Every pond, ditch and estuary on this coast can have a pair of eyes in it, and most of the time they belong to this animal rather than the crocodile. That is better news, but not an invitation.
Where you’ll see it
Mangroves, estuaries, farm ponds, wetlands and the slow reaches of rivers. Palo Verde has enormous numbers. Any brackish or still water can hold one.
What to know
Caimans eat fish, frogs, crabs and small animals, and the ones on this coast rarely exceed two metres. They are not the threat to people that a big crocodile is. They are a threat to a dog at the water’s edge, and a large one is nothing to test with a child. The rules are the same as for the crocodile, scaled down: do not swim in still or brackish water, keep pets back, and never feed one.
