The National System of Areas of Conservation (SINAC) has warned national and foreign tourists who are visiting the different Costa Rican beaches during this Holy Week to watch out for the presence of crocodiles.
SINAC authorities explained that the presence of these reptiles in the area close to the estuaries is normal and recommend to stay alert and in the event of spotting one of these animals to stay away and avoid taking unnecessary risks or hurting the animal.
The distance between the estuaries and the beach is relatively short and therefore crocodiles have been spotted in the past in the beach in different areas, such as Tamarindo in Guanacaste and in Puntarenas.
“This time a year rivers have low levels of water, and therefore a higher concentration of animals in low areas or other bodies of water is expected, such as the estuaries”, explained Iván Sandoval, biologist of the National University to the local news site AmeliaRueda.com
Earlier this month, two crocodiles were spotted in areas near the estuary in Putarenas.
Also, as the rainy season begins in May the matting period for these animals also begins and many times alpha males claim their spaces and make smaller crocs leave the area and wonder to the ocean.
In the past, surfers and swimmers have had encounters with these reptiles, some only end up as a scare but others have a tragic result, in 2016 an American tourist suffered a crocodile attack that led to a partial amputation of his leg.
SINAC authorities explained that the presence of these reptiles in the area close to the estuaries is normal and recommend to stay alert and in the event of spotting one of these animals to stay away and avoid taking unnecessary risks or hurting the animal.
The distance between the estuaries and the beach is relatively short and therefore crocodiles have been spotted in the past in the beach in different areas, such as Tamarindo in Guanacaste and in Puntarenas.
“This time a year rivers have low levels of water, and therefore a higher concentration of animals in low areas or other bodies of water is expected, such as the estuaries”, explained Iván Sandoval, biologist of the National University to the local news site AmeliaRueda.com
Earlier this month, two crocodiles were spotted in areas near the estuary in Putarenas.
Also, as the rainy season begins in May the matting period for these animals also begins and many times alpha males claim their spaces and make smaller crocs leave the area and wonder to the ocean.
In the past, surfers and swimmers have had encounters with these reptiles, some only end up as a scare but others have a tragic result, in 2016 an American tourist suffered a crocodile attack that led to a partial amputation of his leg.
