The People vs Reptiles
THERE IS an urgent need to develop protocols on how citizens can peacefully coexist with protected wildlife, such as the American crocodile which lives mainly in communities along the country’s south coast.
Recent reports of crocodile attacks on two men on a night-out at a St Catherine beach is cause for concern. Even though the attacks did not result in loss of human life, the physical and emotional scars will likely remain with these victims way into the future.
From time to time, there have been news reports of sightings of these reptiles as well as unprovoked attacks on persons either swimming or fishing. But then after nine days, we tend to forget all about those incidents.
Scientists and conservationists tell us that pollution, variation in land usage and efforts by man to expand his own living space have all worked together to disturb the habitats of these creatures. And even though some may question the purpose of reptiles like crocodiles and snakes in our world, they are deemed to be important to the aquatic and territorial ecosystem.
Fear and misunderstanding of these reptiles, who obviously see people as potential food, have prompted our call for the authorities to do more to protect people from these ferocious creatures. But we remain patently aware that sometimes it is the reptiles that need protection from the people, especially those out to get revenge.
We are aware that crocodiles can move in water and over land in search of prey. So are there barriers or other repellants that could keep these reptiles at bay? The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is the government agency charged with the responsibility of promoting sustainable development by ensuring there is broad understanding of environmental issues that are likely to impact the country’s natural resources.
After this most recent crocodile attack, people who live in Portmore are not likely to pack up and move away. Those who enjoy a little dalliance by the beach at night will continue to so. And crocodiles in search of prey are likely to continue their attacks on unsuspecting swimmers.
QUESTIONS FOR NEPA
NEPA and community-based organisations, naturalists and conservationists need to help people understand more about the patterns of attack in order to keep themselves safe.
Does NEPA possess historical data regarding crocodile attacks? For example, are attacks seasonal and what does the data indicate about the time of year when most attacks have taken place? Do attacks occur more often during the night or when the temperature is cooler? Can one repel an attack by hitting the crocodile on the nose, or by aiming for the eyes or shoving something down its throat? Are swimmers and fishers more often targeted? What do the statistics say about attacks on children? All of this data should be available.
Failure to deal with this issue could possibly give rise to aggressive citizens’ response, especially if attacks increase in regularity and intensity.
NEPA, we feel, ought to invest in a campaign to encourage tolerance through education. The information does not do much good in NEPA’s offices; all this relevant data ought to be packaged and made available to vulnerable communities.
This knowledge may prevent someone from becoming a crocodile’s dinner.