Back on the Rupununi River
As darkness settles on the Rupununi River , the creatures of the night begin to stir . Traversing the waters in your boat , you may be able to see tree boas , iguanas , frogs , and many fish species ( i . e ., Arowana , piranha ). If you ’ re lucky enough , you might catch a glimpse of Boat-billed Herons , possums and even nightjars and potoos .
The research team patrols the banks with a hand-held spotlight , looking for the reflection of a black caiman ’ s eye . Your boat stays in the middle of the river , a comfortable distance away from the researchers .
Suddenly , there ’ s a commotion at the researchers ’ boat . The team has captured a black caiman . It doesn ’ t go in the boat but is gently tugged alongside it to a sandy clearing on the riverbank . Your boat captain heads for the riverbank , and you step off onto the soft sand .
Once secure , the animal ’ s snout is taped shut , and research can begin . ( Like alligators , caimans use very powerful muscles to close their mouths , but not to open them .)
The first thing the researchers do is to check if the captured caiman is one they ’ ve captured before . If so , they note the date of the tagging so they can measure the animal ’ s progress . If not , a small chip is placed beneath its scales . This does not harm the animal .
After taking some initial measurements , the caiman is turned on its back , which essentially renders it powerless , and the researchers beckon you to approach .
If you ’ ve ever wondered what a black caiman feels like , this is your chance to find out . You can kneel down beside the caiman , and run your hands over its coarse tail and smooth belly . The researchers may even ask you to hold down the caiman ’ s tail while they measure its length . ( Black caiman can grow up to 15 feet long .) Next , the researchers determine the sex of the caiman . Because this can ’ t be done visually , the researchers reach into a small hole in the animal ’ s belly and determine which sex organs are inside .
Finally , the caiman is tied to a beam with a scale on it and hoisted into the air by two researchers to determine its weight — usually between 150 and 200 pounds for adults .
With all the data carefully recorded , it ’ s time to release the caiman . The researchers flip the caiman back onto its belly , remove the tape from its closed mouth , and with a snare still around its neck , lead the caiman down to the water . The researchers then carefully remove the snare .
The caiman is often exhausted and / or disoriented , and needs to be coaxed back into the water with shouts and claps from the researchers . Eventually , however , the caiman slides into the dark river and silently glides away … safely .
In Guyana , we recognize we have a responsibility to protect and conserve our spectacular natural and cultural treasures . We ’ re equally blessed that so many of our visitors want to lend a hand in doing so . We look forward to welcoming you !
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