TEXTO:
They can reach 2 meters in length, eat a little bit of
everything and are essential for the conservation of what
is left of their habitat, the Atlantic Rainforest. We are
referring to the caiman alligator.
[5] With the destruction of the natural environment, like
other species, the crocodilian reptile’s existence is being
threatened, and hunting is one of the culprits behind
their endangerment, according to the analysis of
conservationist Yhuri Nóbrega, from Project Caiman. “It’s
[10] a difficult issue to approach because it is cultural. At any
of our activities or lectures, we see that people have either
already tried crocodile meat or know someone who has,”
he says.
“In the interior of Bahia, especially near the São
[15] Francisco River, the meat is known as ‘the cod of the
river,’ because it is salted for preservation, and because
of the way in which it is commercialized,” explains
Luciano Verdade, a professor at USP and one of the
leading crocodile experts in Brazil. In the case of the
[20] Caiman latirostris (the caiman’s scientific name), the
issue is that the species generates economic interest,
both for its skin and its meat.
In what remained of the Atlantic Forest, there is
little space for the small communities, especially during
[25] the dry season. It is not difficult to find the crocodiles
outside of their natural environment. It is not unusual to
find them in settling ponds, near pig farming or breeding
pastures.
“Something similar occurs in the wetlands
[30] (Pantanal), but through a natural process. During the dry
season, the pond is reduced, creating a reserve of
bacteria that comes in contact with the crocodiles,” says
the professor. That contamination adds weight to the claim
that consuming crocodile meat from an unknown source
[35] may not be a good idea.
THEY can reach. Disponível em: <www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/2016/11/18284245conservationists-attempt-to-dissuade…alligatorhunting- in-brazil.shtml>. Acesso em: 8 dez. 2016. Adaptado.
The author says that, depending on the circumstances, crocodile meat might be
