Black Caiman's are one of the largest predators in the Amazon basin. They can grow to be over thirty feet long. They usually eat birds, fish, and small mammals, but they have also been known to eat human flesh. I think about them every time I jump in the water to cool off. We have probably been paddling among them for days along the Pacaya River, but we've had not seen one until recently. There are many rumors and stories surrounding these special creatures.

Although it is very rare, several unsuspecting humans have fallen prey to the Black Caiman. Perhaps this is why the endangered crocodilians are hated and feared in many parts of the world. In the 1860's, the Amazon Black Caiman were as common as tadpoles in a frog pond. But because of the excellent quality of the hide, the black caiman was hunted to the brink of extinction for commercial interests.

During the caiman slaughter of the pioneer days, people did not understand the important roll caimans play in the forest's food chain. The over-hunting resulted in serious decline of the edible fish populations. Because the reptiles were so abundant, their excrement, or waste, was a major food source for plankton at the base of the food chain. Tiny fish hatchlings prey on the microorganisms that feed on the caiman's waste. So when the caimans were wiped out, a vital part of the food chain disappeared as well.

Now that we know more about the natural world, black caimans are being respected and protected. The black caiman we saw was accidentally caught in a fishing net. The risk of injury to the fishermen was too great, so the reptile was killed instead of attempting to remove it from the net while it was alive. Although we were saddened by this situation, we were very happy to see the elusive Black Caiman and know that it will be a healthy meal for many people.

The Black Caiman is almost extinct in many parts of its original habitat. However, there is a healthy black caiman population in the Pacaya Samaria National Reserve, because the park guards are working hard to eliminate poaching. Protected areas like the Pacaya Samiria are an excellent way to ensure the survival of the species.

See ya later Alligator,

Patrick