VENEZUELA: VENEZUELAN BIOLOGISTS HAVE RELEASES MORE THAN 130 SMALL CROCODILES INTO THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Record ID: 646794

  • Title: VENEZUELA: VENEZUELAN BIOLOGISTS HAVE RELEASES MORE THAN 130 SMALL CROCODILES INTO THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
  • Date: 27th May 2003
  • Summary: (W1)APURE, VENEZUELA (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV/CU OF ADULT CAIMANS (3 SHOTS) 0.17 2. SV/CU OF RECENTLY BORN CAIMAN BEING TAKEN OUT OF HIS EGG BY A VETERINARIAN (5 SHOTS) 0.54 3. CU VETERINARIAN CHECKING EGGS 1.01 4. CU OF RECENTLY BORN CAIMAN BEING HELD (2 SHOTS) 1.10 5. MCU (Spanish) ANA LUISA OSORIO, VENEZUELAN MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, SAYING "All these scientists and everyone who has taken part in the work that makes up the project to save the caiman of the Orinoco, have done everything possible during the last 10 years to raise the caimans and release them in the wild, we've released about 3,400 caimans this year!" 1.23 6. SV OF PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE JUNGLE WITH BOXES OF CAIMANS 1.32 7. SLV OF CHILDREN CARRYING BOXES OF CAIMANS 1.38 8. CU CAIMANS IN BOXES 1.41 9. CU OF PEOPLE TAKING CAIMANS OUT OF BOX 1.52 10. CU/SV PEDRO AZUAHE, CAIMAN EXPERT, RELEASING CAIMANS (2 SHOTS) 2.13 11. MCU MILITARY WATCHING THE RELEASING OF THE CAIMANS 2.17 12. CU OF CAIMANS IN THE WATER, JUMPING 2.24 13. MCU (Spanish) PEDRO AZUAHE, EXPERT AT A FARM THAT RAISES AND RELEASES CAIMANS, SAYING, "This release of caimans is the fruit of our hard labor, its the culmination of a lot of work, from the moment that these animals are born until they get to be a meter long, that's when you can really see if they are capable of defending themselves in their natural environment." 2.44 14. SV/CU OF FREED CAIMANS (3 SHOTS0 2.59 15. SLV CAIMAN CHASING SPECTATORS 3.08 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th June 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: APURE, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Reuters ID: LVA9A8JNBMPQY9KZVDKQ37FX7R4I
  • Story Text: Venezuelan biologists have released more than 130 small
    crocodiles, which were born in captivity, into their natural
    environment as part of a program to preserve the species.



    Hundreds of Orinoco Crocodiles, also known as
    crocodylus intermedius or "caimans", were recently released at
    the biological reserve of Hato El Frio, in the state of Apure,
    470 miles west of Caracas.

    The Orinoco crocodile, South America's largest predator, is
    one of ten most endangered species in the world.

    "All these scientists and everyone who has taken part in
    the work that makes up the project to save the caiman of the
    Orinoco, have done everything possible during the last 10
    years to raise the caimans and release them in the wild," said
    Venezuela's Minister of the Environment Ana Luisa Osorio.

    "We've released about 3,400 caimans in the last year!"
    To try to fight their extinction, conservationists in
    Venezuela have collected thousands of caiman eggs, raised them
    in captivity and then released them into the wild to try to
    guarantee the survival of the species.

    "This release of caimans is the fruit of our hard labor,"
    said Pedro Azuahe, an expert who works for a private company
    that raises and releases caimans. "Its the culmination of a
    lot of work, from the moment that these animals are born until
    they get to be a meter long, thats when you can really see if
    they are capable of defending themselves in their natural
    environment."
    It is illegal to hunt Orinoco crocodiles today, but this
    was not so between 1930-1960, when their skin was highly
    sought. Almost the entire population was wiped out, and little
    recovery has since been made.

    They are still hunted illegally. Eggs are removed to be
    eaten, juveniles are sold as pets, and adults are killed out
    of fear. Their fat is used as a pain killer, their teeth are
    used to ward off evil spirits, and the male's penis is used as
    an aphrodisiac.

    However, various breeding centers throughout Venezuela
    continue to successfully produce caimans and reintroduce them
    to their natural environment. Many conservationists consider
    this the greatest possibility for the survival of the species.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register