Crocodile attacks in Oaxaca, Mexico: An update of its incidences and consequences for management and conservation

Human-crocodile conflicts in Mexico often have a political dimension due to public safety. The aim of this work was to update analyses of the incidence of crocodile attacks on humans in Oaxaca and to identify patterns or trends that could have relevance to future conflict mitigation. We compiled att...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: García-Grajales, Jesús, Buenrostro-Silva, Alejandra
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD DE GUANAJUATO
Repositorio:Acta Universitaria
Idioma:español
inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:www.actauniversitaria.ugto.mx:article/1924
Acceso en línea:https://www.actauniversitaria.ugto.mx/index.php/acta/article/view/1924
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:American crocodile
conflict
public safety
human-crocodile
Oaxaca.
Cocodrilo americano
conflicto
humano-cocodrilo
Oaxaca
seguridad pública.
Descripción
Sumario:Human-crocodile conflicts in Mexico often have a political dimension due to public safety. The aim of this work was to update analyses of the incidence of crocodile attacks on humans in Oaxaca and to identify patterns or trends that could have relevance to future conflict mitigation. We compiled attack records from 2004 to 2017. The highest proportion of attacks (64%) and deaths (12%) occurred on the northwest coast in two periods of the year related with the nesting and rainy seasons. No differences existed between the seasons in the number of crocodile attacks and the mean number of attacks between years. The attacks were related with fishing activity (40%); male victims (92%) were more common than female, and a higher proportion of fatal cases of victims were children (< 10 years). We recommended essential baseline surveys and suggested public education about crocodile awareness and risks.