Birkbeck academic leads first global effort to reduce crocodile attacks
The initiative aims to support coexistence between humans and crocodiles by reducing attacks.
In many parts of the world, attacks by crocodilians (an order of reptiles including crocodiles, alligators and caiman) are not only a threat to people and livestock, they are also an obstacle to crocodilian conservation. Dr Simon Pooley, Lambert Lecturer in Environment and Applied Herpetology at Birkbeck, is leading a new global effort to help communities live more safely alongside crocodilians, while supporting their protection.
With the backing of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Dr Pooley and his team of experts on the Living with Crocodilians Working Group of the Crocodile Specialist Group have launched the first worldwide survey of crocodile attack mitigation strategies. The How to Prevent Crocodile Attacks Survey gathers local knowledge and expert insight on what is being done and what actually works, across different species, regions, and ecological contexts.
The results will feed into a global database of proven interventions, forming part of a freely available and continually updated set of guidelines hosted by the IUCN’s Crocodile Specialist Group. Future phases will include synthesising outreach and education efforts to foster safer, long-term coexistence with crocodilians.
Dr Pooley commented: “This working group and survey isn’t just about preventing attacks. It’s about supporting communities and authorities with better tools and ultimately helping conserve species that are increasingly under pressure from habitat loss and climate change.”
The survey is open to anyone with experience of managing, responding to, or living with the threat of crocodilian attacks. Responses will directly inform future conservation and policy decisions in some of the world’s most at-risk regions.
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