Population status of the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) in the Cojedes river system, Venezuela

The Orinoco crocodile is one of the most critically endangered crocodilians. The most important Orinoco crocodile population known is found in the Cojedes River System (CRS), Venezuela, an area currently under heavy anthropogenic pressure. Based on spotlight surveys, a minimum population of 547 non-hatchling crocodiles was estimated for the CRS. Middle sections of the CRS, particularly near the downstream-end of Caño de Agua, showed the highest population indices (PI)(7.3 ind/km). Intermediate PI were observed in Cojedes Norte and Caño de Agua Norte (2.2 and 4.4 ind/km, respectively) river sections relatively close to important human settlements and with comparatively higher levels of habitat alteration and contamination. The lowest PIs (<1.0 ind/km) were observed in navigable river reaches and far from main urban centers. Crocodile populations in northern sections of the CRS were dominated by juveniles, whereas sub-adults and adults composed an important fraction of the population in river reaches with relatively high crocodile densities. # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Resumen Crocodylus intermedius es una de las especies de cocodrilo más amenazadas. La población conocida más importante de esta especie se encuentra en el sistema del rı́o Cojedes (SRC), Venezuela, un area bajo fuerte presión humana. Con base en conteos nocturnos, la población del cocodrilo del Orinoco en el SRC se estimo ́ en un mı́nimo de 547 individuos (excluyendo crias). Sec-ciones en el la parte media del SRC, particularmente hacia el final de Caño de Agua, mostraron los indices poblacionales mayore