Influence of diet overlap and nest-site aggression on human–black caiman conflict in Guyana

ABSTRACT

The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is the largest aquatic predator in the Amazon freshwater bioregion. Their destruction of fishing gear, consumption of fish and turtles, and infrequent attacks on humans, pets, and livestock are drivers of conflict with riverine communities. Attitudes toward black caiman can motivate negative human–caiman interactions across their range. In this article, we explored the importance of understanding attitudes toward the presence of black caiman populations. We surveyed four villages situated along the Rupununi River in the North Rupununi Guyana. Analysis indicated that negative attitudes were influenced by seasonality, sex, and village. Results offered additional insights into human–wildlife interactions and the dynamics of living alongside a protected large predator in Guyana. We recommend further research into the linkage between black caiman behavioral ecology and incidences of conflict.

KEYWORDS:

• Black caiman
• conflict
• attitudes
• Rupununi
• Guyana

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the WWF Guianas Norad grant#KT-57 and donations from the Tropical Conservation and Development Program at the University of Florida and the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens. We thank the hard work, motivation, and commitment shown by our research team: Caiman House, The Rupununi Wildlife Research Unit, and our village counterparts. We would also like to thank Dr A. Roopsind, K. Jacobsen, T. Patterson, D. Hemraj, and P. Taylor, who offered input to our survey analysis, design, and species ID confirmation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The supplemental material that supports the findings of this study is openly available on GitHub at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5846719. Data and code used can be provided upon request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the UG-WWF Guianas Student research Grant [KT-57]; Conservation Department at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens.