On Saturday morning, October 29th, the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) received a call from a resident in the San Pablo area that their pet dog had sustained injuries from a crocodile attack. Vince Rose, ACES Animal Behaviourist responded to the call and confirmed that the lucky pooch had narrowly escaped uncertain death with superficial lacerations to its left back leg. Based on information from the pet owner, and spotting a crocodile in the nearby canal, Rose ascertained that indeed there was a large crocodile residing in the area that could very well be preying on dogs. Unfortunately before measures could be taken to capture and relocate the problematic crocodile it managed to kill a pet dog in the neighbouring canal.

On Tuesday, November 1st, ACES responded to a call from Tamara Sniffin that her pet dog Maya, who had gone missing for less than 24 hours, was found floating under her boat dock along with a large crocodile that was apparently guarding the dead animal. The ACES team attempted to capture the crocodile without success. They thoughtfully removed and disposed of the deceased pet at the owner’s request. Two days later, on Friday the 4th of November, Sniffin spotted the croc with another dead dog in the same location under her dock. ACES was again called to the scene and were able to recover the dog from the water while pursuing the crocodile. They soon learned that the unfortunate dog, Mugzi, was the pet of Melody Sanchez who also lives on a nearby canal in the San Pablo area.

ACES proceeded with setting up a netted trap to capture the problematic croc and on Monday night, November 7th the ACES team, with the help of able-bodied neighbours successfully trapped and relocated the large, very aggressive croc. Measuring 10.7’ with approximately 13 “ missing from its tail, #26 was first captured by ACES on May 15, 2011 at the WASA Lagoon where the animal had been habitually feed by local boys as an illegal tourist attraction. The animal was relocated to the Mata Grande proposed wildlife area several miles north of San Pedro but reappeared on August 24th when ACES was called to a “croc in the pool” call from the Las Terrazas Resort.

At this point, and with the approval of the Belize Forest Department, ACES would have permanently contained this dangerous animal at their sanctuary facility north of San Pedro or at their facility on the mainland in Ladyville where he could no longer be a threat to people and pets. The contained animal would then serve as an educational opportunity for those visiting the ACES facility. However, due to a lack in funding ACES is yet to have adequate containment units for the problematic animals and they have no choice but to relocate the animals far from populated areas in hopes that it won’t return to the areas they associate with easy food.

Unfortunately this is the case with #26, who after being relocated for a second time to the Mata Grande area in August eventually travelled to the San Pablo area south of San Pedro in search of an effortless meal. The cunning croc, which has apparently developed a taste for dogs, was once again relocated to the Mata Grande area on Monday night.

According to ACES Biologist Cherie Chenot-Rose, they have on record eight repeat offender crocodiles, all longer than six feet in length. One croc has been recaptured as many as five times. “These repeat offenders are highly problematic, dangerous animals that need to be removed from this area. As a protected species this is our only option. Until we can find funding to construct additional containment units our only choice is to relocate them. It is not the answer to the problem and it does not assure the safety of the community or the animal. Chances are they will again return to their original habitat,” stated Rose.

ACES is an essential conservation organization to our community that not only assists in removing problematic crocodiles but protects and conserves these apex predators that are crucial to our marine ecosystem. For more information about ACES and how you can donate please visit their website at www.americancrocodilesanctuary.org. To report a problematic crocodile please call 631-6366.

To Concerned Residents and Resort Owners,

ACES is receiving complaints about the area into which we have been relocating problematic crocodiles. First, despite the rumors, ACES does not relocate problematic crocs into immediate residential areas, nor are we placing them in captivity and letting them escape. ACES hears and agrees with the relocation concerns one hundred percent and feels that the communities of Ambergris Caye need to come together to find the solution, hence a croc containment facility for education and tourism. No matter if we took these croc 100 miles away, it has been scientifically proven that they will normally return to where they came from originally. ACES has been providing a free community service of removing problematic crocs that are causing immediate danger to pets and people. We have been relocating these crocs to an area that is being proposed to become a wildlife sanctuary off of the public road leading into Grande Belize Estates Development where there are no immediate homes. For the record, there are only eight large repeat offending problematic crocs that we have relocated to the area north. Thus, we are re-capturing and relocating the same animals more than once, we are not bringing more crocs into the area. The relocated crocs keep returning to their southern homes. American crocodiles are not only an endangered species, but a very important part of keeping the island's ecosystem in balance and cannot just "be killed."

ACES has been suggesting an educational containment facility for over a year now and has even hand delivered proposals that are available for viewing at AmericanCrocodileSanctuary.org. We are a transparent non-profit organization and are willing to hold a public meeting and divulge our past years expenses, funding, and the estimated costs of the proposed educational tourist eco-attraction for the island. Please call Vince at 631-6366 with suggestions and concerns. Vince is happy to meet with you in person at your convenience.

Sincerely,Vince & Cherie

30-06....relocate their brains!

I agree 100%. I spent ten years working as a wildlife biology technician, and at the Smithsonian Natl Zoo. I worked with endangered species every day. Sometimes there were problematic animals and "bad actors", that had to be put down. I respect the ACES folks, but if they are just going to relocate animals that are habituated to humans, and kill pets; and the animals continue to come back and kill, they need a few more courses in Wildlife Management.

I know whereof I speak and I'm with you Elbert. It just takes a little more paperwork in the States.

Geez Gwen...adding up all your experience..you must be 175 years old!

61! Sorry you don't have much Jesse!

Extremely impressive!
You must be a multi-tasker!

Maybe we should have a different approach. Instead of having a security dog barking the whole night; we should start to have cross on our properties. No barking and they can be on a healthy diet by feeding on thieves.

This would save us a lot of money that we spend on dog food.

Yeah I'm afraid the lessons we learned in the Nat'l Park Service at Yosemite and Yellowstone were hard and bitter. After years of attempted relocations we finally came to the conclusion that we had to put down the animals that returned from backcountry relocation. That percentage was well above 90%.

It's prime croc habitat, with or without people. When you relocate or put one down, another is going to simply fill in the vacancy. Mother Nature abhors a vacuum and so apparently do crocs.

Not to be crass but if the croc was allowed to eat the second dog does one really think he would have hunted the third so quickly?

Well, he'd be full for a short while...but then right back out looking for another dog...or small child.

Well I've tasted dog but never cat...never will!

'Cause yer a wossy ?

Jesse, I'm so fed up with your stuff! I didn't need to multi task to get a Biology
Degree from 68 to 72, work at Patuxent wildlife Research Center from 72 to 78, and Natl Zoo from 78 to 80; go to Grad School from 80 to 83 in Clinical Psch, run the Shady Grove (Gaithersburg) office of the University of Maryland from 83 to 87, while teaching Social Psychology (until 95), then working in the Calvert Memorial Hospital Psych Unit from 90 to 99. Oh, and maybe I multi tasked while doing Organizational Consulting from 97 to 99 also. I went into Private Practice in 98, so I guess there was some multi tasking then. And I worked in Private Practice until 2007! I'm so sorry that you are an underachiever! But I'm not! Stuff it! By the way all this can be verified!

Well Jesse ...................

whew, that weren't no warning shot!

Sorry Gwen, if you search a new job, you need to add your social security number to the CV and be more relaxed before you verify anything.

Whew! Impressive...but you didn't include you years as a farmer/rancher and the many other claims you've made over the years. we have an investigative reporter collecting all your claims into a report which we'll post here when completed. Should be dazzling!

I had a sheep farm while I was the Administrator, from 83 to 87, and a mini one from 90 to 99! Sorry, Jesse it isn't BS. I have no reason for self aggrandizing, like yourself.

By the way what are the other claims, I can either verify, or suggest you made them up?

I am so glad to FINALLY be getting everyone's attention. ACES is very much aware of proper wildlife management. I am educated and have worked for both the USA Division of Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries Service. We have repeatedly stated that relocation is NOT an answer. The answer is, just like alligators in the states when they were endangered, to place the large problematic crocs in captivity and then rear hatchlings (young) and re-release a percentage according to the population status to keep the eco-system in balance. Once the population is stable, then anything over 6 feet that has either been fed by a human or that is problematic would be put down and all the parts used, bringing funds back to the Belize Forest Department and providing self-sustainability for the educational containment facility. ACES population survey for the past year is complete and data results are being compiled. A Croc Conservation plan for the island based on the data will be proposed to Belize Government before the new year. These are the proper steps to take for proper wildlife management. Not indiscriminate killing of endangered animals. And for the record, if locals had not been feeding these apex predators illegally for so many years, which they still do, there would not be so many problematic crocodiles. ACES is part of the solution, not the problem. Let's put our energy together and work towards a containment facility for the captivity of the problem crocs, education, and tourism here on the island. There is an ACES facility on the mainland and it currently holds 2 large problem croc from Ambergris Caye. The thing is, after the 22 Morelet's we rescued last week we have no more room there right now. We need funding for habitats there before we can take anymore. We are only two people and are doing the best we can with what we have. If ACES in PG had not been burnt down there wouldn't be this problem at all. We have been removing problem crocs to a less populated area taking those in immediate danger out of harms way. And every time we did so, we did post warnings in the news that this is not the answer and that the crocs will only return or become someone else's problem. Anyone wishing to help raise funds for the proper containment of problem crocs either here or on the mainland please feel free to contact us at 631-6366 or acesnpo@hughes.net. Thank you all for your concern. Sincerely,
Cherie