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Crocodylus acutus (American
Crocodile) is not around as much as it used to be. The destruction of
it's natural habitat as well as man's natural fear of the creature, &
his tendency to kill what he fears, means that they are dwindling in the
wild.
The c. acutus is the
only one of 21 species of crocs that live in Jamaica. It is not as large
nor as fierce as it's Australian cousin but has been known, on occasion,
to attack people though more often people attack it!
It lives in both fresh
water (Black River & Milk River) and brackish swamps (Holland Bay
& Falmouth) though it is not unknown for crocs to be found nearer to
cities in mangrove areas.
Crocodiles are protected under the Wildlife Act & you may face a fine
of J$100,000 &/or 2 years in prison for killing one.
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The
scene in Live & Let Die where James Bond runs across the
backs of crocs was filmed at Swamp Safari in Trelawney & that was a
Jamaican, not Roger Moore! Crocs
eat mostly fish & other aquatic life. They will sometimes eat birds
& sick or injured animals that wander into their territory. The
average crocodile is between 10 to 15 feet in length but they can grow up
to 20 ft (7m). They breed between
April & May & lay between 30 & 60 eggs.
Want
to see a croc face to face? http://www.jamaica-southcoast.com/blackriver |
