The Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) announced that it recently recorded the breeding of an American crocodile (Crocodrylus acutus) in the Punta Sur Ecotourism Park, which reflects the good state of conservation of the Ecological Reserve. Laguna Colombia, has allowed the reproduction and expansion of the population of these reptiles in wildlife.
With the New Agreement for the Welfare and Development of Quintana Roo, promoted by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, actions are implemented to protect and preserve crocodiles and their habitat in Punta Sur, which include environmental education, surveillance, monitoring, and research programs. to evaluate its state of conservation and population, explained José Luis Chacón Méndez, general director of the FPMC.
He added that it is important to protect American crocodiles because they are listed in NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 as a species at risk, in the range of special protection, so it is important that the community knows this information and gets involved in education and protection programs for this and other wildlife species that still maintain their natural habitat.
Héctor González Cortés, deputy director of Punta Sur, reported that American crocodiles, also known as the largest predators of the Cozumel wetlands, have an annual reproductive cycle and locate their nests mainly in high areas in the wetland and coastal dune.
He explained that the incubation period is approximately three months and after hatching they can be occasionally observed in various sectors of Punta Sur, which is why actions are intensified to raise awareness among car drivers to reduce speed to prevent accidents.
This small crocodile was spotted in the area of the observation tower by students from the Plantel Cozumel High School, who were carrying out a nature interpretation activity in Laguna X’tacún, for which they named it “Cobi”. ”.
Finally, the Biologist explained that the survival rate of baby crocodiles is higher in the protected areas of the island such as Punta Sur. However, in various habitats, the causes of mortality of this and other species are mainly due to predation by adult crocodiles, birds, mammals, and other reptiles; poor physical condition, and sudden environmental changes.
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