Guadalajara Reporter

Those who love wild animals can serve them best by keeping their distance. Oscar Espinosa Santiago, an animal behavior expert at the Universidad de Guadalajara, attributes the recent crocodile attack, which left a five-year-old boy dead in Tomatlan, to "uninvited guests" or, rather, people. "Most such attacks happen after we invade the habitat of the crocodile," says Espinosa. "There are many signs posted by authorities. Don't go there."
Five-year-old Kevin Anuar Tapia Alatorre was dragged away by a crocodile on Tuesday, May 1, while swimming with his 23-year-old mother in the Tomatlan River. After an intense search by authorities and the local community, his body was located three days later, 200 meters from the spot where he vanished.
"Crocodiles are not evil," says Espinosa. "This is their nature and the instincts that they are born with."
Crocodiles are among the most aggressive reptile species – so aggressive that males will even attack a female who lingers after mating. They have a voracious appetite and are ambush hunters: they will lie in wait and snap at anything moving in their vicinity, including birds, fish, frogs, mid-size pigs, dogs and humans. Their teeth snap closed with over 400 kilograms of pressure and are not designed to release prey. As of 2001, crocodiles are the leading cause of animal-related deaths of humans in the world.
Crocodiles are also among Mexico's 2,856 endangered species.
"Future generations are lending us these animals," says Espinosa, a veterinarian who has studied psychology and ethology for over 30 years. "They have their place in the food chain. It is not their fault that we are moving into their home, through construction, encroaching further into natural spaces."
So how should crocodiles and humans coexist? "By staying out of each other's way," says Espinosa, who advises people to avoid sluggishly-flowing fresh or brackish water with a lot of natural plant cover. Crocodiles leave the water to sun themselves and are extremely well-camouflaged.
Above all, Espinosa urges tourists and locals to obey signs. "Around Manzanillo, for example, signs warning of crocodiles are clearly posted, but you see hordes of people swimming during Semana Santa," he says. "That is behavior we have to unlearn."
Crocodiles don't always stick to the wild. Staunchly territorial, they continue to follow the same routes they always have, regardless of any new construction in the area. Just last March, residents of the Seibal development of the Mayan Palace resort in Nuevo Vallarta found a seven-foot crocodile enjoying their pool. Local "Crocodile Hunter" Jonathan Nacar Munoz, a Bahia de Banderas Civil Protection Unit employee arrived to subdue the crocodile and transport it safely to a wilderness area.
For Espinosa, that's a rare happy ending. Many people see a crocodile and call the police, he says. "I don't approve of police shooting the crocodiles," he adds. "But they are not prepared and not educated, so the encounter usually ends with a dead crocodile. Calling Proteccion Civil can be a better option."
Surviving an encounter with a crocodile is not impossible.
"On seeing a crocodile, be aware that you are in danger, and respect the animal," says Espinosa. "Nature has given us great instincts in this case, so trust them: turn around and get away as fast as you can. Never attempt to get close or walk around a crocodile: their jump is much faster than we can run, but on longer land distances, they are slower and can't catch an adult."
The last crocodile attack near Jalisco before last week's highly publicized death was in March, 2006, when a 10-year-old boy swimming in La Tovara River in Nayarit was attacked. The boy was not gravely wounded.

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