According to data provided by the Fire Department, emergencies over crocodile and alligator attacks increased by 27% in the last two years.
While in 2016 there were 96 reported cases, in 2017 there were 122. According to officials of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), these emergencies are due to the bad practices of neighbors and tourists in the communities.
The issue of the attacks is fortuitous. It is not that the attacks occur in the absence of research. That is a situation that obeys other phenomena. People are simply arriving to the crocodiles’ natural habitat, and the animals are being displaced,”
said Henry Ramírez, SINAC official.
The data reveals that the province with the highest number of emergencies is Puntarenas. In those years, the cantons of Puntarenas, Garabito, Golfito, Limón, Guácimo, and Pococí had the highest number of attacks.
As of March 5th, 2018, 16 people have been attacked by this species.