LuceZIHtas Navideñas

I missed several days of local news. Has it beeb confirmed that the woman who was attacked in Ixtapa the same day as the gentleman was killed was in fact attacked by a shark?

Absolutely nothing was confirmed. Quite the opposite. No technical report was made public. Nothing but the usual cover-up to protect "interests", because what's a few lives, human or animal, when there's MONEY to be made and VOTES to be won?

So giving the benefit of the doubt to the alleged report that says the man was bitten by a croc, he must've had to swim right at the croc to provoke it to attack. They don't normally go out of their way to attack swimmers, and they usually only bite humans when they feel threatened. Humans are not part of their diet. However, humans forcefully MOVING them (instead of allowing them the freedom to move to new places themselves) or FEEDING them (because they remain in confined spaces unable to roam in search of food or a better home) may be causing the very thing we claim not to want (attacks), because feeding them teaches them we are a source of food, and moving them teaches them we are a threat. But because it appears no one knows what they're doing in Zihuatanejo's municipal office of Ecología (besides allowing our trees to be cut down to pour the mayor's cement), no one is paying attention to the condition of our region's cocodrilos in the so-called cocodrilario or the area's estuaries and lagoons except some locals.

The woman's wounds were obviously made by shark teeth, but there has been no follow-up or further mention of her or the incident, instead focusing all the resulting hysteria and fear on our cocodrilos. I expect some will eventually get moved or killed.

Last night after sunset I watched fishermen bring in dozens of small sharks under the cover of darkness, apparently trapped on palangas (long lines). Totally illegal, but since there are NEVER any authorities watching what is brought in on the fishing boats, there's nothing to stop anyone from fishing for anything using any method they want. Once in a blue moon the Armada makes a token sweep and cuts some long lines, but nothing regular or consistent. Careful ordering fish, and be sure you know what you're eating. Shark meat can end up on many local menus under many different names other than shark. I believe they are now a protected species in Mexican waters thanks to Asian "finning" practices.

The city's ecology office emitted a very confusing and poorly written list of recommendations regarding local crocodiles. Some of it common sense, some apparently pulled out of thin air. Crocs are primitive and predictable. Thus, there are really only 3 rules to remember in order to live in peace with them in or near their habitat:
1) Don't feed them.
2) Don't harass them.
3) Respect their space.