One of my recent projects has been a crocodile monitoring project in Jamaica. The principal investigator is Dr Byron Wilson, professor at the University of the West Indies (UWI). In January 2009, Dr Wilson traveled to Miami to meet with me and begin training in the proper, safe capture techniques for American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus).
American crocodiles are also found in Jamaica, although there has been no formal study since the 1980's. Dr Wilson plans on an on going study to monitor the crocodiles in Manatee Bay, just west of Kingston and the site of several other studies. One of the most notable studies is of the Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei) found only in the Hellshire Hills and presumed extinct until a pig hunter's dog caught one in the early 1990's.
Our project is also supported by Dr Glenn Gerber biologist at CRES (Center for the Reproduction of Endangered Species), San Diego, California. Dr Gerber is outfitting GPS tranmitters to be attached to adult crocodiles residing in Kingston Harbor and the Black River. During our initial survey in January 2009, the weather made surveys in Kingston Harbor impossible to track, but during several evenings spent at the Manatee camp, ten crocodiles were captured, processed and released.