The latest crocodile attack in Caye Caulker has drawn a strong discussion among experts over what may have triggered the incident. Monday’s attack left American woman Nicole Robinson injured after she went swimming at around 3:30 a.m.
Initially, Marisa Tellez, executive director of the Crocodile Research Coalition, said on Tuesday that the Caye Caulker crocodile attack should not be viewed as aggression but as instinct driven by timing and environmental conditions. She pointed to several contributing factors, including peak feeding hours and the ongoing nesting season, which may influence crocodile behaviour in an attempt to protect her nest.
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However, Cherie Chenot-Rose, crocologist and co-founder of GiveaCroc and ACES Belize, said the animal’s sex remains unknown, which would make Tellez’s conclusion premature. Chenot-Rose argued that human interaction may be a stronger factor and instead referred to long-term feeding and waste disposal in tourist areas. Tellez had also mentioned this as a contributing factor during Tuesday’s interview.
“For years, crocodiles in these areas have been fed both directly and indirectly. This occurs through illegal tourist attractions, fishers tossing scraps into the water, or locals disposing of food waste in the canals. This habituation alters their natural behavior and reduces their fear of humans,” she said.
She warned that this conditioning can make crocodiles more likely to approach swimmers or investigate movement in the water, particularly at night when visibility is low and activity levels are higher. According to her, this shift in behaviour is what increases the risk of negative encounters in developed coastal zones like Caye Caulker.
Chenot-Rose called for the crocodile involved in the attack to be captured and properly identified, saying tagging records are essential in determining whether it has a history of nuisance behaviour.
“If an animal is permitted to continue such behavior without intervention, a repeat offense is almost certain,” she warned.
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