Presence of an alligator reported in a park in Caracas

• An NGO has asked the relevant authorities to take measures to relocate the reptile.

The non-profit organization (NGO) Ecoprácticas confirmed that there is a species of alligator in the lake of Simón Bolívar Park, located in La Carlota in Caracas, after reports from several people on social media who warned about the presence of the reptile.

“One of our allies sent us this image of this slime specimen located in the lake of Bolívar Park, next to Parque del Este,” the organization posted on its Instagram account on September 20.

This carnivorous reptile belongs to the species Caiman Crocodilus and is known by the name of spectacled caiman, as well as cachirre, white, guagipal, babilla or baba.

Ecoprácticas also asked authorities, including the National Parks Institute (Inparques) and the Ministry of Ecosocialism, to take measures to relocate the alligator.

Report on social networks

X (formerly Twitter) user @Gabyarocha commented on the presence of the slime through the social network. She said that “a month ago,” a friend told her that she saw a small alligator in the lake of La Carlota, so she dedicated herself to looking for it daily.

“About a month ago, a friend stopped me and told me that she saw a small alligator in the lake of La Carlota. I dedicated myself to looking for it every day. My friends laughed at my obsession with the ‘local Loch Ness Monster’. Today I saw it,” reads the message.

It is not yet known how the slime got into the lake and whether authorities were aware of it.

About a month ago, a friend stopped me and told me that she
I saw a small alligator in the lake of La Carlota. I dedicated myself to looking for it every day. My friends laughed at my obsession with the “local Loch Ness Monster.” Today I saw it. How did that slime get there? Do the authorities know? pic.twitter.com/yW5eQQ0v1Z

— Gaby Arocha (@gabyarocha) September 20, 2024

In the comments, some users expressed astonishment while others warned that it might not be in the necessary condition for its survival.

Conservation plans in Venezuela

The Ministry of Ecosocialism announced on June 9 the release of 136 alligators of an endangered species in the Orinoco River basin of Apure state, as part of a conservation and preservation plan.

According to information from the Minister of Ecosocialism, Josué Lorca, the species fell into critical danger of extinction due to overexploitation by poaching for trafficking.

Since 1990, when the plan to preserve these specimens was launched, more than 12,000 alligators have been released, many of which were in breeding farms located within private ranches.

“This year we hope to release more than 520 specimens, which will join the 12,000 we have already released over the years. This is a program that the entire community, private companies, as well as various state and non-governmental institutions are now participating in,” Lorca said on June 9.

Through videos shared on his X account (formerly Twitter), Lorca added that they hope this release will contribute to increasing the population of the species and maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.

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