CROCODILE RESEARCH COALITION
Mission Statement
A nonprofit organization devoted to promoting conservation of crocodiles and their habitats throughout Central America through community involvement, research, and education.
JOIN THE TEAM
The CRC accepts interns, volunteers, and research associates year-round to assist in our crocodile population surveys, biodiversity monitoring, and educational outreach events.
DONATE
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.“ - Jane Goodall
Be a part of the CRC mission - make a difference and donate today!
ADOPT-A-CROC
By adopting one of our captive or rehabilitated crocs, you provide the support needed to home and provide the necessary veterinary and husbandry care for crocs and other wildlife that come through our wildlife triage and rehabilitation program.
RICK
On October 29, 2017, CRC received a call from Placencia Police at 5 am stating that they have an injured, ill crocodile. Meet Rick (named after the tv show Rick and Morty), a Morelet's (hybrid) crocodile that showed the signs of being someone's pet via his habituation to humans and poor physical state - Rick was partially blind and had a curved spine due to improper nutrition and being kept in a small enclosure. Although we rehabbed Rick back to health, he could not be released back into the wild due to his chronic physical ailments and habituation to humans.
AEMON
Maester Aemon, a 2m American (hybrid) crocodile, came under CRC's rehab after being rescued from Corozal District in November 2018. He was found emaciated and had severe damage to his eyes from a hard blow/machete chop to the head. Unfortunately, this croc has lost vision in one eye, with poor eyesight in the other, and his lack of vision likely led to his emaciation as crocs still use a bit of their vision for hunting. In 2 months with the help of The Kutunza Translation Facility where CRC temporarily rehabs some of our crocs, Aemon has almost doubled in weight with assistant feeding, and is already showing the signs of a good student in our target training program. Aemon was just moved to a permanent location under CRC 24/7 care. (For you Game of Thrones fans, you’ll know why we named him Aemon!).
Aemon has now taken on the important role as CRC’s Croc Ambassador, educating people about the truth of crocodiles, squashing false beliefs and misguided information. Aemon, along with other CRC rehabbed crocs, could use your support. Adopt-A-Croc and your donation will go towards food, enclosure upkeep, and veterinary care for Aemon and other crocs under our wildlife rehabilitation program. Sponsor $120US or more and get monthly updates of Aemon!
FOSTER CROCS
SAM & GILLY
In March 2019, CRC became the caretakers of 2 Morelet’s crocs that were originally permitted to a couple by Forest Department in Belize District. No longer to care for the mating pair, CRC was asked to “adopt” the crocs and become part of our Croc Ambassador program. These crocs are currently under rehabilitation as well as basic target training prior under CRC staff, and will soon find a permanent home at the CRC captive facility.
The Foster Crocs will soon be taking the role as CRC Croc Ambassadors, educating people about the truth of crocodiles, squashing false beliefs and misguided information. This mating pair, along with other CRC rehabbed crocs, could use your support. Adopt-A-Croc and your donation will go towards food, enclosure upkeep, and veterinary care for the Foster Crocs and other crocs under our wildlife rehabilitation program. Sponsor $120US or more and get monthly updates of CRC crocs!
The New Adventures of PigPen
On July 10, 2020, the CRC responded to the concerns of Belize Sugar Industry (BSI) in Orange Walk District about 2 Morelet’s crocodiles trapped in an old water effluent tank. This tank was 7m x 7m, and at least 7m deep. These crocodiles likely fell into the tanks while dispersing on land as there are no…
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CRC Research Associate Receives a Master’s in Biology
We would like to congratulate Felix Thirion who just received his Master’s based on his project titled “Assessing patterns of trace metal bioaccumulation in caudal scutes of Crocodylus moreletii and Crocodylus acutus in Belize.” Felix completed his Master’s under the supervision of the CRC, analyzing scutes CRC collected over the last three years throughout the…
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A Load of Croc June 2020: “Woah, we’re half way there…”
Even though the world is coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, the CRC has been busy with animal rescues, croc calls and snorkelling clean ups. Before COVID-19, the CRC would normally be doing outreach for World Crocodile Day. Instead, due to government restrictions, the CRC celebrated it with a crocodile rescue, taking a 1.2m American-hybrid croc…
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CRC Croc Ambassador’s Latest Shush
How’s Jabba? Is Aemon getting more confident? Is the turtle known as Mad Max still bullying Sam and Gilly? The CRC gets asked all time how our Croc Ambassador’s are doing so we figure we could provide the latest shush (creole for latest gossip) on the crocs monthly: Jabba: He’s lost the Hutt weight, but…
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Can a crocodile smile?
Can a crocodile smile? CRC Croc Ambassador Aemon is just starting to get the hang of this command, and the main purpose behind the command is to give us a good view inside his mouth and see his teeth as part of a regular healthy check-up.
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New Seine Bight Trash Awareness Signs!
Right before quarantine came into effect in Belize the month of March, Projects Abroad assisted CRC in creating some new signs for Seine Bight in collaboration with the Seine Bight Village Council. This past week CRC Program Coordinator Darcy and a few kids from the village put up the signs to further awareness of properly…
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CRC Director Gives Virtual Conference Croc Talk
CRC Director and Co-Founder Dr. Marisa Tellez gave an online Croc Talk live Tuesday, May 12, 2020 about the current research of the CRC in regards to the effect of pollution on the population of Morelet’s crocodiles in New River, Belize, as well as discussed some of the educational outreach tools we use to create…
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Mad Max: Fury Turtle Road
For those unaware Mad Max is a turtle that has been living in the same pond as our Croc Ambassadors Gilly and Sam and is THE QUEEN of the pond- we just recently found out from some turtle researchers Mad Max is really Mad Maxine, a Mesoamerican Slider. Mad Max (Mad Maxine for short of…
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Come what May… and Croc On!
As many of parts of the world have witnessed, animals are on the move with the lack of human traffic due to COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. Mix that in with rains and animal baby season, and you have before you the perfect storm in a height of wildlife rescues! Let’s talk croc first…. Jeff, just your…
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A Load of Croc: April 2020 Egg-stravaganza
This month love was in the air as Mama crocs begin prepping their nests for egg laying, and Morelet’s croc breeding season just starting to warm-up. And despite the quarantine, the CRC continues to work from our croc caves- whether that is providing educational material, working on publications, or organizing and prepping for when we…
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