Relocation to nourish the American crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus) It has become a common practice aimed at reducing human wildlife conflict. However, Dr. Christopher Murray from the University of Louisiana and Southeast University of Louisiana and the latest research by the teams of collaborators from Costa Rica and the United States from Costa Rica and the United States may not be more efficient than previously expected. The research published in animals, using advanced satellite tracking technology to explore the movement mode of re -positioning crocodiles, thereby discovering a major opinion of challenges to manage these vertex predators.
Research team, including Dr. MSC Mahmood SASA. Davinia Garrigos, Dr. Tyler Steven Coleman, Wray Gabel, Michael Easter, and Maggie McGreal’s start to evaluate the efficacy of crocodile relocation by tracking five people. The relocated crocodile (all male) was transported to the park, and this distance was considered to keep them away from human activities.
Advanced satellite tracking devices, especially Telonics Iridium Seatrkr-4370-4 transmitters, are fixed on the crocodile, so that researchers can monitor their movements with unprecedented accuracy. Studies have shown that compared with wild correspondences, the two relocated crocodiles named George and Jerry are significantly larger. George covers nearly 89 kilometers and Jerry is about 70 kilometers. This extensive movement is in sharp contrast to the formation of wild crocodiles, and wild crocodiles are within a smaller family.
Interestingly, the study found that the re -positioning crocodile showed a strong tendency, and the trend of returning its original capture position effectively destroyed the purpose of its relocation. The writer Christopher M. Murray said: “These results highlight the demand for alternative management strategies.” Studies have shown that the practice of re -resetting nourishing crocodiles may be futile because these animals are also good at returning to returning to return The familiar territory is the same for a long distance.
The meaning of these findings is important. The re -positioning crocodile frequently returned to the field of human activities, which continued to exist in the possibility of danger, thereby maintaining a conflict of re -relocation. The study emphasizes the importance of re -evaluating the current management practice of global. Dr. Coleman added: “If relocation becomes an effective approach, then annoying animals need a more distant relocation or relocation to a place where the release and capture are unable to penetrate the obstacles.”
This study also proposes potential use of other relief strategies, such as relocating crocodiles to the controlled environment of educational facilities or restricting humans’ ways to habitat crocodile habitats, which can be used as a more permanent solution to the problem. In addition, the study requires further research to make the crocodile feel that can make such an effective navigation clue in long distances, which may lead to new opinions on improving the relocation strategy.
As the population continues to expand to wild animal and plant habitats, the frequency and severity of the conflict between humans and wildlife may increase. This study provides valuable data, which can help future efforts, not only in Costa Rica, but also in similar ecosystems around the world. Researchers have suggested that future research expand this work by exploring changes in crocodile motion models in different environmental conditions (including seasonal and ecotoxin exposure).
All in all, although the relocation of crocodiles is still a widely used management tool, this study shows that without major changes, these efforts may not effectively reduce the conflict between humans and wild animals. The research results show that more innovative methods, such as human and natural systems, these methods take into account the complex behaviors and ecological needs of these vertex predators during the human world.
Journal reference
Coleman, TS, Gabel, W., Easter, M., M., M., SASA MARIN, M., Beneyto Garrigos, D. , & Murray, CM (2024). “The annoying crocodile spatial ecology: the sports mode of the American crocodile (crocodile and crocodile) of Costa Rica Gunakast’s American crocodile.” Animals. Doi: https: //doi.org/10.3390/ani14020339
About the author
Dr. Chris Murray: In 2008, he received a bachelor’s degree in science from the Juniata College, a master’s degree in science from the University of Louisiana University in 2011, and a doctorate degree from the University of Auben in 2015. Wetland. He is interested in the diagnosis and functional form of geometric morphology, to identify the diagnostic characteristics of the species that are not described, and evaluate the plasticity of the phenotype in the ecological environment. Many of his problems introduce how the physiology of individuals change related people or community ecology. In the end, Chris is committed to contributing to biological geography and evolutionary body theory and operations, as well as the existence of biological units and the proper use of new types of school thinking.
Dr. Taylor Steven Corman: In 2016, he received a bachelor’s degree in science from Tennessee Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in science from the University of Oyben in 2019, and a doctorate degree from the University of Florida in 2023. ), Biology (such as physiology, form, body development) and natural resource management. He is particularly interested in integrating these theories and application fields with innovative quantitative technologies. He is full of enthusiasm for multi -discipline in ecological research, because it is crucial to integrating the knowledge of interdisciplinary knowledge for development, testing and application theory to improve human understanding and provide information for management management decisions.
Dr. Mahmood SASA: He is a Costa Rica biologist, with a master’s degree in science and a doctorate degree. Dr. Alington University of Texas University. He is a complete professor of the Department of Microbiology and Biology at the University of Costa Rica. In the study of the biological diversity and tropical ecological research center of the same university, he spans the research center for nearly 30 years, focusing on the biology of reptiles, especially the biology of snakes and its interaction with the human community. Essence The main areas he are interested in include herpes, tropical ecology, biological geography, the evolution of toxin mechanisms, biological diversity analysis and biological statistics. In addition, he also participated in the management of biological projects, conflict wild animals and plant management, and protected wild animals and plant areas.
Davinia Beneyto Garrigos: In 2011, she received a bachelor’s degree in biology and obtained a master’s degree in biological diversity of the University of Valencia: Protection and Evolution. Davania’s research is mainly concentrated in the protection of tropical and European reptiles and amphibians. Ecological and biological diversity. She is currently a professor at the University of Costa Rica and studied the large -scale nest -built birth model of Costa Rica North Pacific Turtle. Climate change may be of great significance to the survival of these species.
Wray Gabel: In 2016, Skidmore College received her bachelor’s degree and obtained a master’s degree in ecology and protection of the University of Florida in 2019. Her main professional knowledge is in poultry monitoring and research, but her research on crocodiles also has research interest, especially their obvious mutual assistance related to colonial wading birds. She has a wealth of experience in distant research around the world. Wray has been engaged in monitoring, management and research projects worldwide, and is keen on implementing research -based protection and management practices in wild animal and plant ecology.
Michael Easter: In 2008, he received a bachelor’s degree in literature from Florida International University. Since then, he has promoted the protection and education of wild animals and plants through various media, and has carried out herpes learning in local, regions, and international scale. Mike has also been a live technician at the Murray Lab since 2012, and is also a collaborator of the Costa Rica Crocodile Management Project.
Maggie McGreal: She is a graduate researcher at the Department of Biology, Louisiana, who currently investigates the sports ecology of the crocodile. Her interest involves the use of innovative technologies and quantitative technologies to solve complex problems related to the conflict of human wildlife and environmental changes. The focus is on the use of the principles of sports and behavior ecology.
