Tourism Guyana 2022/23 | Page 54

You have to wait until dusk . Then you walk down to the river with your group , your guide and the expert black caiman research team . You board your boats and launch into the black water . Your caiman research expedition has begun .
As a guest of the Caiman House Lodge , you will have the rare opportunity of witnessing first-hand research scientists as they flawlessly execute capturing , measuring and tagging black caiman — the largest member of the Alligatoridae family — in the wild .
Located in the village of Yupukari in central Guyana , Caiman House Lodge and Research Station is a nonprofit organization owned and operated by Indigenous villagers . In addition to the black caiman , the Research Station studies and cares for populations of yellowspotted Amazon turtles . Most notably , the research crew is a part of the Rupununi Learners , an organization that began in 2005 in Yupukari with the desire to bring a holistic approach to environmental conservation , encompassing wildlife research , education , economic development and cultural preservation .
The black caiman is a much-loved giant species in the region , and the field study surrounding it is a full-blown community project which seeks to capture the following objectives :
• Conduct a detailed ecological study of the black caiman .
• Recommend protocols to resolve human / caiman conflicts .
• Develop a cadre of Indigenous naturalists for the continued study of Alligatoridae species , educate local people on conservation and management issues , and assist in the implementation of sound conservation practices .
• Enhance the knowledge of the black caiman through scientific publications and other media .
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