The Program of the United Nations for Development (UNDP) promotes a donation campaign for the study and protection of the Cuban crocodile.
The project seeks to finance the monitoring of the Crocodylus rhombiferexclusive to the Ciénaga de Zapata, Matanzas, whose survival “is threatened by human action on the ecosystem, climate change and other factors,” refers the international entity.
However, UNDP sees it possible to create an opportunity to protect it through research, “urgent actions” for conservation and the commitment of local communities.
For this reason he launched the campaign through the platform Every.orgused for “high-impact crowdfunding experiences”, in which donations can be made. In addition, the organization gathered support to disseminate the project among potential donors.
The financing received will be used for the purchase and placement of satellite tags to monitor the movements of the crocodile in its natural habitat and thus help its conservation.
These tags, which are nothing more than GPS tracking devices, will allow researchers to better understand how and where this threatened species lives, by studying its areas of activity, and also “precisely select where to release captive-bred specimens,” which increases their chances of survival.
“Critically endangered”
This initiative, named “See you soon, crocodile”, is led by specialists Etiam Pérez and Gustavo Sosa, with more than 25 years of experience in the study and protection of the Cuban crocodile in the Zapata Swamp.
“They will be responsible for placing the satellite tags and leading the research and conservation actions that will be made possible thanks to the support gathered in this crowdfunding initiative,” explains the UNDP, which combines efforts in the project with the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation and the Company for the Conservation of the Zapata Ciénaga, among other entities.
The program not only protects a key species, but also drives economic benefits for local communities by strengthening ecotourism.
According to a publication from the National Zoological Park, the greatest danger this species faces is habitat loss, as well as poaching for its skin and meat.
It also undergoes hybridization with the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), which threatens its genetic purity.
Currently, it is classified Critically Endangered by the IUCN, although conservation programs in Cuba, such as the one carried out in Company for the Conservation of the Zapata Swampthe National Zoological Park and the Park Zoo 26, They are working on their reproduction in captivity and reintroduction, adds the institution.
Crocodile farms as a tourist attraction
Cuban authorities promote nature tourism with crocodile farms in the Zapata and Lanier swamps, which combine conservation and research, an attraction for national and international visitors.
In the Ciénaga de Zapata, located in Matanzas and considered the largest wetland in the Caribbean, with 300 thousand hectares, tourists explore a farm that houses Cuban and American crocodiles, standing out for its rich biodiversity, points out another report of P.L..
On the Isle of Youth, the Lanier Swamp, a 100 km² National Park, has 80 crocodiles in Cayo Potrero, including 27 females and seven breeding males of the Rhombifer species, the media adds.
This hatchery, established more than 25 years ago after overexploitation in the 1950s, offers guided tours that promote learning about these prehistoric reptiles, capable of reaching 3.5 meters and speeds of 80 km/h on land.
Both centers, designed for breeding and scientific study, respond to the growing interest in active tourism that combines adventure and environmental awareness.
