La Ventanilla: A window to coexisting with Crocodiles
Markus Martinez Burman
Environmental scientist and Documentary Photographer
based in Norwich, UK
In 1998, a year after deadly hurricane Paulina hit the south coast of Oaxaca, the La Ventanilla cooperative was founded and registered as an ecotourism company. Paulina was the first time the community had experienced a hurricane and, in Bonifacio's words, a “major wake-up call for the community to reorganise and act on their future”. It is in their community's organization that they have survived 3 hurricanes and a pandemic in their history (Paulina (1997), Carlotta (2012) Agatha (2022)).
La Ventanilla has established a Unit for wildlife conservation (UMA) under government law. Through local and scientific knowledge, the community has implemented the monitoring of crocodile populations, nesting areas and a non-extractive breeding programme, allowing them to sustainably and safely manage an ecotourism strategy.
A crocodile hatchling for the communities crocodile breeding programme.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
La Ventanilla before hurricane Paulina.
From Venancio archive, 1994.
From Venancio archive, 1994.
A crocodile skull with deer antlers, found in one of La Ventanillas local businesses.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023
A man stands next to the mangrove forest in La Ventanilla.
From the communities archive, unknown date.
From the communities archive, unknown date.
Eggs collected during the communities crocodile breeding program.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
The conservation programme helps the community create a safe ecotourism strategy and manage crocodile populations. Together, the 'cocodrileros' conservation team monitor between 20 to 25 nests a year. With just 17 nests this year, indicating that the crocodile population and the mangroves are just beginning to recover after last year's Hurricane Agatha. It is estimated that there are between 150 to 200 crocodiles in the lagoon, a population that has grown steadily thanks to the release of around 100 crocodile hatchlings into the wild each year.
Bonifacio Cortez is one of the founders of the cooperative La Ventanilla. He told me about the day Hurricane Paulina passed the coast in 1997. That was the first time the community had witnessed a hurricane.
During the calm of the eye of the hurricane, Boni went out to see the state of the cooperative's boats. A moment later he was suspended half a meter in the air holding tightly to a palm. He managed to return crawling and with work to a shelter where his family was. Many were the learnings after that experience.
Boni tells me that one of the greatest things he has learned has always been to think and organize the present for the future. For this reason, the conservation of his house, the mangrove swamp and the organization of the cooperative in a sustainable way.
Today, La Ventanilla would only exist with crocodiles and the mangroves. Ecotourism has helped activate and sustain the local economy, and today a large part of the communities 200 inhabitants, directly and indirectly, lives from ecotourism, receiving between 100 to 150 tourists a day and 250 a day during a high tourist season.
During the calm of the eye of the hurricane, Boni went out to see the state of the cooperative's boats. A moment later he was suspended half a meter in the air holding tightly to a palm. He managed to return crawling and with work to a shelter where his family was. Many were the learnings after that experience.
Boni tells me that one of the greatest things he has learned has always been to think and organize the present for the future. For this reason, the conservation of his house, the mangrove swamp and the organization of the cooperative in a sustainable way.
Today, La Ventanilla would only exist with crocodiles and the mangroves. Ecotourism has helped activate and sustain the local economy, and today a large part of the communities 200 inhabitants, directly and indirectly, lives from ecotourism, receiving between 100 to 150 tourists a day and 250 a day during a high tourist season.
Abraham Aragón, youth leader and member of the crocodile conservation team, whistles 'Cuca', a female crocodile in permanent captivity.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
'Cuca' eating lunch.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Vicente working at La Ventanilla cooperative reception.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Environmental educations has become key for the project being developed at La Ventanilla by the community. Prefecto argues that humans "need to learn how to coexist with crocodiles. Communities can draw an economic and well being benefits from the crocodiles, more than they would if they got rid of them and their habitat".
The community offer 2-hour tours to Tourists around the lagoon before getting a closer look at the crocodiles.
Markus Martinez Burman
Markus Martinez Burman
Lomo verde, the other alpha males' back covered in green lily.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Crocodylus acutus hatchlings remain in captivity until they are large enought to be released into the wild.
Markus Martinez Burman
Markus Martinez Burman
Volunteers on their way to release crocodiles in La ventanilla lagoon. For the release they look undisturbe areas in the mangroove.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
Markus Martinez Burman, 2023.
A crocodile being released into the wild.
Markus Martinez Burman
Markus Martinez Burman
La Ventanilla is at a sustainable risk as deforestation is starting to be seen around the territory. Stronger hurricanes and climate crises hit the coast every 5 -10 years. The expansion of tourism looms over the communities inflating prizes of land and economic incentives to landowners to sell these. The territory has sustained and protected the community from hurricanes, but what happens when these get deforested. What is the future of the territory?
I reflected about this with youth leader Ignacio Martinez as I took this picture and saw the deforestation. "What is the value of our territory? We need community members to realise what is happening and reflect for a moment,". Ignacio is eager to take action to support his communities reconnection with their values of conservation.
As we walked back and night fell, the town felt quieter that ever before, but the sound of crickets and wildlife persisted in the background. I realised then that Ignacio was right, what if that sound stoped forever?
I reflected about this with youth leader Ignacio Martinez as I took this picture and saw the deforestation. "What is the value of our territory? We need community members to realise what is happening and reflect for a moment,". Ignacio is eager to take action to support his communities reconnection with their values of conservation.
As we walked back and night fell, the town felt quieter that ever before, but the sound of crickets and wildlife persisted in the background. I realised then that Ignacio was right, what if that sound stoped forever?
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La Ventanilla: A window to coexisting with Crocodiles
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