Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: A Proposal for Crocodile Trade

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CARACAS, Nov 29 2004 (IPS) - Commercial exploitation of the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius), an endangered species native to Venezuela and Colombia, could help prevent its extinction, says the Venezuelan Foundation of Sciences Development (FUDECI). ''The idea is to allow the caimans (crocodiles), in nurseries, to reach two years of age, in which it is less likely they would be trapped. Later, a percentage would be released, as has been done since the 1990s on the Orinoco plains. Another percentage would be sold for 500 dollars each'' to export its skin, Omar Hernández, director of FUDECI — which works with the Environment Ministry on conservation issues — told Tierramérica.

''This does not contradict the aims of species conservation… and if we pay at least five dollars to the river dwellers of the Orinoco for each crocodile egg or recently hatched crocodile that they return to the nurseries, we give them incentive not to eat them,'' said Hernández.