Crocodiles, Alligators and now... Caimans

I used to be confused between crocodiles and alligators. My life gets more confusing now that I learn of caimans.

@stevewinterphoto  I am working on a @natgeo Jaguar story in the Pantanal of Brazil. Here is a male I named Scarface, as his lip is split on his left side - probably kicked by a buffalo. Here he has grabbed a black caiman - the #1 food source of Jaguars here in the north of the Pantanal. This caiman is at least 9 feet or 3 meters long!!! Jaguars are the 3rd largest of the big cats. Found from US / Mexico border to northern Argentina. Jaguars have rebounded in this area where 95% of the land is privately owned. In the past many ranchers would kill the cats when they ate their cattle. Today in this area tourism brings in much more money to the local economy than cattle ranching. So the jaguar population is increasing. But revenge killings of jaguars happen close to this area and all throughout the jaguars range. Also poaching for skins, bones and teeth is growing for the first time since the 1970’s to feed the demand for Asian Traditional Medicine and luxury items from endangered species. “Stop the demand and the killing can too.” @wildaid My first story with big cats was the 1st @natgeo Jaguar story 20 years ago! It has changed my life working with the magical and magnificent cats of the world. Animals have emotions just like we have - they need to eat - we go to the restaurant of supermarket - well the rivers are the jaguars supermarkets, , jaguars mate and have young cubs, moms play with their kids, their cubs which stay close to mom until they are about 2 years old.  50% of our oxygen and 75% of our fresh water comes from grasslands and forests, the homes of big cats.  So if - We Save Big Cats we can help Save Ourselves.  Please visit CauseAnUproar.org to find out other ways to become involved to save big cats! #follow me @stevewinterphoto to see more images from my work with @natgeo and Thanks!! @stevewinterphoto @natgeo  @nglive #nglive #natgeochannel @natgeochannel @natgeowild #natgeowild  @thephotosociety #NGcreative @natgeocreative  #fursforlife #wildlifeconservation #wildlifephotojournalism #BCI #bigcatsintiative  #startwith1thing @projetooncafari @refugioecologicocaiman @pantheracats @pantanalsafaris

A photo posted by National Geographic (@natgeo) on Oct 10, 2016 at 5:32am PDT