A study, funded by SENACYT, evaluated the largest habitats and areas with the highest number of conflicts on Panama's Pacific coast, proposing a national strategy for species conservation and peaceful coexistence with communities.
Institutionally, the study was supported by SENAN, SENAFRONT, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), and the Ministry of the Environment (MiAMBIENTE), the main counterpart in the development of the "Human-Crocodile Conflict Management and Administration Plan for Panama".
Researchers from the Technological University of Panama (UTP), with the backing of the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies in Science, Engineering, and Technology (CEMCIT AIP), have concluded a scientific study that provides key information on the population, distribution, and habitat status of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Panama.
The results of the baseline study allowed for a rapid assessment of the health of the populations, identifying critical habitats and threats such as fragmentation. The crocodilian specialist concluded that the lack of knowledge about crocodile biology increases conflict with humans.
However, the species is considered the third most threatened in the Americas by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss and fragmentation. This information is essential for designing an effective national conservation strategy that promotes peaceful coexistence, environmental education, and the sustainable use of this resource.
The project was led by Dr. Miryam Venegas-Anaya, popularly known as "Doctor Crocodile," who also serves as a researcher at the Hydraulic and Hydraulic Research Center of the UTP. She pointed out that the number of conflicts between crocodiles and humans has increased significantly. This is attributed, in part, to the ban on hunting in 1977 and the expansion of urban development.
The research was financed by the National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation (SENACYT) through the Public Call for Research and Development Promotion (FID).
For the research, the team, which traveled more than 600 km of national territory, used protocols from the American Crocodile Monitoring Manual, validated for Panamanian environments. The methodology included ecological surveys and nocturnal inventories in 32 Pacific river basins to characterize the population structure and density. Additionally, the genetic diversity of the populations was evaluated through the amplification of molecular markers.
