Stuart Jack

Life is about animals too

I have previously talked about the importance of biodiversity, the need to preserve what makes the Cayman Islands special and the need to deal with invasive species which threaten that. Using FCO funds my office has worked with the local Department of Environment and others on several related projects (ranging from lion fish and feral cats to the native tree nursery and parrots affected by Hurricane Paloma). 

Animals, good and bad, have been in the news in Cayman in recent weeks. 

Crocodiles 

One crocodile has been caught and released twice this year (another was caught last year).There have been several other reported sightings. The Cayman Islands get their name from crocodiles. In past centuries they were abundant, as they still are in nearby Cuba and Florida, but have been extinct in Cayman for some time. 

It is not clear how many, if any, of the other sightings were actually crocodiles. In nearly every case the croc was in the sea and might, the experts say, have been some kind of large fish. It is odd that none have been found basking on land, nor have any tracks. 

The return of crocodiles, whether just the two caught or more, is causing some mixed feelings. While sea-going crocs are not good news for humans in some parts of the world I have visited the experts say that the type that might be found around our shores is generally not aggressive to swimmers or divers. I hope they are right! My wife and I are often on the beach or in the sea and have never seen anything that would scare us.  

The alleged sightings are also giving rise to lots of rumours and jokes. The editorial in today’s Compass newspaper says that maybe the crocs are part of a British conspiracy against Cayman and that it is the Governor’s (that is my) pet croc as the sightings have been near the Governor’s residence. It is written tongue in cheek – or at least I hope so. Anyway, like other anti-British conspiracy theories it has no basis whatsoever! I’ll stick to other kinds of pet.

Iguanas 

Mixed feelings are also engendered by iguanas. The endemic blue iguanas are something very special to Grand Cayman and nearly everyone is keen to preserve them. But the invasive green iguanas are seen as pests. Recently the greens seem to have spread in large numbers, including invading Government House – one old iguana even sits occasionally on the crest of the roof and lords over the house as if he’s the real boss.

Dogs   

A number of pet dogs have been poisoned, apparently by paraquat picked up on the beach. This has led to outpourings of indignation and a lot of people scouring the beaches for the source. Was this intentional or accidental?   

Animals, good and bad, therefore continue to excite people here.

Posted at 20:36 28 October 2009 by Stuart Jack  |  Comments[0]