The Black Caiman Project: Conservation of a Keystone Species
The WCC encourages conservation efforts not only for wolves, but for all wild species. Join herpetologist Peter Taylor for a special talk about the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), the largest vertebrate animal in South America. Enormous crocodilians don’t scare Taylor. Neither do king cobras, mambas, nor trudging ankle deep through a Venezuelan river trying to catch anacondas. A keeper and supervisor at the Bronx and St. Louis zoos for nearly 20 years, the reptile enthusiast is currently leading a field study of the black caiman in the Rupununi region of Guyana. Taylor’s talk will focus on the ecology of the black caiman, a spectacular keystone species, and the indigenous Macushi people who have learned to live this intimidating predator in their midst. After the talk, guests will visit Ambassador wolves - Kaila, Lukas and Atka as well as the WCC’s red wolf exhibit. The young red wolf pups are all ears and paws and ready to explore their lush surroundings.
