WATCH | Last-ditch race to save the Orinoco crocodile
A group of Venezuelan biologists and veterinarians are raising hatchlings of the endangered Orinoco crocodile and releasing them into the wild in a bid to prevent, or at least delay, its extinction.
A drone view shows a group of specialists, workers and volunteers preparing Orinoco crocodile hatchlings raised in captivity for their release into the wild at the Capanaparo River, at the Terepaima Ranch, near Elorza, Apure State, Venezuela, April 24, 2025. For decades, the men and women of the Venezuelan Crocodile Specialist Group have been raising younglings of the critically endangered species in captivity in a race against time to avoid its extinction, as fewer than 100 Orinoco crocodiles remain in the wild. Decades of poaching for leather pushed the Orinoco crocodile to the brink, and now struggling Venezuelans who hunt the animals for meat and take their eggs for food threaten to deal the final blow. "We're only delaying the Orinoco's extinction," said Federico Pantin, 59, the director of the Leslie Pantin Zoo. REUTERS/Gaby Oraa SEARCH "ORAA ORINOCO CROCODILES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. (Gaby Oraa)
A group of Venezuelan biologists and veterinarians are raising hatchlings of the endangered Orinoco crocodile and releasing them into the wild in a bid to prevent, or at least delay, its extinction.
Fewer than 100 Orinoco crocodiles, one of the largest living reptiles in the world, remain in the wild, according to the Venezuelan conservation foundation Fudeci. The animal's natural habitat is in the Orinoco River basin, which covers most of Venezuela and spills into Colombia.
Adult Orinocos can reach more than 5m in length, and can live for decades. A 70-year-old named Picopando resides at Masaguaral Ranch, where scientists breed captive adults and raise the babies and feed them chicken, beef and vitamins until they are about a year old and grow to a weight of about 6kg.
Every year the group releases about 200 young crocs into the wild.
"We're only delaying the Orinoco's extinction," said Federico Pantin, 59, director of the Leslie Pantin Zoo.
For decades, the men and women of the Venezuelan Crocodile Specialist Group have been raising younglings of the critically endangered species in captivity in a race against time to avoid its extinction. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
An Orinoco crocodile at the Masaguaral Ranch, a captive breeding centre near Tamarindito in Guarico State in Venezuela, on April 22 2025. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
Carlos Alvarado, 34, a biologist and member of the Group of Crocodile Specialists of Venezuela, measures an Orinoco crocodile hatchling. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
Omar Hernandez, 63, a biologist, tags an Orinoco crocodile hatchling raised in captivity before its release into the wild at the Capanaparo River at the Leslie Pantin Zoo on April 21 2025. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
Alvaro Velasco, 66, a biologist and president of the Group of Crocodile Specialists of Venezuela, releases an Orinoco crocodile hatchling raised in captivity. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
Alvaro Velasco with an Orinoco crocodile hatchling raised in captivity before its release into the wild at the Capanaparo River. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
For decades, the men and women of the Venezuelan Crocodile Specialist Group have been raising younglings of the critically endangered species in captivity in a race against time to avoid its extinction. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
Specialists, workers and volunteers carry crates transporting Orinoco crocodile hatchlings raised in captivity to release them into the wild at the Capanaparo River at Terepaima Ranch near Elorza in Apure State on April 24 2025. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
Orinoco crocodile hatchlings raised in captivity. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
A child releases an Orinoco crocodile hatchling. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
An Orinoco crocodile hatchling is released into the wild at the Capanaparo River. It's believed fewer than 100 remain in the wild. Decades of poaching for leather pushed the Orinoco crocodile to the brink, and struggling Venezuelans who hunt the animals for meat and take their eggs for food threaten to deal the final blow. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
A drone view of Orinoco crocodile hatchlings raised in captivity swimming in the Capanaparo River after being released into the wild at Terepaima Ranch. (REUTERS/Gaby Oraa)
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