National Geographic involved in local project to save Black Caiman

Apr 06, 2016 News

A research involving National Geographic is underway in the Rupununi, Region Nine, to come up with ways to save the endangered Black Caiman.

Research activities being carried out in Region Nine.

According to Farfan and Mendes Group and STIHL, it has teamed up with National Geographic on the project.
The Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is a carnivorous reptile with black, scaly skin. It can grow to between 13-20 feet in length and lives along slow-moving rivers and seasonally flooded savannahs of the freshwater habitats of South America.
Its conservation status is listed as “Conservation dependent”.
The Black Caiman mainly feeds on fish, water birds, capybara and occasionally domestic animals. Black Caimans have a life expectancy of 50-80 years.
According to Farfan and Mendes, the research covers the movement, tracking, habitat preference and feeding patterns as they overlap with human activities and fishing patterns. “This would provide much needed information that may lead to less human/caiman conflict. This is the first ever study of the endangered black caiman movement patterns, and is being funded by the National Geographic Society for one year, with additional funding from the Farfan & Mendes Group and STIHL for an additional year.”
The additional year would allow for long term caiman movement data to be gathered. Such information will be vital in understanding and conserving Guyana’s Black Caiman population, the company said yesterday.
A ‘Caiman House’ has been established.

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