Croc sighting at St Bess park spooks locals

Residents of Black River in St Elizabeth are expressing concern over the safety of users of the JAG Myers Municipal Park, especially children, after a large crocodile was spotted sunbathing at the municipal facility recently.

Not only are they concerned for their safety if there is another reptile appears, but they are also worried about children who play inside the park daily as the lack of a wall or perimeter fence means they could also wander into the sea.

“It’s not safe for us here ‘cause we can turn we back here and we just see something crawl up on you. It can’t right,” Fay Gooden-Williams told The Gleaner last Thursday.

Gooden-Williams, who has a three-year-old grandson, breathed a sigh of relief that she was not on the grounds last month when a crocodile made its latest appearance onshore.

She said that she does not wish to deny her grandchild’s request when he wants to go to the park to play, but the safety concerns linger.

She said that the elderly could also be at risk.

“We can’t have a park and crocodile a come up. It makes no sense,” Gooden-Williams added, urging the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to intervene.

“A serious something; no joke about it. We’re very concerned. It’s not good,” she said.

When The Gleaner spoke with two senior citizens, who were lounging on a bench at the location, the women expressed alarm about the situation.

One of the women, who gave her name only as Miss Campbell, agreed that a wall should be built to soothe the fears.

“I was sitting here, and I was looking out into the water, and I thought it would be a good idea if there was a wall there because people are here with children and people might just go too close to the edge and anything could happen,” she said.

She also called for signs to be erected to warn visitors who may not be familiar with the area about the potential of a crocodile nearing land.

Black River Mayor Derrick Sangster informed The Gleaner that he suspected the appearance of the crocodile was a one-off incident and that he was informed that the reptile was a pregnant female.

Last Thursday, he said that he had not received any update and could not speak to the situation.

NO OFFICIAL REPORTS

While NEPA did not receive any official reports of the crocodile sighting, posts made on social media on March 29 showing the sunbathing crocodile were brought to their attention, according to a representative from the agency’s public education division in Kingston.

The spokesperson said that since Black River and its surrounding communities were known to have American crocodiles within the wetlands and waterways, including the sea, which forms a part of their natural habitat, it was not uncommon to see one on the bank of a river, canal, or the seashore.

The Black River protected area was declared in December 2021 and covers an area of 20.7 kilometre square. Within the protected area are animals such as the American crocodile and the West Indian whistling duck.

The American crocodile is one of Jamaica’s endangered animal species, which is protected by law. The NEPA representative encouraged Jamaicans to exercise caution when in proximity to these water bodies and along the south coast, where there is a river or wetland nearby.

According to the NEPA representative, it is not recommended to construct a wall in this situation. Instead, it was suggested that warning signs be erected as needed at the park grounds and other areas across the town to warn the public that they are interacting with the natural environment and may come in contact with wildlife such as crocodiles.

“Persons should not molest, feed, or attempt to capture these animals. Crocodiles tend to sunbathe on the bank of the waterways as a means of warming up its body ... . This is a natural behaviour and [there is] no need for concern. If a crocodile is seen basking in the sun, it should simply be avoided, and a respectable distance maintained while observing the animal,” the spokesperson said.

asha.wilks@gleanerjm.com