Crocodile Warnings During Rainy Season in Marina Vallarta Eduardo Garcia - Vallarta Opina
go to original July 3, 2022

CA Teen Attacked by Crocodile While Vacationing in Puerto Vallarta (ABC7)

An attentive appeal is made by the authorities to people, locals and tourists, so that they do not visit the beaches at night, particularly that of Marina as well as that of Boca de Tomates, since they are areas bordering the habitat of crocodiles, for which reason increases the possibility of an unwanted encounter with that species, which implies the possibility of aggression due to the territoriality of the species.

In this case, the Municipal Civil Protection Unit asked tourists and locals in general not to visit the beaches, much less the Marina at night, since it is a place where there are usually sightings of crocodiles that move or leave to hunt from the golf course or from the mouth of the El Salado estuary.

Faced with the possibility of crocodile aggression -as happened a year ago with a tourist who was staying in Marina Vallarta and who visited the beach at night-, the experts mentioned the importance of heeding the warnings on the beaches of hotels, which are reported to be areas inhabited by crocodiles, which move frequently, and more regularly in the rainy season.

Encounters With Humans

Crocodiles do not look for encounters with humans, said the person in charge of Civil Protection, but unfortunately it happens that some people, more out of unconsciousness than ignorance, go to the beaches at night and that increases the possibility that they will find a specimen. since they usually come out when human activity decreases, to look for their prey, whether on land, in rivers or sometimes in the sea.

Several studies carried out in the bay allow us to affirm that there is not an excessive number of crocodiles in the region, there is no proliferation of the species, but if you enter the areas where they live, it is likely that you will have an unwanted encounter.

The local population already has greater knowledge of the species’ habits and is usually more aware of its presence, so they do not go to areas where it is known that there are sightings of the species, but in the case of tourists, there may be ignorance or recklessness, and especially some young people, sometimes under the influence of alcohol consumption, lose their fear and enter risk areas.

There is no perfect way to avoid the encounter between humans and crocodiles, he said, but there is a way to minimize the risks, and that is, not to approach the places where the species lives, and take extreme precautions at night, avoiding the beaches, particularly those mentioned.

We can all enjoy the beaches during the day, and the human presence usually inhibits the movement of crocodiles, but at night the opposite happens, and when they perceive calm, they can go out to look for food or a mate, so it is best not to be in well-identified and marked areas, where the chances of finding them are increased.

See the original at Puerto Vallarta Travel Show

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