CoP17 Prop. 21

Transfer of the American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus population in the Bahia
Cispata, Tinajones, La Balsa and Sectores Alendanos in the District of Cordoba,
Colombia from Appendix I to Appendix II for the purposes of ranching
Proponent: Colombia
Summary: The American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus is a widely distributed species, occurring in 17 range
States in southern North America, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. The
population of Cuba is in Appendix II; all other populations are in Appendix I. The species is classified as
Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List (2012).
In Colombia, the species is found in a number of mangrove swamps and river deltas, including Cispata Bay,Tinajones, La Balsa and surrounding area of the department on Department of Cordoba. The mangroves
extend over a total area of almost 115km 2 1. In 2006, these and the surrounding area were declared an
Integrated Management District (DMI-BC): hereafter referred to as Cispata Bay or DMI-BC. A proposal forthe same area was submitted to CoP16.
Since 2003 the species has been the subject of an active management programme in Cispata Bay, involving
the construction of artificial nesting areas and head-starting based on release of juveniles hatched from eggs
taken from the wild. Around 2500 juveniles were released in total between 2004 and 2014. Fertile eggs
collected from nests and eggs artificially incubated to the point of hatching have also been “released”; with ahatching rate of almost 70% from those artificially incubated.
The current population is believed to be between 800 and 2356 individuals based on surveys covering
14km2, or 80% of its habitat, the remainder being inaccessible. The population structure is considered toreflect a recovering or stable population. It is possible that the population has reached carrying capacity, andindividuals are thought likely to be migrating out of the area.
Management measures in line with Res. Conf. 11.16 (Rev. CoP15) on Ranching are detailed in the proposal
and a management plan is said to be under development (but not supplied). Relevant parts of this Resolution
and responses to them in the supporting statement are:b) i) The programme must be primarily beneficial to the conservation of the local population
Benefits to the local community will provide incentives to continue protecting this population. The area
can act as a replicable model.
ii) all products (including live specimens) must be adequately identified
Details on marking of eggs through to hatchlings and skins are provided. Skin marking will follow theCITES universal marking system and will include a label “ACUTUS CISPATA COLOMBIA”, which will
distinguish skins from those originating in the 7 registered captive breeding facilities for the species inColombia.
iii) the programme must have in place appropriate inventories, harvest controls and population
monitoring mechanisms
The Cispata Bay population, including nests, has been monitored using standardized methods since2003, led by the local competent environmental authority (CVS).No detail is provided on harvest controls
except that only authorized ASOCAIMAN members will be permitted to harvest eggs. A management
plan under development will include guidelines for egg collection from a sampled area (this management
plan is not currently available). Trade quotas will be established and adaptively managed based onmonitoring, as will the populations of individuals to be reintroduced to the wild.
iv) adequate numbers of animals must be returned to the wild
Progeny from 10% of all eggs collected will be returned to the wild after reaching approximately 100cm
size in controlled conditions. This figure will be revised based on population monitoring.
c) i) details of the marking system must be submitted
Details of the marking system have been provided.
ii) a list of products must be provided
It appears that skins are the only products that will exported.
1CoP17 Prop. 21iii) a description of marking methods to be providedDetails are provided.
iv) an inventory of current stocks
Current stocks are 857 juveniles and sub adults. The intention is for these to be exported with anexperimental quota of 200 skins per year until the stocks are exhausted.
d) i) off-take should not be detrimental
Details of the proposed offtake have not been provided however, the local community has beencollecting eggs (with replacement) for over 10 years and the population appears to be stable orincreasing. Management will be adapted on the basis of monitoring.
ii) the likely of biological and economic success of the operation
The DMI-BC has demonstrated the potential biological success over the past 10 years with the recovery
and stabilisation of the population. Sustainable use will allow costs to be internalised for long tem
economic success. Income will also be generated through ecotourism, research and education.
iii) there should be an assurance of no cruelty
The proponent states that humane methods will be used that guarantee no cruelty and comply withnational legislation.
iv) there should be documentary evidence that the programme is beneficial to the wild population
The community conservation project that has been running for over 10 years has reintroduced animals
and also built artificial nests, many of which are being used by female crocodiles on the a regular basis.
The community group ASCOCAIMAN is predominantly composed of ex-hunters, who are now
conserving instead of hunting the crocodiles. It is believed the area may serve as a replicable model.
v) there should be assurance that the above conditions will continue to be met
The programme has been running successfully over the past 10 years and a management plan is indevelopment.
Overall, the IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group considers the proposed management measures to besound2.
Regarding implementation of Res .Conf. 11.16 (Rev CoP15): recent problems with the management ofCaiman crocodilus fuscus farming in Colombia have been identified, in particular the export of ranched andwild-harvested specimens declared illegally as captive-bred. At the 66th Meeting of the CITES Standing
Committee Colombia and the EU made a joint declaration in which Colombia undertook to take action toensure the legal origin of the traded specimens, to be implemented by 31 May 2016 3. It is not clear to whatextent these actions have been implemented.
Analysis: The Crocodylus acutus population of Cispata Bay, Colombia, remains small (<2500 individuals),with a restricted range; however the population appears to be increasing or stable, and possibly at carrying
capacity and does not appear to be threatened at present. Most management conditions set out inRes. Conf. 11.16 (Rev. CoP15) appear to be in place, although some details on key elements such as
harvesting controls and offtake are not available. It is possible that these will be included in the management
plan under development.
References:Information not referenced in the Summary section is from the Supporting Statement.
1 CoP16 Prop. 23. (2013) Transfer of the population of the Bay of Cispata, municipality of San Antero, Department ofCórdoba, Republic of Colombia, from Appendix I to Appendix II. https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/16/prop/ECoP16-Prop-23.pdf. Viewed on 24th June 2016.
2 IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group (2016) In litt. to IUCN/TRAFFIC Analysis Team, Cambridge, UK.
3 SC66 (2016) Summary record. https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/sc/66/ExSum/E-SC66-SR.pdf. Viewed on
24th June 2016.

2