Long-shaped mouth equipped with sharp teeth, voracious, swims and runs very fast, and its body is covered by hard scales, all these characteristics make crocodiles an animal feared by man who, inspite of this, managed to breed it in captivity.

With the aim of drawing tourists' attention towards the Caribbean, the promotion has always being centered around the paradisiacal features posed by crystal-clear, warm beaches, fine white sands, shining sun and secluded spots and birds exhibiting colorful feathers, disregarding others significant gifts granted by mother nature.

DIFFERENT SPECIES: Among the nature's wonders, there is a wide variety of crocodile species, with different characteristics. The most significant are: CAIMAN CROCODILUS. Distribution: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Salvador, French Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Perú, Puerto Rico, Surinam, Tobago, Trinidad, United States and Venezuela. Characteristics: Small size, from 2 to 2.5 m. Its head presents a protuberance between the eyes. MELANOSUCHUS NIGER. Distribution: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana and Perú. Characteristics: Males can reach up to 6 m, their color is dark and the skull shape is narrower than that of the other caimans, its eyes are big. CROCODYLUS ACUTUS. Distribution: Belize, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Salvador, Florida, Guatemala, Haití, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Margarita, Martinique, México, Panamá, Perú, Trinidad, Venezuela. Characteristics: It’s one of the biggest, in some occasions 7 m. They have a characteristic feature: a protuberance above each eye and a grey color in the iris. CROCODYLUS MORELETII. Distribution: Belize, Guatemala and México. Characteristics: It’s relatively small, with some 3m long, its color is similar to that of the Crocodile Acutus though somewhat darker, in the younger species, the yellow color is bright with black strips. CROCODYLUS RHOMBIFER. Distribution: Cuba (Ciénaga de Zapata and Isle of Youth), extinct in the Bahamas and Cayman Islands. Characteristics: Medium size with 3.5 m, in some occasion they reach 5 m. Its head is broad and short, with a bright iris when young, with yellow and black drawings, that is why is described as "pearl crocodile".

4th Regional Meeting of Crocodile Specialists

The 4th Regional Meeting of Crocodile Specialists in the Caribbean and Latin America took place recently. The most interesting conclusions was the confirmation of the fact that 14 species of crocodiles in the area, are under a recovery process. The only concern is the situation of the Alligator of China that can become extinct in a short period of time. The general conclusion was that all should preserve the habitat to ensure the life of these species.

CUBA: PENINSULA OF ZAPATA

In the Peninsula of Zapata, some 200 kilometers away to the southeast of Havana, is the tourist resort La Boca where the most important crocodile-breeding center of the island is located. When visiting the place, you can see these reptiles living in their own habitat or living in captivity, you can also visit the area where a reproduction work of these species is carried out, a site that has been praised by tens of local and foreign tourists who arrive at the area.