Did you know that conservation officials in Trinidad and Tobago have observed an increase in the number of flamingos at the Caroni Swamp over the past eight years?
Cari-Bois recently spoke to representatives of the Forestry Division’s Wildlife Section, and Nanan’s Caroni Bird Sanctuary Tours, to learn more about changes within the swamp and highlight the need for the public to understand the importance of conserving its biodiversity.
More flamingos at the Caroni Swamp
As a research assistant at the Forestry Division’s Wildlife Section, Tevin Butler said flamingos have been observed at the swamp since the 1980s but their current numbers are higher than average.
He explained, “Within an eight-year span, we have started to see the increase in population.
“While their numbers remained around 100 in previous decades, recent surveys by the Division have reported approximately 600 birds.”
Of the six species of flamingo in existence, the Caribbean Flamingo – which is native to the region and ranges from Venezuela to Florida – calls the Caroni Swamp home.
While non-migratory in nature, flamingos are known to fly long distances in search of food or to reproduce.
Like the Scarlet Ibis (Trinidad and Tobago’s national bird), flamingos obtain their colour from the carotenoid-rich food they consume like shrimp and crabs found in coastal mudflats like those at the Caroni Swamp.
Butler told Cari-Bois the relatively “sudden rise” in the number of flamingos at Caroni might be due to disturbances in their previous habitats in neighbouring territories.
As a result, they may have “moved” to Trinidad for new feeding and breeding grounds.
But Butler cautiously noted the root causes for their shift in location remain unknown.
Even though an increase in population is a good thing, balance within ecosystems is important and it is fair to question if the increase in flamingos affects any other species at the swamp or the availability of food/resources.
But Nanan’s Caroni Bird Sanctuary Tours guide, Khemraj Bhagan, said the flamingos exist harmoniously in the swamp, especially with its “famous” neighbour, the Scarlet Ibis.
Bhagan explained the Ibis roost in the foliage of the mangroves while flamingos remain on the mud flats where they feed and sleep.
While the increase in flamingos has been welcomed, the growing presence of mussels at the swamp has had less fanfare.
Bhagan told Cari-Bois a species of small, black mussel is rapidly multiplying on the roots of the swamp’s Red Mangroves.
He is concerned that these mussels are “taking over the oysters,” referring to the Mangrove Cupped Oyster found in the swamp and consumed as a local street food.
The mussel appears to be the Charru Mussel which has been reported in the Gulf of Paria since the 1950s.
But whether their increasing numbers is posing a threat to the oyster fishery, or by extension the swamp, needs to be further researched.
Decline in sightings of the Spectacled Caiman
The reduction in human activity during the covid19 pandemic was thought by many to be nature’s “well-deserved break from our presence.”
But recent studies revealed that this Anthropause (coined by Dr. Christian Rutz of St. Andrew’s University) had a double-sided effect on species conservation.
While some species benefited from limited disturbance at the Caroni Swamp, others may have suffered from the lack of human protection with the Spectacled Caiman being one of these species.
Director of Nanan’s Caroni Bird Sanctuary Tours, Victor Nanan, has observed what he considers to be a significant decline in Spectacled Caiman sightings.
Before the pandemic, Nanan said tour guides may have seen one to two caimans per week.
Since the recommencement of tours in 2022, sightings of these caimans have been limited.
As top predators, caimans are vital in regulating the populations of prey.
If not regulated, an overabundance of prey species can put pressure on resources within an ecosystem.
Nanan said the decline in Spectacled Caimans at Caroni Swamp was likely due to increased poaching during pandemic lockdowns.
He noted that poaching – especially of the Scarlet Ibis for meat during the Christmas season – is an ongoing problem which needs to be addressed through more patrols at the swamp and greater enforcement of environmental laws.
2022 Oil Spill Near Caroni Swamp
In August 2022, a truck accidentally spilled diesel near the Caroni Swamp and Nanan said the indecent contributed to mangrove die-off along the swamp’s entry channel.
While efforts were made by authorities to clean the spill, the fuel could not be contained and made its way into the entry channel which resulted in the die-off.
With it being a little more than two years since the spill, Nanan claims an oil slick can be seen on the water’s surface after torrential rainfall.
A preliminary investigation was done on the spill, but Nanan alleged no follow-up inspections had been made.
However, he said the spill did not affect the number of visitors to the swamp.
The Caroni Boardwalk
To commemorate this year’s World Wetlands Day on February 2, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries opened the Caroni Boardwalk.
Free of charge to the public, the boardwalk extends into swamp and gives the public a waterfront view of the swamp’s many natural attractions including the Scarlet Ibis.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Farook Hosein, addressed the event and explained that the Boardwalk was created to allow visitors greater accessibility to the swamp, especially for those unable to participate in boat tours.
The Forestry’s Division Conservator of Forests, Denny Dipchansingh, revealed in his address that plans to expand the boardwalk have already been approved by the Public Sector Investment Programme.
There are also plans to restore the birdwatching tower at the swamp.
The Ministry is touting the projects as being efforts to improve accessibility to the swamp to “deepen the public’s connection with nature and underscore the importance of wetlands to human well-being”.
