Until next February, the See You in A While Crocodile project, promoted by the United Nations Development Program in Cuba (UNDP), will be receiving donations through the Every.org website with a clear and urgent objective for endemic environmental conservation: monitoring the Cuban crocodile, a species in danger of extinction due, among other factors, to illegal hunting.
The Crocodylus rhombifer (known as the Cuban crocodile) inhabits the Zapata Swamp region, a marshy, peninsular ecosystem located in the province of Matanzas. The species, which can only be found in this wetland, has been classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
“This is due to the reduced number of adult specimens estimated in the wild (about 2,400), its small geographical distribution range (300 km²), illegal hunting, hybridization with the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), and habitat modification,” biologist Etiam Pérez, who is in charge of the project, told OnCuba via WhatsApp.
Once the fundraising campaign is completed, which will allow the team to purchase appropriate equipment for tagging and tracking the specimens, the work will be led by Pérez and Gustavo Sosa, a veterinarian. Both lead the fieldwork and conservation efforts.
To learn more about the project, which is part of an alliance between the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Nature and Humanity (FANJ), the Enterprise for the Conservation of the Zapata Swamp (ECOCIENZAP), the Cuban Crocodile Specialist Group (GECC), the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Cuba, OnCuba spoke with Etiam Pérez, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (2002) and a Master’s degree in Zoology and Animal Ecology (2013). Since his graduation, he has worked at the Crocodile Hatchery of the Zapata Swamp Conservation Enterprise, contributing his expertise to the care and preservation of this unique Cuban species.
What factors have historically endangered the Cuban crocodile, and what threats persist today?
There is evidence suggesting that hybridization is ancestral and is probably due to the evolutionary closeness between the species, as there is little time of divergence.
Hunting, whether legal or illegal, has had a considerable impact on C. rhombifer populations. Fossil records found on some Caribbean islands and in the Bahamas show that the species had a wider distribution, which was drastically reduced with the arrival of Europeans.
During the first half of the 20th century, the hide trade led to the extraction of approximately 90,000 crocodiles in the Zapata Swamp. Although the species were not always distinguished, it is estimated that most were C. rhombifer, due to the better quality of their skin and their more aggressive behavior, which made them very vulnerable to hunters. After years of closed season, the population is once again suffering from the pressure of illegal hunting, especially during the crisis of the 1990s, and this remains the greatest threat today.
Habitat modification due to human activities has also negatively affected the species. Since the arrival of Europeans in Cuba, changes have occurred in the ecosystems it inhabits, such as deforestation, the construction of canals for timber and charcoal extraction, and the draining of small freshwater bodies for agriculture and human consumption.
What does the joint work you are doing to preserve the Cuban crocodile consist of?
Look, more than a project to conserve the Cuban crocodile, what we have is a program for the conservation of the genus Crocodylus in the Zapata Swamp. As I mentioned before, hybridization occurs between the Cuban crocodile and the American crocodile, the two species of this genus that we have in the area.
Now, many consider hybridization a threat, but for some specialists, like myself, it doesn’t necessarily have to be. What is happening is that we have a very localized population; the Cuban crocodile is only found here in the Zapata Swamp, and what we are probably seeing is a natural process where two species are coming together. Most likely, speciation will eventually occur, that is, a new species will emerge.
The American crocodile population here is not large enough to displace the Cuban crocodile, and nowadays what we see most are hybrid specimens. Therefore, the American crocodile population and the hybridization process are also important to us; they cannot be viewed separately.
Now, speaking of the conservation of the Cuban crocodile within this program, we have two fundamental approaches: in situ and ex situ conservation. In situ refers to actions on the natural populations of the Cuban crocodile, and ex situ is what we do in captivity, from our institution.
In captivity, we are dedicated to maintaining a population that serves to study biology, behavior, physiology, in short, aspects that can be complicated to investigate in the wild. These results serve as a baseline for later exploration in the wild, with more concrete experiments and research designs.
In addition, we use some specimens for reintroduction. We release captive-bred crocodiles, especially young ones, in areas near the breeding facility. We also use them with national and international students, and as part of our research on the effectiveness of these releases in the wild.
In wild populations, we focus on animal health studies under the concept of “One Health.” This means using a species to learn about diseases or its health status and, from that, inferring the health of the ecosystems. If the ecosystems are healthy, human populations will also be healthier and more resilient to climate change.
In addition, we conduct studies of molecular genetics, dispersal ecology, geographic movement patterns, habitat selection and factors that influence where crocodiles live. We also monitor the population: how many there are, how many hybrids, how many males and females, young and adults. This takes many years, requires many samples and visits to the areas in different seasons of the year.
Which institutions and specialists are currently participating in the project, and how is the work coordinated among biologists, veterinarians, field technicians and other local stakeholders?
The program is led by the Enterprise for the Conservation of the Zapata Swamp, and very few institutions in Cuba are involved: the University of Havana, the Faculty of Biology, some specialists from the Flora and Fauna Institute, and the two main specialists: myself, a biologist, and Gustavo, a veterinarian. In addition, we have the crocodile handlers, who manage the crocodiles in captivity, feed them, clean the tanks and assist us in the field.
We also collaborate occasionally with CITMA and the State Institute of Veterinary Medicine, and we maintain relations with foreign institutions for specific research projects. Regarding local stakeholders, we work with communities in the area, mainly as guides, because they know the territory well and can react quickly to any problem. We have also collaborated on environmental education with local communicators who help us disseminate conservation campaigns.
In the case of releases or reintroductions, what criteria do you use to select the most suitable sites for the survival of the specimens?
To release crocodiles from captivity, we consider several factors: the release area, the presence of American crocodiles, the availability of food, the proximity to human communities and the protection of the site against illegal hunting. That is why we have recently been releasing small specimens: they are less attractive to hunters and have time to adapt to the environment.
How did the idea of launching the See You in A While Crocodile crowdfunding initiative come about? What motivated you to resort to a crowdfunding model for a conservation project?
The initiative arose a couple of years ago. The Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation (FANJ) and UNDP proposed that we try this platform to finance conservation projects. More than just raising money, we found it interesting as an experience in Cuba. We will collect funds until February; then it will take several months to buy, build and test the transmitters, obtain permits, etc. We estimate that in about five or six months they will be operational, collecting georeferencing information on the released crocodiles.
What type of equipment or specific actions will be financed with the funds raised?
In addition to the transmitters, we conduct environmental education activities with local communities and tourists so that they understand the importance of the species and reduce the demand for crocodile meat or skin. The funds also help finance field expeditions and the monitoring of the specimens.
What indicators are you using to evaluate whether the preservation actions are working?
Measuring the impact of environmental education is complicated and takes many years. For example, evaluating how many children actually change their behavior towards biodiversity is something that can only be seen over time. Estimating the Cuban crocodile population is also difficult due to hybridization: distinguishing a purebred Cuban crocodile from a hybrid is easy at first, but after several generations they look very similar and only molecular analyses allow us to identify this correctly.
We are currently in the process of monitoring and collecting samples for large-scale molecular analysis, which will allow us to assess the state of the population and the effects of our actions over the next 3 or 4 years.
As for the crowdfunding initiative, its objective is not to have a direct impact on conservation, but rather to collect ecological information that will allow us to make better decisions in the future, such as selecting optimal reintroduction sites.
What role do the local communities of the Zapata Swamp play in this project? Is there an educational or participatory component associated with the campaign?
The role of local communities also includes environmental education. We seek to involve them, identify people motivated by conservation and promote the rational use of natural resources.
What do you dream of or envision for the future of the Cuban crocodile in the next 10 or 20 years?
We would like the Cuban crocodile population to be restored to the historical levels of 300 or 500 years ago and for their habitats to be healthy. The reality is uncertain; there are only a few of us working full-time and we face threats such as illegal hunting.
Without our program, in five years there might not be any individuals left in the wild. Therefore, although the future is uncertain, our work is essential to keeping the species and its habitat alive.
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If you want to help, learn more about this initiative, or share the contacts of people, institutions, or networks that could be potential donors, you can write to: seeyoucrocodile@gmail.com.
