a result of the passage of the Federaf Enalangereal Species Act. After an 18-month delay, causeal by alelisting requirements of the U-S. Fish and Wifatlife Service, Louisiana again initiated its hatvest program expanding to a 3 parish area, 1975-1977- Due to limited rnarkets of skins within the United States and the ban on overseas shipment of skins as a result of the Convention on lnterhational Trade of Enalangered Species (CITES). no season was allowed in 1978. CITES, in March of 1979, allowed the export of skins in international conrmerce. Along wlth the CTTES action, the U-S. anal Wildlife Service Clelisted an additional 9 coastal l,ouisiana parishesAs a resuft the Louisiana Department of wildlife and Fisheries authorizeal a halvest regulated in 12 coastal parrshes in 1979 and 1980. In 1981, the alfigator was recfassified in the renaining 52 parishes (S/A) and a statewiale harvest was authorized. as threatened (Pafmisano et a1. 19?3) and alligator Harvest strategy popufation (Chabrecl< 1966, ?aylor and Neal 1984) for marsh habitats features were alescribed in detail by Joanen and McNease {1981) Taylor and Neaf (1984) developed a size class frequency distribution population model to estimate a]ligator features. Night count data were used in conjunction lritb the modef to alerive tag aflocation features for harvest in non-marsh babitats. State law prohibited the takinq of afligators between the hours of sunset and sunrise and those animals less than 1.2 m (4 feet) in length. other provisions requlating the taking and shipment of alligators were estdblished by Lhe Departnent, llarvest regulations, licensing requirements, tagging requirements, procedure, reporting nuisance alligator control regulations, a successful law enforcement program, and a computer program were established to regulate and monitor tbe harvest of surplus animals and yet distribute the kilI in proportion to tbe existing populations (Joanen anal McNease over the area openeal for harvest 1 98 1 ) . Resuft and Discussion POPULATIONSURVEYS: Population estimates in the coasta] marsh varied from a 1ow of 134.000 in the drought year of 19?1 a high of 520,000 {Table 2)- overa11, populations increased dramaticalty in the Chenier Pldin and Sub-De]ta Zones from 1970-1983. The Active population Delta showed the lowest alligator of the 3 marsh zones. A comparison of alliqator densities fron 1979-1983, expresseal as ba (acres)/alligator, shows higher population levels in tbe Chenier Plain Zone. The Chenier Plain averageal l alligator: 2.2 ha (5.4 acres) , the sub-Delta 1:3.6 ha (9.0 acres) , and the Active Delta 1:10,5 ha (26-0 acres). Popufation alistribution by marsh types on a coastwide basis sho ed the intermediate marsb type contained the highest alligator densitres, I alligator to 2.1 ha (5.3 acres) . The brackish and fresh marshes were about equal in areat however, population in the brackisb density marsh was I 711 to 4-1 ha (10.2 acres) and in the f,resh narsh 1 alfi.gator alligator to 2.8 ha (6.9 acres) {McNease and Joanen 19?8, Joanen and McNease 1981, Unpubl. La- Alligator Census Records, 1980-1983). The coastwide average annual percentage lncrease of nests for the period of 1970-1983 was 10.11. Privately-owned property, 90* of which was hunted, showeal an average annual increase in nest production perioal. 19?0-1983. Refuqes of 11.02 over the l4ryear and r.rifdlife nanagement areas, where only limited hunting occurred, had an average annual increase of 9.7u in nesting for the same period. The average ahnual increase j.n the Chenier Plain of southwest Louisiana was 10.42 for the same period. A further anafysis of population alynamics in the Chenier Plain demostrateCl average annual increases in nest pxoduction were considerably greater property on 333,550 ha (825,000 acres) of privately-owned than for 111,375 ha (2?5,000 acres) of public property. Air temperature affects the timing of nesting and egg laying (Joanen and McNease, 1979) . Nesting occurred in earty activity ;lune for the years with biqhest l/arch,llay temperatures and occurreal as Iate as the fst week in July wlen springtime tempetatures were the lowest. The above factor must be taken into account nrhen establishing time tabtes for nest censusinq and season dates. Extremes in water levels, alroughts, and ftoods adversely affect nesting (McNease anal .toanen 1978). Surface water conditions probably affect nesting potential more than any other environmental factor. anal thereby may cause considerable bias in annual population estimates based on nest transects. Joanen et a1. (1981) conselvatively reported the minirnum afteriatching alligator estimate as 168,000 for non-marsb babitat.Hiqhest non-marsh a1llgator densities were founal in the 35,275 ha (87,100 acres) of cypress-tupelo lakes contained in the State, 1 1.7 ha (4.1 acres). Cypress tupelo swamps, 329,oo ha alligator: (813,000 acres) contained an estimated 127,000 alligators for a density of l afliqator: 2.5 ha (6.4 acres). The estimated population of the Atchafalaya Basin, colrtalning 144,200 ba (356,O00 acres) of habitat, was 19,500 for a density of 1 afligator: alligator ?.4 ha {18 acres) . ALLIGATOR HARVEST: During the period of t972-1943, 107.8?8 alligator per tags were issued to 5,33? hunters. Averaqe tag allotment lunter was 20.2 (Table 3). Ninety percent of the privately-owned wetfands open for harvest were actually hunted- A total of 100,712 alligators was taken(932 hunter success).Not all skins were sold; 3,860 skins were tanned at the expense of the hunter or landowner for trophy skins or manufactured into boots, saaldles, gun cases, belts, anal other itens. Prices varj.ed from S17.so,/linear 0.3 m (foot) in 1981 to 9?.88 in 1975. Prices varied according to the demand for skins, placed on the sale of products restrictions prohibition within certain states, internationaf cotrurerce/ on forelgn and inflation or devaluation of Japanese, French, and United States !78 population The largest alligator occurs in the lower 7/3 of i'}re 85% of the total State. This area comprises approximately '772 statewide alliqator habitat. As a resuft. of |'}],e hunters are The in the coastal zone and they accounted for 912 of the kill. central 1,/3 of the State had 16X of the hunters and 7Z of tbe kiII. The northern 1/3 ot the State haal 7z of the hunters and 1x hunters 4.8% of the alligator of the ki11. Non-resident purchased licenses in 1943. (iroanen SEx AND sIzE CoMPOSITIoN OI' HARVEST: Telemetry studies to and McNease L910, 79'72) suggest a septenber bunt restricteil in a kill daytlme bunting and open water areas would result composed primarily of larger males inunature animals of both sexes. By restricting the pole hunting method in interior marshes, During the 1972 harvest the take of breealing females was minimized. season, 303 alligator carcasses were examined. Adult males {over inspected. l-arr.(L6 teeu) naale up 83-l% of the nature alligators 16,9% of the adult alligators examined. Adult females constitued During the 1973 harvest, 843 alligator carcasses were examined. harvestecl. The Aduft males made up 67-9% of the mature alligators percentage of males in the kill was 66-32- Adult females totaf constituted 32.1% of the mature alligators exarnineal (Table 4). The high kil] on females in 1973 as compared to the 1972 season was storn from tropical attributed to flooded conditions resulting DeI1a. Excessive rainfalf combined with high tides provided hunters not accessible easy access into interior marshes uhich were usually at that time of year (Joanen et a1- 1974). In 19?5, 85.5% of 684 mature afligators examined were males. Mature males also compriseal the majority of the kill the foflowing 2 years: 78.3% of 398 in 1976 and ?0-3% of 2I2 i,n 19?7 (Table 4) - The average size class of the animals taken durinq the 10 years of harvest remained fairly colstant frorn year to year. The average skin length was 2-r1 m (5 feet 11 inches) with a range ot 1-2-4-2 m (4-14 feet). of the skins taken, 792 were between 1.5-2.4 m (5-g feet) (l'is- 1) The largest femafe harvested r^ras taken in the Mernentau Basin of (2.73 n 19 feet I rnc.b/ southwest Louisiana and 94 kg l:208 poundq/). rnternal she was barlen. The examination of the ovaries indicated fargest nale was taken in the Pearl River complex of southesstern Louisiana and measured 4-3 m (14 feet) t no weight was obtained, size class and above, appeared to be Mature animals, 2.1 m {? foot) taken at the rate at which they existed in the hunt area. However, other factors such as limited hunter accessibility to animals years, easy accessibility during low rainfall during high rainfall years/ and skin prices may affect the harvest to some degree. When high prices were paial for skins, hunter interest was stimufated year. The reverse was true when prices were 1ower. the following Most of the large aninals were taken by the fishinq method. Those shot free swimning were generally of the smaller size classes. smaller usually remain in shallow interior marsh ponals alligators 779 and feed on crustaceans (Chabreck 1971, Valentine or smafl fish et af. l9?2, McNease anal Joanen 1977). Irmature females and aduft females prefelred natural (Joanen marsh during the autumn period and McNease 1970, McNease and Joanen 1974). Only 4OZ of the irunature fenale segment of a population would be available if hunting were restricted to deep lrater bayous, lakes, and canals. Data collected aluring Louisiana,s 1972 experimental alligator season (Palndsano et al. 1973) indicated imnature females constituteal 29.6% of the innnature size cfasses of atligators harvestedIn 19'73, 1975, 1976, and 1977, immature females made lp 37.3%, 36.'72, 29.12, and 36.2u, respectively, of the iftnature alligators haivestett (Table 4) - Im\rature males showed a narked preference for deep water areas during surrner and autumn. When availability of natural marsh was consialered, usage by males was less than expected during all seasons (McNease and Joanen 1974) . VAI,IDATION AND SALE OF SKINS. Frcfi 19'72-1971 , when a maxinum of 3 parishes were opened for hunting, hunters were required to bring their hides to a central cbeck-in station. Deoartment Dersonnel measureal and vafidated each sktn. After validaiion, ski;s were solal at public auction. As the harvest program expanded state iale, buyers were required to subrnit detailed reports concerninq their (;Ioanen and McNease 1981). conmercial transactions As the hunt area and ki1l lras expandeal, so did the amount of papervork involved in monitoring the kil] and corrunercial aspects of the harvestConsequentfy, in 1979 a computer proqram was devetopeal and upgraded throuqh 1983 to follow hides from the hunters fevef through conunerce until tanned into leatherTaxidermy or trophy hides, which dial not enter commercial channels, and alliqator meat anai parts r^rere monitored tbrough a system of leport forms. Early in the program, 7972-79'77, Anerican tabners showed a strobg interest in alligator feather and as a resuft purchased the majority of the skins taken during those years. However. since the delisting. rhen foreign buyers were allowed to export skins abroad, the French. Italians and Japanese have purchaseal the majority of tbe skins taken in the Louisiana harvest. A total of 11 tanneries and 1 trading company purchased skins rn Louisiana during a 10 year perlod. Of these, 4 were located in France. 3 in Japan, 2 in ltafy, and 3 in the United States. Of the 95,963 skins sold from 1972 through 1983, Irench tanners purclaseil 48.4% of the skins. purchased 2'7-72 af r.he United States tanneries skins, Italians 12.42 and Japanese 11-5%. NUISANCE ALIIGATOR CONTROL: During the 1979 nuisance havest program, 11 hunters killed 51 alligators in 6 coastal parishes. In 1980, 34 |'ook 225. The number of tags issued hunters in the same 6 parishes uere baseal on the nuniber of complaints receiveal (Linscombe 1975) Complalnts were randomly investigated on the site by Departmental personnel. Alligators taken under this progran were taken in accordaDce with State and local reoulations/ordinances - 180 relocated in alligators During 19?9-1980, Departmental personnel areas. The magrituale of these requests \tere only the delisted sliqhtly lesseneal with the nuisance complalnt progratn. A statewi-de program was initiateal in Septenber 1981. Duisance conplaint in 1981, Nineteen nuisance control hunters took 197 alligators 131 by 19 hunters in 1982, and 167 by 15 hunters in 1983. skinninq instructions issued by the Department were for 1 year and any skin was considereal iflegaf. not prepared according to the instructions Disposition of skins, meat, and parts taken in the nuisance of the local governing complaint program was the responsibility 'l7I body and/or the hunter. over the s-year perioal, 1919-1983, program by alligators were harvested through the nuisance removaf 9g licensed hunters. AI,L]GATOR MEAT AND PARTS: Since the 1979 season, approximately meat have been sold 45,000 kg (100,000 pounds) of alligator Prices varied across the coast; however, average prices annually. paid to hunters in southeastern were about S0.75 per louisiana 0.5 kg (pound) whereas ln southwest r,ouisiana prices averageal $1.50 per 0.5 kg. over half of the meat sold was purchased by individuals for home consumption. The remainder was sold to restaurants and fish markets, New markets have been developed in anal along the east coast. California parts dealers reporteal that teeth and licensed alligator Fifteen supply houses. skulls were sofd to the Jewelry trade and biological primarily in the items were sold within Louisiana, Most jewelry New Orleans area. law violations LAw ENFORCEMENT: ilhe number and severity of alfigator to determine unknoi{n detrimental were compared to enforcement effort effects that the harvest program might cause to the resourceassigned to Federal and S tate- Enforcement Agents were annually alligator law enforcement. No major hide poacbing cases have been made in Louisiana since 1976- During the 1983 season, only 8 alliqator- relateal cases were filed by State agents aluring the minor nature. September harvest program. and all were of a relatively field agents devoted part of their Tlro hunalred and twelve Louisiana It is clearly enforcement activityworking hours to alligator harvest program dial not alligator evident that l,ouisianars poaching. stimulate alligator l,iterature Cited the size and composition chabreck, R.H. 1966. Methods of detexnining ^f illid.tor b6nulations in Louisiana. Proc. Annu. ConfSoutheast. Assoc- Gameand Fish comn. 20:105-112. of alligators chabreck. R,H. 1971. The foods anal feeding habits in louisiana. Proc. Annu. fronr fresh and saline environments conf. Southeast. Assoc. came anal Fish comrn- 25:11?-124. type map of the chabreck, R.H. and G. Linscombe. 1978- Vegetative Louisiana coastal marshes. La. Dep. of wi1dl. and Fish., Baton Rouge. 181 Joanen, T., and IJ. McNease. 19?0. A telenetric study of nesting female alligators on Rockefelfer Refuge, Louisiana, Proc. Annu. conf. Southeast. Assoc. Game and Fish Comn. 24:175- .Ioanen,T. and l':cNease- 19?2. A telenetric study of aduft male alligators on Rockefelfer Refuge, Louisiana. Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. cane and I'ish Cofitln. 261252-275. Joanen,T. and M<t(base. 1979. Time of egg depositioD for the Amelican alligator. Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Fish and wiltll-- Agencies 33:15-19. ;roanen, T., and L. McNease. 1981. Management of the alfigator as a renewable resource in louisiana. Ga. Dep. of Nat. ResTech. BuIl. WL 5t62-12. Joanen,T..anal G. Linscombe. 1974.An anafysis of Louisiana's experimental afligator harvest program. La. Wildl. Fish. Comn., New orleans. 2opp. Mimeo. 1973 and Joanen,T.,c- Linscombe, anal D. Taylor. 1991. Attigator nanagernent plan State of l,ouisiana. !a. Dep. of Wifdl. and I'lsh., New drlArhe trn^ Mi na^ Linscombe. c. 1975. Alligator compfaints of Wild1. antl lish., Ner^rOrleans. sunmary 1975. La. 8pp. Mimeo. Dep. McNease, L., and T- Joanen. 1974. A tefemetric study of imnature alligators Refuge, Louisiana. on Roclefeller Proc. Annu. conf- Southeast. Assoc. came anal Fish Conun. 28:482-500. McNease, L- and T-Joanen. 19??. Atfiqator aliets in relation to narsh salinity. Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. l'ish and wi fdl. Agencies 31:36-40. MNease, L. and T. Joanen. 19?8. Distribution and relative abutrdance in Louisiana coastaf marshes- Proc- Annu. of the alligator Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Fish and Wildl. Agencies 32:182-186. Palmisano. A.W., T. Joanen, anal L. McNease- 1973. An anafysis of l,ouisiana's 19?2 experinental alligator harvest program. pfoc. Anru. conf- Southeast. Assoc. Game anal Fish connn27 | 144-2O6 Taylor, population D. 1980. An alfigator rnoclel and associated minimum population estimate for non-marsh alligator habitat in Louisiana. La. Dep. of Wr]dl. and Frsh. 15 pp- l4imeo. Taylor. D., anal w. Neal. 1984. Managementimplications of sizeclass frequency distributions in Louisiana afligator populations. wi1dl. Soc- Bull. 12(3) :312-319. Valentine, J.M.,J.R-Walther,K-MMccarthey, and L.M.,Iwy. 1972. wifdlife Alligator diets on the Sabine National Refuge Louisiana. J. wildl. MaDage. 36(3):809-815. r82 >' EOin ooF o0) tsr.) 'o .-li >\oo r]0,8 r! r.r Et1o ti E 6€ ! !o.r! oo |nco .,r d EO!-0r t{ioooo60)0JdJo) 0Jdh060.o.d..{00-o!! 6>(.)FEFroEd.r{r{..{ oddrroi!331 r-'o!.c.c'dJa.c0)iD0r 0)0Jooo0Jocrou!! E'E,lr!r.f(!orltn tn'o!ootdrouJ! (.)<<zz<Flaz.hrha .aoro i r{ ..) .i .r c) z c'! .oloo oo !orr@!N o.oo.t coA 'o tsN(/lrDOq) olr-'its F o1 o\ ol "i F ooo.@ol NO@\Dts \or@ F or o1 o, or o\ co@s6 a 1 rico6 ^; oNts(n\o rrcooN@ : t ; F -. jf|N F i85 S i z e a n d s e x composition in ]-ouisiana, Total of alligators sarapled r 9 7 2 - 1 9 7 7. sample Adults in samDle Nuober Z Males L972 303 78.5 t913 843 6 6. 3 t975 782 8 2, 7 r916 59r 76.3 78.3 t977 28r 6 8. 7 7 0 .3 Nuob e r Z M al e s 83.1 684 1t6 tt). ) Ili II ll l i ri 1I l I ___l ffi II)-w ts .A E lr ffi d aw N dffiffi R @ I aa - - ffi D+r) €E w E; -- NM E' lt -ta.P 8.8 9!E it ,Y PP 50 il le7 POPULATION BIOLOGY AND S?ATUS OF THE A.I.IERICAN CROCODILE IN SOUTH FLORTDA Janes A. Kushlan and Frank J. Mazzotti of Bioloqy, East Texas State UniVersity Cominerce Texas 75428 anal Departnent of Biology, Pennsyfvania State University, Universi ly Park Pennsylvania 16802, USA Department Introduction population The Florida of the Anerican crocodife occupies the point northernmost of the species range and is the onfy population in the Uniteal States. The status of this popufatlon has been a matter of concern because it has been believed to be relativel1r rare, to be subject to encroachment by human alevelopment, and to have suffered reductions in population size since the mid 1800's. Its status was initially evaluated by Moore (1953) and by Oqden {1978). Fron 1977 to 19A2, we have studieal the population biology and stat.us of crocodifes occuring near Florida Bay, on the peniosula. southern tip of the Florida In this study we have particularly to test various hypotheses of population attenpted limitation suggestefl by the work of Ogden in t?le early 1970's. Ours was a collaboratlve effort involving several colleagues includinq Drs. williain Dunson, Peter Lutz. Robert Menzies, and John Behler anal assistants including Robert Austin, Amanda Mufler, and Terri Jacobsen. At the same time other segments of the south population Floriala crocodile were being studieal by Paul Moler anal by Rona]d caby. In this paper we briefly sone of the findings abstract of our study with particular to providing new informatioD attention on suggesteal to account for the various hypotheses previously presumed population decreases. The full reports on these studies will be publisheal elsewhere (Kushlan and MazzotLi in prep.,l,lazzoti and Dunson :in press, Ma?zotti antl Kushlan in prep, Mazzotti, et al. in prep. ) . presence of the American Historic Population The historic Status: crocodi.le in south Floriala is well alocunented after 1869, when a specimen rras collected in the Miami River (Wyman 1870). Althouqh observed occasionally as far north as Lake Worth and West Palm Beach on the east coast, crocodile sightings historically were concentrated from Biscayne Bay tbrough northeastern Fforiala Bay. Dimock (1918) provided the most definitive statenent of its early range as, "definitely liniteal to the reqion at the extreme southern end of the peninsufa of F]orida, a strip of ten miles records occurred outsicle long by three ndles wider'. only infrequent this area. Thele is no reason to suspect that the core of the population crocodile ever extended much north of Biscayne Bay. Sinilarly evidence to inalicate a permanent there is no substantive presence in the lower Floriala Keys {Jacobsen 1983) or on the Floriala west coast. 188 Published reports provide little information on numbers of crocodiles present. historically They were saj,d to be',conunon", seen in certain places, but no contemporary statement as to nuribers is available. Ogden (1978) in reviewing such accounts suggested that "the nuntl]er of crocodiles in south Florida at the end of the 19th century was not more than five time the present population, probably between 1.000 and 2-000 animals". We however, believe provide j.nsufficient that available reports ihfornation on which to base any such guess and that it is therefore impossible to estlmate the nuniber of crocodiles present historically in southern Florida. Population distribution We have evaluated the present distribution of the American crocodile in Florida from reports and from our extensive aeriaf surveys conducted over afl potential crocodile habitat. The range of the crocodile can best be unalerstood as consisting of three components. The overall range is the area in which crocodiles are occasionally reportedThis is from Sanibel lsland on the west coast of Fforida, along the south and east coast to Fort Lauderdale, and southward to the lower Florida Keys. The core range is the area in which crocodiles occur continuously. This is from the lakes on Cape Sabte along the north shore of llorida Bay to loarer Biscayne Bay and Key Largo. The nesting range is the area in which nesting occurs regularyThis is along northeastern Florida Bay to Turkey Point and northern Key Largo. Within this range. our aerial surveys have shown that crocodiles are nost abundant inland of northeastern Floriala Bay and on Key l,arqo (Fiq. 1). Presently neqting occurs in three areas, northeastern Florida Bay, Turkey Point, and northerD Key targo. We have been able to locate records for 187 clutches of eggs deposited in southern Florida since the 1930,sEigbty clutches are known to have been deposited during ttle study period, L9'7A-A2. Of these 54 were along northeastern Florida Bay, which must be considereal the center of the nesting distribution. ogden (1978) concluded that a major rettuction in breealing range has occurred in Florida Bay with ther'oradual disappearance of nesting on islanals in Florida Bay,'. His depiction of range reduction showed isofines that implied a concentric reduction of range into northern Elorida Bay. we houever do not interpret the loss of nesting sites to be a gradual retreat of animals into the northeastern bay. We agree with Oqden (1978) that rnost Ioqical explanation for the loss of crocodile nest sites ir_ eastern Florida Bay is the alevelopment of the isfantls of the upper llorida Keys. The bay islands where nesting haal been year-rounal habitat recoraled do not appear to provide for either adult or hatchling crocodiles. and we believe that fenales on these islanals moved there from the Florida Keys only during the nesting season. Thus we suspect that lt is the loss of the year-round habitat on the keys that adversely these affected females. Such islanal nests were probably always peripheral to 189 the population core and rlot highly protluctive owir|g to their exposeal locations. Nesting on islands in the northeasterD bay, useCl by females from the coastal mainfand swamps has continueCl, anal the known hest sltes used has increaseal over the study Period. Popufation size and structure We bave founal alf size classes represented in the population, with a slight refative under-representation of Juvenite animals. we interpret this result to be caused by hiqh hatchling norratiry, rapid growth rates, and a bias of survey data against Juvenile animafs. It is irnportant that existence of juveniles indicates that survival is occurring, although perhaps not at the level found in the protected habitats on northern Key Largo (l.lo1er pers. connn. J . The sex structure of crocoililes captured is biased ln favor of females. Our best estimate of the sex ratio is 2tt (n=24). at is not possible to determine whether the bais is real or the result of differentlal catchability. The lower proportion of mafes does not limit breealing, as we found a very liriiteat occurrence (see beyond). of infertility To estimate the size of the Florida population of the Anerican crocodile we followeCl the nethod devised by chabreck (1966), paranreters ateriveal fron capture, using population survey, anal nesting alata, In orlr primary study area in northeastern Floriata Bay, !,re estimate the nonhatchling population to consist of 90 individuals. We can extrapolate this figure to the remainder of the range using survey and nestinq alata. Our estimate for the south Plorida population as a whofe then is 220 nohhatchlings. Because of the seasonal adilition of hatchling anihals. we estimate the population seasonafly carl increase to about 5?O animals, averaging over the course of the year about 400 animals of al1 age classes. Nestino Bi.olo('v The average nesting alate is May 5 (s=12.1 days) and the average lratching alate is Jufy 29 ls=6.? days, r!=2'7, The average incubation period is 85 days, rather than the 90 usually reported. The nesting cycle of Florida crocodifes avoials the low temperatures of wihter and the high temperatures of late sununer. It also avoades in most years, the potentially desiccating conalltions of the dry season and the potentially flooding conditions of ttre peak of the railry season. The average clutch size, based on 46 clutches, is 38-0 (s=9.45) . This is fess than the 44 previously reported by ogden (19?8), who inadvertently inclualed double clutches in his calculations Tbe_fertiltty rate was h19h, only 1Oz of 314 eggs being unbanated llhtertl_Le or very early embryo ateath) . The fertility of eqgs rn indlvidual nests ranged from 46 to lOOz; in atl tut one nelt tne fertility exceedetl 84%- 190 Racoons (Procyon 1-.9!gf) were the only nest predators. We founal that racoon predation was relatively infrequent anat unpredictable. I'rom 1971 to 1982, 14X of 99 clutches were alepredated. We found that individual clutches could be protected, if desired,by placing racoon traps at specific nest sites where sign is cbserrted. There do not appear to be indivialual predators that have learned i:o seek out anal depredate crocodile nests. ogden (19?8) concluded that an importanr factor regutating the nuriber of American crocodiles was ,'mediocre nesting success, caused priharily be failure of eggs to hatch',. He suggesteal that edbryonic mortality was the result of low temperatures in marl nests. We closefy examineal nest temperatures to test this hypothesis anal found tbat they were not low enough to inhibit development. Clutch temperatures averaged 31.5"C (28.4-35oC) in nests in marl substrate and30.0.C (26.7-33.6bC) in nests ilr sand substrate (1984), as part of our overall Lutz and Dunbar-cooper study, examined the gaseous environment of the eqg charrber. They founal that concentrations of O? and CO2 and hurnidity were alf within expecteal ranges under usial circunstances. In investigating the egg chamber envilonment, we discorvereal that the cause of embryonic mortality was subtelranearr flooding, that is a rise of grounal water into the egg cavity causing asphlxiation of the enbryos. Such flooding ls not recognizable above grounal. Subterranean floodinq occurs in low-Iying nests, particularly along creeks, during very high water conditionsWe also found that some embryonic mortality can resuft from dessicationThis occurs only during very dry periods in relativefy high sand nestsOveral1. embryonic mortality occurred ln 142 of afl known clutches. Habitat anal activity areas t{abitat use and activity areas were determined by aerial and boat surveys and by raalio telemetry. Ten nonhatchling animals were telemetered anal followed for perlods ranging to over one year. The mean activity range was 107.5 ha (s=?1.3 ha). The Iargest activity area was 262 ha. The aclivjty areas of alifferent animals overlapped substantially. Use of avalfable habitat was statisticalfy non-random and crocodiles remained for most of the yeai in coastal mangrove swamps. prinarity Crocodiles ponds and sma1l streams useal protected rather than open water or the bay. Bemafes moved from the mangrove swamps into Florida Bay only during the nesting season when some nested on bay islands. Because of this inland pattern of habitat use, we found crocodiles in salinities 191 Mortalitv Documented cases of mortality of cloc.diles larger than hatchllngs appear to be primarily man-caused. Of 25 known mortalities froh 1971 to 1984, all but six were relateal to human activities. Most aleaths were caused by automobiles along highways, on U.S. 1, the nrain road in Everglades National Park, anai the road over Card Key Largo. Ten adult Sound to nortbern animals were known to halE died in 12 years, a rate slightly less than one per year. Manaqement needs population Our stualies have failed to demostrate that the crocodile in Florida is decreasing. We have, in fact, evi.alence to suggest that lecruitment to the breetling population occurs periodicallyAlthough the population remains sma11 and isolated, it is not ir1 inunediate alanger of extihction, Most potential constraints on population growth are relativefy minor and natural. As a whole, however. these natural constraints inhibit any rapid population increase, as would be expected at the northern Limits of the range speciesof an othei^rise tropical has alecreased somewhat from The population's range in Florida Biscayne historic times due to the loss of habitat in northern Bay antl Miami Beach. It is possible that this loss has been compensateal by the artiflcial babitats on northern KeI l,argo and Turkey Point. This habitat nodification has been of benefit to crocodiles in producing nesting sites where such previousfy were scarce or nonexistent. As a result of our findings, we see no need for any drastlc population. nanipufative management of the southern Florida crocodile Several conservation concerns rernain bowever. The first and most important is the protection of habitat on northern Key l,argo.The acquisltion of this land as part of the Crocodile Lake Wi1d1lfe Service is continuing. Refuge by the USFish and Wifdlife A second concern is the continuing mortality of crocodiles, esl€cialty along highways. The future revamping of US Higbway 1 from adults, Miaml to Key Largo provides an opportunity to halt such mortality the roaalbed on trestles mangrove by placing as it passes through swamps. This ls much preferred to simply installing culverts. as has been alone as an internediate neasure, in that crocodiles moitalities have occurred as individuals crossed the highway not pfans to Abe thiral concern involves far fron such culverts. increase the flow of nater to the eastern reaches of Everglades Natlonal Park. Such ffows may ralse water level-s in creeks in northern Floridad Bay, thereby threatening the crocoallle nests ?he threat increasing subterraneaD along tbese creeks. of fulther of such crocodile nests needs to be alleviateal. flooding 792 Literature Cited Chabreck, R,H- 1966. Methods of determining the size and composition populations of Alligator in louisiana. Proc. S.E. Assoc. Game Pish Connr. 20. 105-712. Dinrock, A.W. 1918. The Florida 447-452. crocodile. An- Mus. LT. 18: Jacobsen, M.T. 1983. crocodilians and islanalsi state of Anerican alligator anal the American crocodile in lower Floriala Keys. Fla. Fiefd Nat. fI: 7-24. Lutz, the the P. and A. Dunbar-Cooper. 1984. The nest environment (Crocodr/lus the American crocodile Copeia eql!!g). 1984:153-161- of I{azzott'i, I-;I. and W.A. Dunson. In press. Aalaptations of Crocodvlus for life in saline Eg]Iljlg and alligator water- Comp- Biochem. Physio]. Morre, J. C. 1953. The crocodife copeia 1953:54-59. ogden. J-c. 1978. Status and nesting blology of t}le American crocodile, Crocodvlus ag']lg!q (Reptif ia, Crocodilidae) in Florida- J. Herp. 12: 183-186. Wyman, J, J. 1870. On the existence Sci. Arts.49:105- 193 in of Everglades a crocodile Nationaf in Park. Florida.Am. F ig u r e I . : R a n g e o f t h e A r n e r i c acnr o c o d i l e( C r o c o d y l uasc u t u s )t n s o u t h e r nF lo r i d a , I J S A . ov.roll Ronge E Cor6Ron96 El N63tin0Ronqc@ -l I D 0 794 'rx No!lingAroo!a THE PRESENT' STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION ACUTUS ON TT]E CARIBBEANISL.AND OF CROCODYLUS OF H]SPfrfbLA John Thorbj arnarson I'lorida State Museum and schoof University of of Eorest Resources anal Conservation - cainesville, Florida FL, 32611 _ USA Tntroduction The Amerlcan crocoalile. gg!!.Uq, is the most widely Crocodylus alistributed primarity of the four New wortd crocodifes. found q. acutus ranges along both the Atfantic in coastal regions, and Pacific coasts of soutbern Mexico, Centraf America anal northern South .Nnerica, as well as the southern tip of Florida and the creater Antillean islanals of Cuba, ,f,amaica and Hispaniola. As with the great malority of crocodi li ans , populati ons of g. acutus have been decimated by a conbination of hide huntino, habitat destruction and wanton killing. Althouqh the species (crooTbriciqe as a whole is seriously ilepteted 1982) a recent review of the overall status of a. acutus reveafed our lack of iletailed information fron many parts of the species 'rabge {King et a1. 1982) - Sinilarly relatitety few stuati;s been done on the ecology of C. acutus. Toaiay, our best data on ecology come from the population in southern lforida where studies have been on-going since the early 19?0,s (Oqden 1979, Kushlan and Mazzoti 1985). More recently ecotogical investigations have been initiated in the Dominican Republic (Ottennalder anal fncbauscequt. pers. conun.), Janaica (carrick, pers- comn.), Venezuefa (SeaJas (T h o r b j a r n a r s o n , i n p e p . ) . 1985) and Haiti With fundinq fron the New York Zoofogical Society, my work on Hispaniola began in 1981, initiafly is the Dominican Republic aDd later in Haiti, Hispaniola, shared by these two nations, is the seconat largest anal most ecologically ati_verse of the Greater Antilles 176,I92 kr.:.2l- Visited by colunbus in 1492, the isfanal was settleal by the Spanish in the earfy 15th century, displacing the indigenous Taino-Carib indian cuftures. Follora,inq the more luclative conquests of Peru and Mexico, the Spanish influence in Hispaniola wavered anai other nations, most notably France,maale idroad;. In 1697 the western third of the isfand was cedeal to France. setting the stage for the tater revotution and establishment of llaiti.the i.rorld's first black republic, ln 1804. Today, both Hatti antt the Doninican Republic face major ecologicat probtems stenuning fron high population densities and centuries of misuse. This is especiafly true of Haiti, the poorest country in the New Worlal, where sol1 erosion has reached crisis proportionsThe native wildlife has similarly suffered from overhunting, habitat loss and the introduction of exotic species. ToCIay the crocodile remains one of the few large native species stil1 found on the islanal- 195 problems, HisDaniofa stilf retains awiCle Despite its ecological (vhlch types within its diverse topography variety of habitat includes the caribbean's highest point, pico Duarte 3175 m). crocodiles, while still found in typical coastal habitats, remain in larger nurnbers in two land-locked lakes surrounaled by arial This account wiff briefly the status of semi-desert. outline populations in both coastal anal lake babitats, and crocodile which impinge onthem. some of the human-relateal factors describe Inland A. Lake crocodile Popufatioos DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The cu1-de-sac,/valfe de Neiba depression is a 1ow-fylng valley east from Haiti's capitaf Port-au-Prince to that streches containetl in this vaffey Barahona in the Dondnican Republic. lakes; r,ago Enriquillo and Etang are the island's two largest Saumatre. Boralered to the north and soutb by a series of recently a submerged mountain ranges, thls valIey was until in the Pleistocene, water was trappeal Uplifted marine strait. creating in a series of depressions four lakes which now support biota. The largest of and freshwater a mixed marine-coastal became the two lakes that now support these alepressions populations. crocodile in the Dominican Republic, is the largest of Lago Enriquillo, scrub habitat the lakes and is surrounded by a dry cactus-thorn situated approxinately 700 fiun rain annuallyreceiving has concentrated evaporation approximately 35 m below sea level. 45 parts per thousand is presently the lake water and the salinity (ppt) . old coral reefs, intact, are scattereal some virtually recent uplifting. evialence of the region's around the fake fringe, in rainfalf. the lake level has varieal Owing to fluctuations in the past. since 1979, follcnlting a series of considerably 5 meters, Lago Enriquillo has risen approximatefy hurricanes, Prior to 1979 used for agriculture. inunalatinq land previously (70-80 ppt) causing severe wan much higher the lake safinity problenrs fauna. During this tifi\e juvenile ion-balance for the lake's to a few freshqrater \,ras apparentlY restricted crocoalile recruibnent entered the runoff marsb habitats where springs or irrigation some Iake. As the major nesting areas ale located on islands. rough water, t})e from shore over frequently several kilometers perj.shed from dehydration great majority crocodiles of hatcbling several weeks of hatchingwithin IsIa cabritos. the during this period of low water. Furthermore, largest island and the site of much of the nesting fake's activity, became connected to the rnainland- This provided access animafs (J. A. otte$/a1aler, per. to the islanal by poachers anal feral 196 ?he recent rise in lake levef has alifuted the water in Lago Enriquillo, again isolated Isfa cabxitos, and flooded fringiag woodfanal in several areas / creating quality a bettel habitat for Juvenile and adult clocoaliles. Additionallt. in i982 severaf yearling crocoaliles were found living in srnall pools on fsla Cabritos, suggesting that at least some of hatchlings now able to tolerate the more aliluted fake waterDespite the narginal habitat. conditions, Lago Enriquillo remairls the largest anal most locaIly tlense C. acutus population khow. Since 1977 scientists from the Museo Nacionat de Historia Natural in Santo Dondngo have been studying the ecology of the crocodiles in Lago Enrlquillo. At least 6 nesting beaches are known, anal the annual number of nests has been estimated as 1OO-150 (J.A. Ottenwalder and S. Inchaustegui, pers. comm.). Assuning a similar population structure and nesting frequency as in neighboring Etang Saumatre ( Tborbj arnars on, in prep.)? this suggests as adult population of 385-525 adult crocodiles, population or a iotat of 2,452-3,344. With 130 kn of shoreline, the crocodite density inLago Enriquillo is 18.9-25.7 crocodiles/km, or an estinrated biomass of 1A8.4-256.1 kglkm. These figures represent only general estimates as we lack more precise dempgraphic data. However, the density values are close to those teported by Cott and pooley (I972) for nearly undisturbed populations of Crocodvfus nitoticus. This suggests that the population in lago Enriquitlo nay.e in a nearly pristine state. Nevertheless, poaching stifl takes p1ace, despite protective legislation patroltlng anal occasional by pafk guards and Nationaf Museum personnel. In the Dominican Republic host of the crocodifes kilfeal are adult mafes whose penis is used for making aphrodisiacs. Isla Cabritos has been designated park by the goverrmEnt a national in order to prolect the crocodiles and the endemic ground iguana Cyclura ricordi. Due to recent budgetary contraints is the naticnal parks departnent, however, adequate patrolling of the lake has not been taking pface- r'urthermore/ the boundaries of t})e park do not include the critical freshwater marsh habitats that frihdF the lake in several areas {see Conservation Status and Recorunendations). B. HAITI Etang Saumatre, located only 10 km west of Lago Enriquillo, is Haiti's largest take. Approximately two-thirds the size of Lago Enriquillo, Etang Saumatre (113 kn 2) 1s similar in qeotoqical origln, but very drfferenl in ecoloqy from its siste; lak;. Located 15 meters above sea level, Etang Saumatre, instead of (8-10 ppt) ? and so contains being hypersaline, is brackish a much more diverse biotaSimilarfy surrounded by a cactusthorn scrub habitat, the valley region containing both lakes in sparsely inhabited, a factor which has siqnificantlv reduced the potenLral for human impact on the c.rocodiie populations. 197 into the of a 13 nonth investigation Etang saumatre was the site The adult crocoalile ecology of g. acutus (ThorblaEBarsaD, in prep.). population in Etang Saumatre is much smaller than in aaUacent Lago 70. Most of the crocodlfe nurnberlng approximately EnriquiIfo,. qtong t}le uninhabited eastern fakeshore, populatlon is concehtrated protected from the prealoninantly which is also the shore most of all of crocodiles the crude dehsity winds. overall, easterly shoreli.nes avoided by the size clasEes is 6.3/km shore. omitting (steep rockl or higb wave exposure) the ecofogical clocodiles density is 9.6,/km (bionass 92.3k9/kr.:.). of the boraler between owing to a somewhat fortunate Juxtaposition Etang Saunatre is lakeshore of colntries, the eastern the two Together zone adjacent to the border. locateal in a restricted with a recent ban on boats from the lake and a lack of freshwater along the eastern takeshore this has kept tbe eastern part of the 7-8 years. Prior to this for lake free from human habitatlon anal charcoal across the 1ake, and fishermen boats would travef As this part of the eastern lakeshorevisitetl nakers regularly population and the lake contains a large part of the crocodile have been of virtuatly all the nesting areas, these factors for the a de facto protection malor importance in providing in Etang Saumatre. crocodlle do not crocodiles Because the lake water is biackish, hatchling problems that theydo in Lago Enriquillo. face the osmoregulatory on the crocodiles the inpact of huhan populations Nevertheless anal this fact is borD out Saumatre, i$ EtaDg been nore severe has netting lake. GilI in that of crocodifes by the much lcffer Censity dro'.?n in ia colrltnonly seen in tbe lake and every year crocodiles that take domestic stock are crocodiles these nets. Simifarly, eggs are and their crocodiles killed. Although in and baitetl taboos because of religious ger}erally not eaten in Haiti anifiListic vcodoo play an inportant role in the hiqhly icrocodiles people botder with the poorer near the sorne of the religion), to eating crocodj.le on occasion. resort Doninican Repubflc will from furttle-r- di.vorce'I some of the hore educated people, l,r.kewise. f o r sport' o r L 1 l 1 t : r ' r will' eat crocodifes beliefs, these reiigious in Etang of adult crocoaliles Another major source of mortality saumatre is shooting by border guards at two posts on tbe lake shooting ins often done (Malpaso anal Las I,ajas). This illegal the meat anal the to obtain by the Dominicans or out ;f boradon, penis of the males. coastal crocodile Popul ations were once botb accorDts suggest that crocodiles Historical (Moreau de abundant and wialespread along the coast of Hispaniola t h e n referred r n H a i t i . 1809). fact St. Mery 1?97-8, Descourtilz specimens described of the thetype focality St. Domj.ngue, is to as from the 1 | Ester_ Artiticrrite in 180? (probably originating by cuvier redlonr. 198 fron 7Ox crocoaliles have been extdrminated in Haiti, Presently 'lo poltulations that coastal range, and those f"..". -u."" oi-lft.i.in the The situation in size' reduceal drastically !*r"i-rr"". population co-astal one only as worse is even Republic fi;can coast on the noxthern afong Haiti that one borders ;";;;; ""'d island. of the more or less restricted Four coastal poputations -one-third can be define'I, (Fis' 1) on the 1) t isfand the of iJ-ir."-*.=i"'i 2) the western en'l of coast of the Tiburon Peninsula, islands) saterlite of Hispaniola's "ootft"." conave {the larsest ii;-e;-i" section estuarine the 4) in and mabgrove swdnrP, 3l the ]'Ester coastar lagoons ' Massacre and adjacent .i tle niviere ' are qulte snall and are restricted Alf the coastal populations contain suitable that stilt are'i i = ;;i"ii;.iv;;-.;;; "l"t"a an'l the renalnrnq diffLrse very are populations a. these rtiu*l!.t. estrmates or are quite wary, no quanLjtative individuals by tle jre problems dtte -loss dvail;bre. size -shared "o**on human-related and ' """"r"|j"" habitat .i... i"-"ri-iit... :;;ili;; tt the latter primarilv"tt from drownins,in l]"Ii19.""t" *-it"rity, H a l l a 1 n ' beinq ki 1 ted as vermin. As menliored Dreviousry . ' for food because of religious ,beliefs are not ki1led foo'l' for are croco'liles Republic "i".iair. in the Dominican -use'l penis for However, for melicional purposes' and the lii"" i.t-i" have i.". rn border regions cro-ss-cultural influences towar'ls attitudes Dominican ""iriital" the ""ili.iii!i-i"t"iiti.".-iJ"ptr"q ;il";;a; .i"."ail"t. i""i-"U"i"".fy but This is evident to some exent in Etang saumatre' ' Massacre Rivj_ere the along the northern border on that are- ki1le'l nost of the croco'liles in Haiti with man' contact into come acci.lentallv which have higher have been extirpated regions where crocodri;; coastal thev still where areas than Qi' '9/k^2) densities ii*."-p"p"i.ir"" r e m a l n - rn t o t e n ' l c r o c o d i l e s remain'(i34-6,/km2) . similarly, (o' coast) 39km2lkm of coast areas with more mangrove p"t iii"lnti"i '-rhe (o'05km2'/km) hav-e b"e'' extj-rpated ;;;.-trr;y ;;;"";;;; is s-isnificantlv of these two factors ::iltl::"d in coastal provlnces crocodiles of "l.ir".ii." presence or aoseocc lrith the (wilcoxon RanI test, P 0.05) ' Nevertheless! 'j;;-;;;;-;;;;. Conservation Status and Recomendations in the Domlnican Republic protected ale legally Afthough crocodiles taki;ng pl'ace ' currentlv is of this reqisiation iiili"-."r"'."*.nt ror both popuraEion (Laso i" r..o priute* ;;;.;;';';;;ii;;"i no Rlo Massacre) ' rtr Hai!i ' crocodiles are afforde'l Enriquillo, would passed they ancl even tt such iaws lrere legal protection, to entorce' impossible be almost along the coast an'l the Due to the burgeoning human population in the rats-of uni acceleraLion need for .p".t, -a..t."..i concomitant populations crocodife coastal of -urieht.on , tire future '',_-;"a'".1y iiiii"i iflnediate take needs-to. pominlcan eepubtic the Massacre t h e R i o o f estuarine sectlon the iicludinq ri"pt-,"".ia" of one is area this As natlonaa p"tit-tvti"'' in the exisiting 199 mangrove swamp 1t few remaining areas of riverine the country's ecosystem and the coastal in role biotia .'..y_ i.pottant ti. " consialered for protection' be seriously shoulal in some coastal crocoaliles have managed to survive In Haiti, pressures' popufation human intense frequently tlespite areas jnFcsible be virtually protection of areas \tou1d sirict ailfr""qir the to re'Iuce do rnuch planning could i tlttt. fo i"Eo^prisir, as access By restricting populations. impact on the crocodile areas (sucb as nestinq nu;h as possibte to certain criLical and designing 9i1l-netting leactres ina nurserv habirat), these smal1 coastal to reduce crocoalile mortalitv, ;;;;;;.;. c h a n ce of survival'.As g r e a t e r a m u c h h a v e woulil i"p"fuai"n. in helping no\'r inteEested are ag.tt-re. aid international ;e;era1 p.lan' management zone government develop a coastal the Haitian overalr part of an be made rec5mmendatj ons cou-Ld ;;;"ii;. (e.9. manatees, flamjngos' oioqr"* t" conserve coastal wildtife nanv of which share the same habitats' ind crocodiles) i"i'i"iti." and Etang Saumatre in Lago Enriquillo The crocoalile populations Because ot tne future' secure, from but far have a brighter, the lirnited. a n d sparse frumin populations surrounding them, has mortafity }ake, human-related saline o? itl".. it_" chances "="s" the "" and areas, coastal the in than fa"tt f"t"-"a"at" In Etang Saumatra the ban on protection are betterior habitat Furthermore' the.o o i t s s f r o u f a _U e c o n t i n u e d i n d e f i n a L e l y ' be declared a wildlife to eastern lakeshore needs uninhabited park national developing newly part Haiti's of as t h e "i.tctuary, ;vstem (;hich lo date includes onLv montane areas) ' As q u e s t i o n -Lhis i n l a n d tr'' itr owns virtualtv iliii..'s;t.."t.nL the Provi'ling government' the cost to could be alone at little also patrolled, this-would, anal naintained i. p."p".fy .t." by helping to reduce the snuggling that occurs pr"viae ite"Ztitl across the border. should be in Lago Enriquillo The protsection of the clocodiles u r s e n t l v nePd t' enforced ano the park boundaries r"i.-riqidrv the around marshes incluale the vit-al freshwater lJ-"*"iia.a't" berng is input freshwater limited take._As the lake's managelnent an integrate'l fo! agriculture, in-ieasi"qly diverted problen of,freshwater the io be unalertaken to address fauna'every "f"" ttre"."ai of tbe lake's of the great najorrty tit"Utooa i. into tbe lake supply consrant i to et1"r.t.e be made .n""ra .if"it 200 Li +aF.+i,ra Cott, .i +ai H.B. antl A.C. pooley. 1972. The status of crocodiles Afrlca. IuCNPubl- (N.S.) Suppt. paper 33: 1-98. Descourlilz. M.E. 1809. Voyages d'un naturaliste, observations. Historie naturelfe du crocodile Domingue, etc Dufort pere Lib-. paris 3: 11-108. in et ses de Saint Groon cridge, B. 1982. The IUCN Anphibia-Reptilia red data book. Part 1. Testualines, Crocodl']ia, Rhynchocephatia. Unwih Brotbers Ltd.. Surrey U.K. 426 pp. King. F.w., B.w. campbell and p- Mofer- 1982. Revielr of the status oftle American crocodile. IUCN pubf. {N-S-) TSBN 2-4o32-209-x. p. 84-98. Kushlan, J. and I'. Mazzoti. 1985. popul-ation biologry anal status of the American crocodile in south Florida. IUCN pub1. {N.S,) (this volume) l4oreaude St. MerI, M.L.E. 1797-8. Descriptlon topographi c, phys ique , politique civife. et historique de la parte Francaise de frisle de Saint Domingue. 2 vols. Societe ale I'Historie des Cofonies I'rancaises et Libraire ]-arose, paris288 and e56 pp. Ogden, J.C. 19?8. Status and nesting biofogy crocodile, Crocodvlus ag.U!]lq. (Reptilia, Florida. J. Herpetol. 12 (2): r83-196. of the .A"nerican Crocodifialae) in Seijas, A.E. 1985. Situaci6n actual del caimjn de 1a costa, (Crocodyl-us acutus) en Venezuela. IucN publ. (N.S.) (this vofune). 207 z Sg z1 5E oe z o_ ::ei 3 6.::ri '"i;r'E-q i = =€.E ==8.: ;l :$Ei:.,.i r{r| =: Fl -o ur*j,+;$ E I SOCf,AL BEHAVTOR OF'THE AMERTCANAIIJIGATOR Kent A. vfiet UDiversity of Ftorida Department of zoology GainesviIle, Florida 32611. USA Introduction The study of alligator behavior is a rather young fielal wlth almost alf of the significant contributions occuirino in the last two decades. Early account.s, such as those of n6ese (1907, 19ls), Kellosg (1929), and Mcrfhenny (1935) were anecdotaf observations but provided some useful information. Even these scanty earty references inaticated a complexity of behavior far more advanced that of other reptiles. The excellent work of Leslie carrick and Jeffrey Lang {Garrick and Lang, 19??; carrick et al- 1978) provided the first atetaifeal anafyses of alligator social behaviorThese studies noteal complex patterns of social conununication involving visuaf, auditory and tactile signals and provided further evialence of the highly advanced nature of the behavior of these animals The social bebavior of the Anerican atligator is a comptex array of acts facking nuch of the behavioraf stereotypy corunon to the behavior of other reptiles. Tbeir highly vocal nature,welt developed parental care, anal tbe variabilitt oi behavioral responses in social interactions, al1 make the behavior of alligators far more similar to that of birals and marffnafs than to that of the other reptile groupsThe present paper describes certain aspects of the social behavior of the American alligator in captivityThis is not a review of all that is known of the behavior of tlese crocoalilians but 1s, rather, a general deplction of some of the observations of alligator social behavior, specificatly of altigator courtship and of two assertion alispfays, the betlolr and the law-ctap. A detailed analysis of the inforhation described below will-be published elsewhere. Methoals Study site: This study was conducted at the St. Agustine Afligator Iarm, a privately-o{ned comrnercial tourist atraction in St. Johns country, I'lorldaThe study site is a smatt, man_nade take of approximately 1/4 hectare surface area surrounated by another 4/10 hectare encfosed land surface containing a large number of captive aduft American atlioator:s. The Iake is i)orCereal with native coastat dune vegetation domlnat.C by Southern Live oal(, Saw palmetto, and Yaupon holly. Deep grouno wetts provide a constant f-l ow of watertnto the lake throuqhout the year. Th; take is traversed fy boardwalk raised severat fee! above the water surface "-wooae" from which oDservations of behavior are made. The alfigators within the take are lTabltuated to the daily presence of tou;ists on the boaralwafk and apparently lrehave naturally while being observeal. 203 through were made from early April Observations Study methods: mial-,f,une from 1981 to 1983. These periods encompassed the whole season and extenaleal up to the period of egg of the courtship hours were made prinarily during daylight Iaying. Observations were to dusk. Some observations fight intermittently from first naale at night using image- intensi fying equipment- Most on tatrErectolders recortled were nade from the boaralwalk. observations naale were usually Behavioral observations and later transcribealvisual records of from 4 to 15 neters from the afligators. and 1,/2" I nm movie filh. behavior wele made wlth 35 mm slides, and other audible behaviors viaeo, Recoralings of vocalizations Some and shotgun nicrophone\{ere made with a Nagra Iv recorder condnunication observations were made in the water to stualy visual of alligators. of the study population fhe size anal composition Study animals: contained varied between the three stualy seasons. The population ranging in lengtb between 145 and 165 adult American alllgators the group changed from 2.0 m to 3.2 n. The sex ratio within or I renoved and aaltleal between stuaty season as Farm personnel During the 1981 season, there were approximately new individuafs. 1.3 nales per female, in 1982 only 0.8 males for each female, and in 1983 about 1.1 males per female. prior {ere to each study season/ all anirnafs in the population visible, captured, sexed, measured, and marked. Large, highly single caualal whorl nu bered tags were attached to an anterior These tags were identificationfor individual of the taif easlly readable up to 40 meters. The tags were changeal before alue to in the observations each new stualy season to realuce bias know.Iedgeof an anrnal's past behavioral history. courtshlp in afligators is a slow, extendeal process involving courtship senory cues. In and probably olfactory visual, tactife, auditory, season extends from the second weel< St. Augustine, the courtship intensity of April to the end of May, with a peak in courting is seen throughout about the third week of May. Although courtship occur during of copulations this two month perioal, the majority powerful are large, the last tlro weeks of May. Adult alligators one another- This extended period of and very capable of injuring is thougbt to be necessary to reduce the ]evels of courtship or lr1thin a aggression or anxiety between two individuals, population, so that close approach, mounting and mating can occur. Levels of aggression alo seem to be reduced during the courtship fewer There are significantly season in these captive alligators. during the two within the study population serlous inluries season than during the two month period months of the courtship proceeding courtsh:ip. can De qrouped courtship in..l1iEator acts involved Tl'ese are: categories. functional Behavrors 'elaLeo ro the lr+roduction of partrers; pair; ot the courting the l3gllle .interaclions and strengtht contests of Phvsicaf Mountino and associated behaviors. Behavioral into four 204 These groups ale not -functional courtship as acts from aliffereht necessarily categories sequential are often ln alligator interhixed. 1. Introdgction: Alligator courtship is instigated by one animal swirmning to another and either initiating tactile interactions or remalning still untif the second aninal begins interactionsIntroductory behavior may inctude the initiating animal blocking the progress of a swilluntng alligator, Visual co;munication bet\"reen partners the potential is important in this phase of courtship. The approaching animaf swims slow]y and remains low in the water, often with only the eyes, nostrils. anat cranial table exposed. upon approach, the second animal often raises its positi;n in the water thus exposing nrore of its body surface. This appears to serve-as a {arning to the approaching animal. The very low body profile above the water surface assumed by an approaciring animat seems to be perceived as a non-aggressive slgnal by the aeconal alligatorObviousty, tbe non-aggressive attitude 6t each animal must be comnunicated to the partner during this phase introductory if courtship is to continue. Courtship may also be initiated by an alligator swiruning paralfel to another, eventualfy overtaking the second. As the laatar attempts to turn out of this parattel swim, the former persists in naintaining its position. This persistence eventuatly stimulates the latter to sfow or stop and begin courtship. A characteristic vocalizati.on, a fow, soft flutter, is often maate by one or both of the alligators during the initial phases of courtship. This ff\rtter nay be produceal by an animaf as it approaches another or as it is approached. This fluttering vocalization is made in short bursts and produces ripples in t})e water surroundinq the head of the alligatorIt is obviously perceived tactilfy by the second animal when they are in conract. The function of this audible signal is unknown although it probabfy serves as a warning of a cfose approach or a caution to an approaching animal, 2- Tactile interactions: Following introduction. the approaching anlmaf may make physicalcontact with t}le second or remain stilf. If tbe second alligator is responsive, it wilf move forward and begin tactile interactions with the former. Tnitiat contacts are nost usually made either at the premaxiflary or tbe retro_articufar process of Lhe ]olrer jaw, dependrnq on Lhe direcLron of approach of the alligator initiating the interaction. Throuqhout t-he tactile and physical contest phases of courtshlp, the interaclrng alligators orient themselves to each other in a position which T tern a "face-off,,. one in which the heaals of borh animals are parallel but facing in opposjte directions.Touches to the head and neck of the partner are made from this face-off orientaEron and the courting animafs return to it repeatedly during the tactile interactions. often, only one of the animals actively oositrons hinself so as to assume the face-off, but many times b;th aninals move simultaneously into the positlon, inaticating a cooperative aspect to alligator courtship. 205 soft bumps but ocasicnally Touches to the head aqd neck are usually partner. once it forcefully ram or push lts courting an animal will backs slightly and then moves the alligator has made contact, contacts are usualfy made forward again to make another contact. pait premaxlllary but if the touching the of tbe with anterior-most table of the other, contact animal rldes up onto the snout or cranial to discreet is natle lrith the under side of the jaw. rn addition back and forth along the w:11 rub touches, courting alligators siale of the head of the partner. anal tactile ihteractions, After the initial 3. I)hysical contests: the alligators behaviors, subsequent tactile with also intermixeal anCI resj-stance involving contests of strenqth engage in physical by one aninraf to press the other unaler r,ratel. Trom a attempts raises its head positlon, the other, one animal circfes face-off of the second, nuchaf scales cranial table, or up onto the snout, or vigorousfy and presses down. The second anlmal may resist If the second is pressed under. the first submit to the presses. The submerged animal to keep lhe second from resulfacing. tries pressing anlmal and unaler the backs turns out from or usually animals are often held undei ltater rises to the water surface. for periods of up to five minutes although most presses alo not last more than 20 seconds. Belng pressed unaler seems to stimulate in further its interest the alligator rather tban diminish back into a facecourtship and both animals usually nove directfy from pressing interactsicns. 4. Mounting: Mounting nay folIow directly can rotate alligator once an animaf is being pressed, the superior hj-nd-linncs onto the and lift foreto the other, }]is body parallef position. a itself up into mounted draw of the other and dorsum continue fron the mounteal position. Pressing behaviors usually obvious aluring this phase of are especially These behaviors animal rises to the surface, the subordinant Every time courtship. moves to press it unaler the surface the mounteal animal quickly again. has been mounted and presseal under, it usually when an alligator and moving forward or alternates beglns swinuning forwaral, tryinq to move out from under the nounted apparently baiking the animal, Tf it is atlowed to bring its head to the surface. pressed again, when under sti11. renain wiIl usually lower afligator in it begins swiruning once more- If the upper animal is persistent the lower alliqBtor and in pressing its mounted position maintainiog slow or stop- It seens eventuafly will under water, the latter is activity by one aninal in courting that this persistence to a1low nating to the other alligator important in stimulating take place. rolls over the upper alligator once the lower aninal is still. his hold witb maintaininq onto the side of tle fower, while still and beqins sNeeping or "searching" both fore- and hind-linbs, contact that of the lower when its tail motions with it tail. animaf, it is passeal underneath and then drawn forwaril to bring the to occur. Copulation was never vents in contact for copulation seen to fast nore than 35 seconds in the course of this study. 206 All of the behaviors described above occur at the water surface. This is an indication tlat visuat signals must be very important in i.nitiating and propagating a courtship interaction. On-ce one animaf has nrounteal the other. they may drop below the surfaceDeep nater is not necessary for copulation to take place- Many instances of copulation in fess than tr^ro feet of waier have been observed, Participants in Courtship: I have nraateno mentlon to this point as to the sex of the participating animals. Al1 of the behavrors describeal above are perforned by both males anal femates - At the beginninq of the courting season, usuafly in the seconat week of Aprif in St- Augustine, many of the males beqin to exhibit courting behaviors. As the season progresses, more and more males becone active in courtship or courtship-like encounters, so that by the eDd of the first month of the courting season, atmost a1l of the males whicb wifl court t}lat year are alreaaly engaging in courtship. Fenales behave quite differently. very iew iemales are active in courtship encounters at the start of the season- It is only aluring the peak of the season, aiuring the last two or three weeks of May, that the majority of the femaies whi c'h wilf court that season become actlve. f'emales actually appear to avoicl contact with other alligators i!.r the population anat spend much more time of land in the basking areas than do the males. A consequence of these differences is that the averaqe rnafe has d very fong courtship period, often encompassing the entire season, whife an effective courtship season for an av;rage female is much shorter, usuafly less than two weeks- ttowever, when females are active, they tend to initiate most of the courtsbips anal vigorously court the mates, often mountlng and pressing mates much larger than themselves under lraterperhaps as a result of the relative scarcity of active courting females, many of lhe,,courL-nip interactions observed in this study invofved only male pdrtrcipancs. In fact, during the first part of the courtsbip season, interactions occur afnost exctusively between males. These interactions are, in almost every way, exactfy like the courtshir interactions between mafes and femalesAny differences between tlhese interactions and actual courtships are most probably due to the relatively large size of both participants. For instance, physical contest behavlors are very prevalent in these interactlons. It is not known if these nalemafe interactions occur among alligators ln nature buy they are know to occur among alligators in other captive situations. I'emafes very rarely interact with other females. Periods of Courtship Activity: As stated previously, courtship is a highly seasonal activity anat is generatfy observed in St. Augustine from the seconal week of April through t}le tast week of May or first week of June- Some variation in time of onset and in intenslty of courting actlvity does occur. This appears to be due primarily to meteorological features such as fow night time air tenperatures or low water temperatures. In a geographic sense, courtship activities are initiated earlier in the spring in southern ]ocalities than in more northerlv areas. 207 throughout the alay. In the ColrtinE intensity varies dramatically is obvious at first 1lght early part of the season, courtsbip the sun reaches the western basking areas in and proceeals until is most intense during these early the lake. courting activity tlalt most of the alligators morning hours. At this point, only ibteractions and leave the water for these basking sites. ifl, or animals (blind. farge, alominant males and a few infirm Basking contilrues tbroughorh missihg limlcs) remain in the water. the water to move re-entering the day with animals sporadically to the eastern basking areas as the sun moves to the west. The only after again enter the r"/ater and resu.'ne courting alligators the sun j-s off of the eastern basking areas at dusk. later in the season as daytime higb, This pattern is modified increase. During the latter niqht tine low, anal water temperatures part of the season, afligators spend Less time basking and,thus, as the animals have entereal develops a rnialalay period of courtship the water foflowing the morning bask and before they again bask is never as intense at midday activity in the evening. Courtship as it is in the morning or evening hours. the night, However, as nocturnaf courtship also occurs throughout from does not appear to be different courtship is never intense, to observe,few diurnal activity, and is much nore difficult courting activity were made at niqht. observations of courtship in the evening. at last liqht does seem to drop off quickly low throuqhout the night and then itrcleases remains fairly light. noticabfy about one hour before first occurs anytime season, courting During the peak of the courtship of courting ancl the animals are in the water. The daily pattern basking describeal above is allsrupted on daYs of inclement r,reather. spend the on heavily overcast or rainy days, the alligators the day in t}le water and courtshiF is observeal throughout entire is siqnificantly more intense in the ea!1y day- Even so activity morhing anal late evening hourshas afso been intensity in courting A great deal of variation noted between stualy season. During the 1981 study season, coultship nuriber of in terms of total was much more vigorous. activity observed, length of courtships, number of courtships courtships than in the antl nunber of copulations, l-eading to mounting, and earfy spring two stucly seasons. late winter following night time low temperatures neteorological conditions. especially for might be responsable effects on water temperature, and their two stualy seasons noted in the latter the reduceal activity suggest they are keenly movements and basking behaviors Alliqator unseasonally cold weather may to arrbient temperatures, sensitive hortnonally or through some other physiological cause. either behavior. of afligator courting means, a decrease in the intensity Beflowino and audible signafs are highly vocal reptiles Alfigators calfs of The grunts or distress in many social contexts. are wefl kno}In to anyone who has handled small alligators. 208 are useal Juveniles Aalult affigatots make vocalizations or other non-vocaf sounds aturing threatened, during aggressive courtship.when encounters, and in many other social interactions. Adult alligators produce a loud, low flequency roar, or bellowThis vocalization is most commonfy heard during the courtship season, although it may occur anytime in the year when the animats are active. The bellowing of one animal stimulates others in the population to bellow producing a "chorus". choruses are typically heard in the early morning hours although choluses of much shorter duration may be bearal anytime during the Clay or night. The bellowing display involves a regular and highly stereotypeal series of repeateal inhalations ancl exhalations performed in a characteristic body posture with both the head and tail arched out of the water. The audible bellow is produced with the folceal exhalati.on. A series of beflows are performed in a betlowing "bout",1n individuaf alliqator nay perform more than one bout during a rnorning chorus. Tbe bellows of male and female alligators in a nufirber of differ characteri st i cs . The cadence of the display of the mates is much slower than tbat of the females - Males also tend_ to perform fewer belfows per bout tban do females- Most importantly, nales produce an infrasonic projected signal, through t}le water, Just prior to the audible be1low. Females never produce this infrasoni.c signal. This signaf is so powerfuf that it makes the water suffoundinq the alfigator's torso ,,dance,, up off of the water surface. The "nater dance" of a large male can cause vibrations ln preliminary the ground and other nearby objects. analysis of this subaudible signal suggests a frequency of approximately 10 hz. The fength and intensity of the infrasonic signal decreases through a beflowing bout. The mechanism by wbicb tle siqnal is produced Bellowing choruses occur almost daily throughout the courtship season. Tn the first part of the season, cioruses are somewhat irregufar, vary greatfy in length, and on some days alo not occur at allAs the season progresses/ choruses become more predictable. Through the courting season, as sunrise becomes earlier, choruses also are initiated earlierIn the fast half of May, when courtship is at its peak, belfowing afso is most intenseAt this time, there are characteri s ti cal ly two choruses each morning; one very early, usually before sunrise, and another later in the morning. After courtship has ceased, morning beflowing choruses appear to be much fess regular and less intense, although they occur sporadically throughout the remainder of the summer anal BeIlowinq fafl. is only rarely heard in the winter months. The length and intensity of bellowinq choruses seem to be a case of social facilitationThe few records of average belfowing chorus length which have been published seen to inalicate that morninq bellowing choruses continue for fonger periods of time in farge populations than in smaller ones. Herzog's (19?4) study described a captive population of approximately 26 adult alligators and noted an average chorus length of 11.3 minutes. carrick, et a1 (1978) stated that the average length of bellowinq choruses of a qroup of about 35 alligators peaked at 21.5 ninutes. In the 209 for the entire courtship present the average chorus fegnth study, popufation for the total of season in 1983 was 35.4 ninutes maintained at the Farm. 350 adult afligators approxinately the the grater the number of aninafs in the population, Obviously, and propagate grater to initiate the numlrer of animals available in shallow water with the animals Bellowing sites are typically animals chorus is initiated after facing the bank. If a bellowing bave moveal orto land in the morning, many of these animals }'ill in the chorus- A lesser number of to water to participate return basking sites and belfow animals lri11 renain on their displaying on 1and. poorly undelstood. The lntensity The function of the bellow ls still season of alfigators of beIfol,/ing associated r^rith the courting Alligators sexual component to the display. suggests an important to one anothe! aluring of opposite sex are obviously attracteal seasonchoruses, especially during the peak of the courtship The fact that bellowing choruses are heard at other times of the as wel], year suggests that bellowing may serve other functions of perhaps as an agonistic between menibers alisplay or assertion, the same sex. Head-S lappirlo perform an assertion to as a tread-slap display referred Alliga!or The dispfay i.s performed from a head-uP, taif-up or a jaw-cfap. to posture similar About fifteen to that used during belfowing. is rapidly posture. the lower assuming this 1? seconals after Jaw of the water and tlte upper jaw is forcefully dropped to tbe surface being usua]ly accompanied by the entire ctapped against it, growling slapped against the water surface and a aleep, gutteral animal This act is often followed by the displaying vocalization. rising up out of the water in a "high stance" accompanied by a The tail swish of the water with the tail. vigorous thrashing produces strong waves which alert alligators under water that a of the head against the display has been made- The slapping The water surface is most probably heard by subnerged alligators. The the display. emphasizes or streogthens taif swish obviousfy and tactile vi.sual auditory thus includes head-slap display of afl other alligaLors draws the attention components and easily Any in form anal intensity. are highly variable Head-slap displays high such as the growfing vocalization, component of the display, Males may proaluce an swish, maY be onitted. stance, or tait prior In contrast to the aiisplay. signal immediately lnfrasonic of these infrasonic series of up to eight displays. a with bellowing afthough only one bursts nay be performed before the head-slap, swish nay also begin before the is normally produced- The tail or may not made and proceed through the display clap is actually be made at all. 210