The last-ditch race to save the Orinoco crocodile

For decades, the Orinoco crocodile has been on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 100 adult specimens remaining in the wild, making them one of the most endangered reptiles on the planet. The men and women of the Venezuelan Crocodile Specialist Group have raised hatchlings in captivity and releasing about 200 each year into the wild once they reach one year old, the most critical stage of their lives, in hopes of giving them a better chance at survival.

But their mission grows harder each year. Most of the experts are now over 60, and almost all of the younger scientists they trained have fled the country. As economic collapse fuels illegal hunting and egg poaching, this team keeps going—not because they’re certain they can save the species, but because they believe it still deserves a fighting chance.

“Many of these animals might be killed tomorrow or the day after because of a lack of awareness—and, of course, because of hunger,” explains Omar Hernández, a 63-year-old biologist and FUDECI’s director.

“We’re stubborn. This is a way to delay extinction, and it’s something within our reach. If we waited for perfect conditions, they would never come.”


Assignment for REUTERS