Published by Development - On 25 January 2010

Contributed by Marine Biologist Cherie Chenot-Rose, ACES/American Crocodile Education Sanctuary

On December 23rd, while monitoring the biodiversity of the Rio Grande River, three TIDE Rangers, Santiago, Luis and Nelson, rescued an injured and starving American Crocodile. Knowing only one place that could save the small sick animal, the rangers dropped it off at ACES / American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (click here to link to ACES). ACES is a fully-licensed facility which is permitted by the Belize Forest Department to deal with all crocodiles in the country. ACES’s Biologist, Cherie, and Croc Expert, Vince Rose, applied antibiotics to the croc’s injured eye and force fed it small fish and shrimp. The malnourished animal is now feeding on its own and has gained over 10 ounces. Totally blind in its right eye, after sustaining a one inch cut which deflated the eyeball, the croc is unable to catch prey in the wild and will remain in captivity due to this injury. The croc may be exported to the Wildlife Discovery Center near Chicago where it will be used to teach students about Belize’s wildlife and raise funds for crocodile conservation in Belize.

ACES is a non-profit organization committed to conserving Belize’s critical habitats and protected species, specifically Crocodilians, through scientific research and education to prevent further extinction of the species worldwide. To date, Cherie and Vince have rescued 36 crocodiles, both American and Morelet’s, and have been able to re-release 10 into uninhabited areas of the Sibun Nation Forest. One rescued croc now resides at the Belize Zoo.

ACES's most recent croc rescues involved three large American crocodiles that were going to be shot on Ambergris Caye. Having been fed for years by locals as a tourist attraction, these large Apex predators now associate man with food. Protected under the Belize Wildlife Protection ACT (Chapter 220), it is illegal to feed or catch a crocodile, and a person doing so can be fined up to $500 BZ. Because the crocs were illegally fed, they now have no fear of humans, making them extremely dangerous. Almost 12 ft in length, these ambush predators were living underneath DFC homes, looking for an easy meal. One of the crocs was known to have eaten over 5 dogs in the past few months.

ACES rescues these crocs because they are nearing extinction. With only 10,000 to 20,000 left worldwide they are as rare as polar bears. The reason, it seems to locals, that there are so many remaining here, is because Belize’s pristine mangrove habitats are the last stronghold for these modern-day dinosaurs. In laboratory studies, crocodile blood kills HIV and Herpes simplex.

To report croc-human conflicts, please contact ACES at 665-CROC (2762). ACES is open to visits by the public, by reservation, for a donation of $12.50 US per person and it is half price for locals. Please respect our wildlife and help take a bite out of extinction!