{"paper_id":"3a9ba045-7179-4b7a-bc5f-42df6e68af5a","body_text":"PREPRINT\nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\nManagement of non-fatal human crocodile interaction\nwith Crocodylus moreletii in the Laguna del Carpintero,\nTampico, Mexico\nCesar N. Cedillo-Leal, Gabriel Barrios-Quiroz, Sergio Padilla-Paz\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n1 \n \nManagement of non-fatal human-crocodile interactions with Crocodylus moreletii in \nthe Laguna del Carpintero, Tampico, Mexico. \nCésar N. Cedillo-Leal1, Gabriel Barrios-Quiroz2, Sergio E. Padilla-Paz1* \n \n1Centro de Estudios en Desarrollo Sustentable y Aprovechamiento de la Vida Silvestre \n(CEDESU), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche. Avenida Héroe de Nacozari #480, C.P. \n24079, San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche, México.  sepadill@uacam.mx \n2Centro de Investigación y Experimentación de Alternativas Agroecológicas CIEA S. C., \nFresnos 52 Edif. F 501 Col. Santa Úrsula Coapa C. P. 04650 Del. Coyoacán, CDMX, \nMéxico. \n \n \n \n \nAbstract \nHuman-crocodile interaction in the Laguna del Carpintero, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico \nhas been a growing concern for the last several years, with homeless people being the most \naffected in recent years, however, productive people have also been involved. The objective \nof this document is to describe in detail a case of non-fatal human-crocodile interaction in \nthis lagoon and the response of the SOS Crocodile Tampico working group. To document \nthe case, we collected information on the interaction, the causative crocodile and the \naffected person. On June 8, 2024 a male person was involved in a non-fatal interaction with \na 278 cm long crocodile, which caused a fracture in his left leg, requiring him to be \ntransported to the nearest hospital. This event activated the first response team who \nprovided pre-hospital and hospital care; search and capture of the crocodile involved, as \nwell as the custody, handling and final disposal of the crocodile into captivity. Therefore, \nwe consider that inter-institutional coordination between federal, state, municipal, health \nand crocodile specialists, integrated as the SOS Crocodile working group, is fundamental to \nrapidly and efficiently attend the interactions with crocodiles in urban areas. \nKeywords: SOS Crocodile working group, Morelet´s crocodile, Negative interaction, First \nresponse protocol. \n \n \nIntroduction \nThe frequency of negative interactions between humans and crocodiles is increasing as a \nresult of the expansion of urban areas, which is leading to the isolation of nearby wetlands \nand direct competition for space, water, and food resources (Amarasinghe et al. 2015). The \ncity of Tampico, Tamaulipas (Mexico) plays an important role in the state's economy as a \ntourist destination, with the Laguna del Carpintero being a primary attraction for visitors. \nThe tourist activity in this lagoon has experienced exponential growth over the past two \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n2 \n \ndecades, with a diverse range of recreational, sporting, and cultural activities taking place. \nThe site boasts an array of recreational facilities, including a park, fairground, theatre, \nconvention center, sports unit, schools, and a semi-conserved natural area (Figure 1). The \nsite is home to a population of swamp crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) that has been \nstudied since 2004. Previous research has indicated that the population is ecologically \nstable and functional (Carrera 2004; Villegas and Reynoso 2013; Rivera-Téllez et al. 2017). \nThe crocodiles are the primary tourist attraction of the lagoon, and the municipality offers \nguided trips on outboard motorboats (pontoons) and trams for visitors to observe the \ncrocodiles at their leisure, whether they are swimming or sunbathing in their natural habitat. \nRegarding non-fatal human-crocodile encounters (IH-C), it is notable that 25% of such \nincidents recorded in the state of Tamaulipas occur in Tampico City. The Laguna del \nCarpintero accounts for 100% of IH-C NF occurrences within this municipality (Cedillo-\nLeal et al. 2024). In light of these circumstances, the municipality of Tampico initiated an \ninterdisciplinary project in 2020, with the objective of addressing the crocodile population \nin Laguna del Carpintero. The project's primary objective was the formation of a first \nresponse team, designated as \"SOS Crocodile Tampico,\" which included experts from \nvarious government agencies, including federal, state, and municipal representatives, as \nwell as specialists in crocodile management, medical professionals, and first aid personnel. \nThis working group adheres to the recommendations set forth in the Protocol for Attention \nto Human-Crocodile Contingencies (PACH-C) (SEMARNAT, 2018), a document \ndeveloped by Mexican specialists to address this type of contingency. The PACH-C \noutlines the recommended courses of action for the resolution of IH-C in Mexico. The \nobjective of this group is to address all reports of interactions with crocodiles, including \nboth sightings and instances of non-fatal and fatal attacks. \nIn this context, the SOS Crocodile Tampico working group is responsible for the design \nand proposal of preventive strategies, including the installation of signage along the entire \nperiphery and canals of the lagoon, as well as the organization of talks and training \nworkshops for authorities, civil society, and students from a range of educational levels. \nThese workshops aim to highlight the importance of crocodiles and the prevention of \nnegative interactions. Furthermore, it coordinates surveillance and dissemination actions on \nradio, television and social networks (Barrios-Quiroz et al. 2021). Regrettably, despite the \nimplementation of preventive strategies and corrective actions, negative interactions with \ncrocodiles were documented during the initial three-year phase of the project (2021-2023), \nwith all cases involving homeless individuals (Cedillo-Leal et al. 2023). In the current year, \n2024, for the first time since the project's implementation, two of the three negative \ninteractions that have occurred involved individuals who are not homeless. The purpose of \nthis document is, therefore, to present in detail the response and coordinated actions of the \nSOS Crocodile Tampico working group to a case of non-fatal human-crocodile interaction \nin the Laguna del Carpintero. \nMethods \nThe following case study documents an interaction between humans and crocodiles that \noccurred in 2024 in Laguna del Carpintero, located in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Fig. \n1). The first author gathered data regarding the location of the incident (GPS, WGS84 \nsystem), as well as the date and time of the incident. The incident was classified in \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n3 \n \naccordance with the criteria set forth in the Protocol for Attention to Human-Crocodilian \nContingencies (PACH-C) (SEMARNAT, 2018). Additionally, data pertaining to the \ncrocodile, including its sex and total length, were obtained. Information regarding the \nvictim, such as age, sex, social status, and the injuries caused by the crocodile, number and \ntype, was also collected. \n \n \nResults \nThe following section presents a detailed account of the case in question. On June 8, 2024 \nat 21:00, a report was received via the 911 emergency services hotline. The caller indicated \nthat a person had been bitten by a crocodile in the vicinity of Laguna del Carpintero (22° \n13.776'N; 97° 50.883'W). In response to this report, an alert was promptly disseminated to \nmembers of the SOS Crocodile Tampico working group, who were then instructed to \ninitiate the PACH-C protocol (SEMARNAT, 2018). The group personnel (municipal \nfirefighters, state guardsmen, Mexican Red Cross members, and the group's coordinator) \npromptly proceeded to the site to verify the report. The individual was identified as an adult \nmale and was observed to have crawled a distance of approximately 102 meters from the \nsite of the incident. He was subsequently provided with pre-hospital care by Mexican Red \nCross paramedics (Fig. 2A-B) and was then transferred to the Tampico General Hospital \n\"Dr. Carlos Canseco,\" where the emergency team was already waiting to provide further \ncare. It is noteworthy that the initial response group actively communicates with the \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n4 \n \nhospital personnel responsible for providing subsequent care. This enables the transfer of \nessential information, including the initial report and photographs of the wounds, allowing \nfor a pre-diagnosis and improved preparation for the eventual reception of the victim. \nFollowing the victim's admission to the medical facility, the incident was classified as \nGrade 4 (non-fatal) (PACH-C). Thereafter, an incident order was initiated, which outlined \nthe recommended strategies and activities to be conducted in accordance with the degree of \ninteraction. Subsequently, the site where the interaction took place was identified and \nclassified as an open rainwater drainage channel with closed vegetation in the majority of \nthe channel. This channel is situated between the municipal sports facility and the \nfairgrounds (Fig. 1). The site in question is adjacent to a dirt road that is routinely utilized \nby the residents of the area for commuting to and from their places of employment. \nThe exact location of the incident was determined due to the presence of blood and \nfootwear belonging to the victim, in addition to the observation of an adult crocodile in the \nvicinity, which exhibited a peculiar behavior as it emerged from the water when it \nperceived our presence (Fig. 2C). Subsequently, we conducted a survey to determine if \nadditional crocodiles were present, during which we observed a second, smaller crocodile \nat a distance of 42 meters from the site of the interaction. This second crocodile was \nidentified as a nesting female (Fig. 2D). Previously, the nest had been manipulated to \ntranslocate the eggs on May 23, 2024, and the nest was destroyed for safety reasons. \nHowever, the female constructed a new nest without the presence of eggs (Fig. 2D). \n \n \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n5 \n \nThe crocodile that caused the interaction was captured using poles, specifically a PVC tube \nwith a plastic-lined steel cable, which were placed in the crocodile's neck. The capture \nprocess was completed in approximately two hours, as the crocodile was introduced into a \nsubway cave, a characteristic habitat of this species. Subsequently, the animal was \ntransported to the facilities of the municipal fire department, where it was temporarily \nhoused, and the relevant data was collected (Fig. 3A-C). The crocodile was identified as a \nmale Crocodylus moreletii, measuring 278 cm in total length. It was transferred to the \nfederal authority (PROFEPA) who placed it in permanent captivity to prevent further \nincidents.  \n \n \nA follow-up interview was conducted with the victim and the medical staff of the hospital \nto obtain further information regarding the circumstances of the incident, including the \nnumber and severity of injuries inflicted by the crocodile. The victim was a 54-year-old \nadult male who stated that he was not intoxicated or under the influence of any illicit \nsubstance. He also indicated that he was a regular visitor to the area, where he was \nwatching a soccer game at the time of the incident. He had decided to walk to the edge of \nthe canal to urinate when the attack occurred. At that moment, the crocodile seized the \nindividual by the left leg, above the knee, inflicting a substantial injury. During his attempt \nto defend himself, he suffered a minor injury to his right hand. \nThe medical report from the emergency department indicated the presence of a 15 cm \navulsive wound with irregular edges in the quadriceps femoris, accompanied by exposure \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n6 \n \nof muscle tissue and fracture of the left femur. Consequently, the patient was admitted to \nthe operating room for surgical lavage and trauma surgery, with the objective of placing \nexternal fixators and reconstruction of the muscle tissues. The patient was hospitalized for a \nperiod of three days and subsequently discharged for recovery at home until the removal of \nthe external fixator, after which he was referred for physiotherapy sessions.  \nDiscussion \nThis is the first documented incident of a non-homeless individual engaged in a negative \nencounter with a crocodile in the Laguna del Carpintero since the inception of the SOS \nCrocodile Tampico working group. It is suggested that this interaction may have been \ntriggered by a number of factors. Primarily, the time of day may have been a contributing \nfactor. While the majority of these events are recorded during daytime hours (Langley, \n2010), this case was recorded at night. This could have prevented the individual from \nobserving the presence of the crocodile at the site. However, the victim stated during his \ninterview that he was aware of the presence of crocodiles in the area and had observed them \nbasking in the channel on multiple occasions. This assertion is corroborated by the first \nauthor of this manuscript, who has observed that male crocodiles are frequently found at \nclose distances (less than 50 m) from the nests and, like the nesting females, they are \nvigilant at a distance from the nesting area. This finding is consistent with the data collected \nduring the investigation of this case, which revealed that the interaction occurred at a \ndistance of 42 meters from a nest. It is noteworthy that this incident coincided with the \nreproductive season of the species (April to September), during which the greatest number \nof interactions are observed. This finding concurs with national and worldwide statistics \n(Brien et al. 2017; García-Grajales and Buenrostro-Silva 2018; Khan et al. 2020). \nThe creation of a first response task force to address negative interactions between humans \nand crocodiles has the potential to be a critical factor in preventing severe outcomes for \nvictims. The communication between the various actors within this group enables a \nreduction in the time elapsed between the incident and the provision of hospital care. As \nsoon as the SOS Crocodile Tampico working group is alerted, the emergency area is \nalready aware and can evaluate the type of injury in advance. This is achieved through the \ninformation and images sent from the site of the incident, ensuring that the necessary \nmaterial, area and personnel are prepared to attend the case. \nConclusion \nThe SOS Crocodile working group is a collaborative network of governmental agencies at \nthe federal, state, and municipal levels, in addition to healthcare professionals and crocodile \nexperts. This working group is becoming an invaluable resource in the resolution of the \nsocio-environmental challenge of managing human-crocodile interactions. The increase in \ncrocodile sightings and interactions with humans has been exacerbated by the process of \nurbanization, which is encroaching upon the crocodile habitat. In Tampico, the proximity of \nthe Laguna del Carpintero and the consequent increase in human activity has heightened \nthe risk of negative encounters with the crocodile, which is now regarded as a potentially \ndangerous animal. Despite the animal's dangerous reputation, however, it also evokes \nfeelings of fascination and interest among people. The work of the SOS Crocodile Tampico \nworking group, therefore, extends beyond the provision of victim care in the event of an \nattack. It also aims to foster awareness of the importance of coexistence with this reptile, \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n7 \n \nwhich play a fundamental role in maintaining the ecological balance within the wetlands \nthey inhabit. \nAcknowledgements \nWe would like to express our gratitude to all members of the SOS Crocodile Tampico \nworking group for their invaluable contributions to the human-crocodile interactions \nproject. Our special thanks to the Tampico Fire Department, the Mexican Red Cross, and \nthe emergency area of the General Hospital \"Dr. Carlos Canseco\" for their crucial role in \nthis initiative. Furthermore, we extend our gratitude to the municipal administration of \nTampico (2018-2024), with special acknowledgement to the Department of Ecology, for \ntheir pivotal role in the successful implementation of this project. \n \nAdditional Information \nIncompatibility \nThe authors declare that there is no conflicting of interest. \nEthical Statement \nNo ethics statement was reported. \nFunding \nThis research did not receive any specific grants from funding agencies in the public, \ncommercial, or nonprofit sectors. \nAuthors' contributions \nCésar N. Cedillo-Leal: fieldwork, writing, original draft and revision. \nGabriel Barrios-Quiroz: writing, revising, translating and editing. \nSergio E. Padilla-Paz: writing, translation and editing. \nORCID of the author \nCésar N. Cedillo-Leal: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5711-8628 \nGabriel Barrios-Quiroz: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5663-9289 \nSergio E. Padilla-Paz: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6530-6658 \nData availability \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n8 \n \nAll data supporting the findings of this study are presented in the main text. \n \nReferences \nAmarasinghe AA, Madawala MB, Karunarathna DMS, Manolis C, De Silva A, and \nSommerlad R (2015) Human – crocodile conflict and conservation implications of \nsaltwater crocodiles Crocodilus porosus (Reptilia: Crocodylia: Crocodylidae) in Sri \nLanka. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7: 7111 –7130. https://doi.org/10.11609/JOTT. \nO4159.7111-30  \nBarrios-Quiroz G, Cruz -Morales G and Cedillo -Leal CN (2021) Monitoring crocodylus \nmoreletii in el Carpintero lagoon and establishment of “SOS Cocodrilo Tampico \ngroup” in Tamaulipas, México. Crocodile Specialist Group, Newsletter 40(1): 8-12. \nhttps://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/09d0e0a5c4a731abd0e33\nbe60944bfd3.pdf \n Brien ML, Gienger CM, Browne CA, Read MA, Joyce MJ and Sullivan S (2017) Patterns \nof human –crocodile conflict in Queensland: a review of historical estuarine \ncrocodile ( Crocodylus porosus ) management. Wildlife Research 44: 281 -290. \nhttps://doi.org/10.1071/WR17011 \nCarrera M (2004) Manejo integral de las poblaciones de cocodrilos en el municipio de \nTampico. Memorias de la VI Reunión del Subcomité Técnico Consultivo \nCOMACROM, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México. \nCedillo-Leal CN, Barrios-Quiroz G, Padilla-Paz S y González-Jauregui M (2023) Atención \nde interacciones negativas humano cocodrilo en zona urbana, Grupo SOS Cocodrilo \nTampico. 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Marine Policy 121: 104 -135. \nhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104135  \nLangley RL (2010 ) Adverse encounters with alligators in the United States: an update. \nWilderness and Environmental Medicine 21: 156 -163. \nhttps://doi.org/10.1016/J.WEM.2010.02.002  \nRivera-Téllez E, López -Segurajáuregui G, Antaño -Díaz LA y Benítez -Díaz H (2017) \nInforme del Programa de Monitoreo del Cocodrilo de Pantano en México, \ntemporadas 2014 a 2015 y análisis de tendencias del 2011 al 2015. Comisión \nNacional para el Con ocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad. México 35pp . \nhttps://www.biodiversidad.gob.mx/media/1/planeta/cites/files/Informe%202011-\n2015-v7.pdf \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593\n\nNon-fatal human crocodile interaction in Mexico \n9 \n \nSEMARNAT (2018) Protocolo de Atención a Contingencias Humano -Crocodilianos. \nComponente de manejo de Poblaciones del Programa de Acción para la \nConservación de Especies (PACE): Crocodylia ( Crocodylus acutus , Crocodylus \nmoreletii, Caiman crocodilus chiapasiu s). SEMARNAT/CONANP, México.  \nhttps://www.gob.mx/conanp/documentos/protocolo-de-atencion-a-contingencias-\nhumano-cocodrilianos \nVillegas A y Reynos o VH (2013) Relative abundance and Habitat preference in isolated \npopulations of Morelet’s crocodile ( Crocodylus moreletii ) along the coast of the \nGulf of Mexico. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 8(3): 571−580.  \nhttps://www.herpconbio.org/Volume_8/Issue_3/Villegas_Reynoso_2013.pdf \n \n \nFigure 1.  Illustrates the location of Laguna del Carpintero in Tampico, Tamaulipas, \nMexico. It indicates the site of the incident, the location of the victim's pre-hospital care, \nand the position of the crocodile nest. Existing infrastructure in the periphery of Laguna del \nCarpintero is also shown. \n \nFigure 2. A and B) Prehospital care of the person involved in the human-crocodile \ninteraction (IH-C) Grade 4 non-fatal (NF) in the Laguna del Carpintero, Tampico, \nTamaulipas; C) Spotting of the crocodile causing the IH-C NF in the pluvial channel; D) \nSpotting of the female protecting nest 42 m from the site of the IH-C NF. \n \nFigure 3. A) The crocodile responsible for the IH-C NF is held at the Tampico Fire \nDepartment facilities; B) Delivery to PROFEPA and C) transfer to final captive facility. \n \nAuthor-formatted, not peer-reviewed document posted on 25/11/2024. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e142593","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}