On the banks of the Capanaparo River in Venezuela, a handful of biologists are fighting to save the Orinoco crocodile, one of the planet's most endangered reptiles, from extinction. Long hunted for its skin and a victim of habitat destruction, the animal's population has declined dramatically in recent decades.
Venezuelan biologist Carlos Alvarado, 34, is one of those dedicating his life to this effort. Using tape and a caliper, he measures the growth of young crocodiles before releasing them into the wild. This patient work aims to strengthen the wild population, which is currently reduced to just a few hundred individuals.
Captive breeding programs have raised several thousand young reptiles, but their reintroduction remains complex. Many fail to survive in the face of persistent threats: illegal hunting, river pollution, and agricultural expansion in nesting areas. Biologists emphasize the urgent need for increased support from authorities and the international community to prevent the species from extinction.
According to experts, the fate of the Orinoco crocodile could be decided in the coming years. If current conservation efforts fail, the species could become extinct in the wild, depriving the river ecosystem of a key predator and symbol of Venezuelan biodiversity. For Carlos Alvarado and his colleagues, each crocodile release is a small victory, but the last-chance race remains far from over.
