Last-ditch race to save the Orinoco crocodile

TimesLIVE

20-05-2025

A group of Venezuelan biologists and veterinarians are raising hatchlings of the endangered Orinoco crocodile and releasing them into the wild in a bid to prevent, or at least delay, its extinction.
Fewer than 100 Orinoco crocodiles, one of the largest living reptiles in the world, remain in the wild, according to the Venezuelan conservation foundation Fudeci. The animal's natural habitat is in the Orinoco River basin, which covers most of Venezuela and spills into Colombia.
Adult Orinocos can reach more than 5m in length, and can live for decades. A 70-year-old named Picopando resides at Masaguaral Ranch, where scientists breed captive adults and raise the babies and feed them chicken, beef and vitamins until they are about a year old and grow to a weight of about 6kg.
Every year the group releases about 200 young crocs into the wild.
"We're only delaying the Orinoco's extinction," said Federico Pantin, 59, director of the Leslie Pantin Zoo.
Specialists, workers and volunteers carry crates transporting Orinoco crocodile hatchlings raised in captivity to release them into the wild at the Capanaparo River at Terepaima Ranch near Elorza in Apure State on April 24 2025.
An Orinoco crocodile hatchling is released into the wild at the Capanaparo River. It's believed fewer than 100 remain in the wild. Decades of poaching for leather pushed the Orinoco crocodile to the brink, and struggling Venezuelans who hunt the animals for meat and take their eggs for food threaten to deal the final blow.
A drone view of cars transporting Orinoco crocodile hatchlings raised in captivity as they wait for a flatboat to cross the river and release the animals into the wild at the Capanaparo River near Elorza in Apure State on April 23 2025.
Tomas Blohm, 64, releases an Orinoco crocodile hatchling.
A drone view of Orinoco crocodile hatchlings raised in captivity swimming in the Capanaparo River after being released into the wild at Terepaima Ranch.