Jamaican Cookery

An American crocodile resting by a freshwater pond in Jamaica. These reptiles are a protected species and play an important role in balancing wetland ecosystems.

On April 22, 2025, seven American crocodiles, including a female carrying eggs, were found dead in sewage ponds located in Portmore, St. Catherine. The ponds, operated by the National Water Commission (NWC), had become an unlikely home for these animals over the years as urban development pushed them out of their natural habitats.

Residents reported that some of the ponds were neglected and left to dry out, leading to the deaths of these protected reptiles. With the water gone and plastic liners surrounding the pond walls, the crocodiles were trapped and unable to escape. Most died from heat exhaustion and starvation, with visible slide marks along the pond’s edge indicating their failed attempts to climb out. 

Why Were Crocodiles Living in Sewage Ponds?

Portmore, now a densely populated urban area, was once a natural marshland—an ideal environment for crocodiles. As land development expanded, wetlands were drained and filled to make way for housing schemes and roadways. This displaced local wildlife, including the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), a species native to Jamaica.

With fewer wetlands left, these crocodiles turned to sewage ponds for survival