COSTA RICA: Costa Ricans mark Holy Week with annual tradition of hunting down a crocodile

Record ID: 1534506

  • Title: COSTA RICA: Costa Ricans mark Holy Week with annual tradition of hunting down a crocodile
  • Date: 5th April 2010
  • Summary: SANTA CRUZ, SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA (RECENT) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF PALMAS RIVER, HUNTERS WADING THROUGH RIVER, SLAPPING STICKS ON WATER LOOKING FOR CROCODILE VARIOUS OF HUNTERS WADING THROUGH RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CROCODILE HUNTER MARVIN CASTAING SAYING: "It is a bit difficult but I am hopeful that we will capture one." VARIOUS OF HUNTERS WADING THROUGH RIVER, CROWD GATHERED ON BANKS WATCHING VARIOUS OF HUNTERS DRAGGING CROCODILE OUT OF HIDING PLACE (3 shots) ONLOOKERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) TOURIST OBSERVING HUNT JULIO VIALES SAYING: "Well, it is an annual tradition, very interesting. I have never seen this happen anywhere. I loved the idea of dragging out the crocodile, it's very dangerous, then bring him back to the town, it's interesting." HUNTERS CARRYING CROCODILE ONLOOKERS VARIOUS OF HUNTERS CARRYING CROCODILE (3 SHOTS) VARIOUS OF CAPTURED CROCODILE (3 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 20th April 2010 10:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Costa Rica
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Topics: Nature / Environment,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA1RELYA0VY3WAQAFFOJD0RU9F9
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Dozens of stick wielding Costa Ricans waded through the Palmas River just outside San Jose in Santa Cruz on Friday (April 02), hunting for a crocodile they hope to display, as part of their annual Holy Week tradition.
    Wading through the river in a straight line and slapping their sticks on the water, the crocodile hunters spent hours in search of the perfect crocodile to capture, tie up and carry away.
    "It is a bit difficult but I am hopeful that we will capture one," crocodile hunter Marvin Castaing told Reuters.
    Hundreds of onlookers lined the banks of the river to watch the hunters seek out the crocodile.
    According to tradition, preparations for the hunt starts days before Good Friday. A small group of pre-hunters scour the river for the right crocodile, overlooking smaller, younger ones to ensure a good stock.
    The hunters then set out scouring the river with their sticks. Once they locate the right crocodile, it is bound and tied and carried atop their shoulders into town to be exhibited. Later, the crocodile is returned to his natural habitat unharmed.
    This year's crocodile was a five meter long female.
    "Well, it is an annual tradition, very interesting. I have never seen this happen anywhere," tourist Julio Viales said.
    The tradition has been alive for almost two centuries and can be traced back to the Chorotega natives who revered the crocodile as sacred and magical and believed its enzymes were medicinal. The indigenous tradition was fused with the Catholic religion and carried out on Good Friday with the belief that sacrificing the animal the same day the Son of God was crucified only intensified its medicinal properties.
    Authorities almost put an end to the tradition when the Costa Rican crocodile hit dangerously low numbers. Townspeople continued carrying it out, however, they no longer sacrifice the animal, returning it to the same spot from where it was taken.
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