Dr. Marisa Tellez: Sinking Your Teeth into Crocodile Conservation Through Community Stewardship

Conservation is not just about wildlife, it is about people and communities. The success of any wildlife conservation program relatively parallels the involvement and support from local communities, thus working alongside communities and partner organizations is imperative to empower people with the knowledge of co-existence and sustainability to ensure long-term conservation efforts. In this presentation, I will be discussing the conservation efforts and scientific investigations of the Crocodile Research Coalition (CRC), a Belize based non-profit that works with local, national and regional stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability of crocodiles and their habitat. I will also discuss our biodiversity survey that utilizes parasites as bioindicators of species richness and health of the local ecosystem. Although crocodiles are the CRC's flagship species in pursuing regional conservation efforts, the CRC facilitates research focused on the surrounding flora and fauna given long-lasting conservation management is dependent on preserving the integrity of ecological interactions. This holistic approach of crocodile conservation and management, in addition to the continuous involvement and mentorship of local wildlife champions in projects that range from eco-parasitology, eco-toxicology, and population ecology, has contributed to local stewardship in protecting crocodiles and their environment.

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