Arrested Development - Ex-Pats Mexico

From the La Manzanilla message board

WOW ... incredible story.. and yea, good thing it was dogs and not the kids!

The first time we went there we did not know about the crocs, they were all piled up a ways from the bank and we did not realize we were looking at them, we thought they were a bunch of trunks, until one attacked at another one and the "island" started moving. As we walked around we were wondering why there was no warning about them and commented we were happy we had no kids or dogs with us. These things are pretty dangerous and are sometimes difficult to see until you are right on top of them.
The second time we went there was some warning about the crocs but if you are not used to live around them you do not think about them, is not a good thing to forget.
We had no excuse as we used to live in a bayou aligator infested but still did not....

Crocodiles (cocodrilos) in Melaque - nest in the back yard

http://sparks-mexico.com/costalegre/eco ... /index.htm

Hi, my name is Kate and I am the owner of the two labs that got attacked on the beach yesterday. Our family is traumatized by this awful accident that left our favorite dog dead and our other dog badly injured. When we decided to go to La Manzanilla we never thought we would encounter crocodiles but we did see the fence next to the first camping site, so we were prepared and attached the dogs that night we stayed. But when we went to Boca de Iguanas, we wanted to check out the beach there to find another spot for camping, my husband got out of the car with the kids and walked down towards the laguna, he did the small sign warning about crocodiles (that looked like from the 1920s) but thought that there was also a fence. I asked him if I should let the dogs out as we were going to check out the beach and he shouted out yes. I let them out and while I was locking the car, our Mimi ran into the water as any lab would do. My husband saw the crocodile move off the shore and swim towards her, she never even noticed him coming and within a matter of seconds, she was under. Max, our second lab, went to the rescue of Mimi and we saw him fight what seemed to be a second crocodile, he somehow got away from it and swam as fast as he could to safety. Needless to say that this was a tragedy that could have happen to a child...one of my children...We have lived in Mexico, Guadalajara, for 4 years now and are aware of our Mexico works when it comes to road signs, holes in the roads with branches sticking up to warn but come on, crocodiles are killers and a small sign is not enough to warn people. If anyone has the phone number of the delegado, please email it to me. Thank you! Also, many thanks to the vet who helped us and Marsha, a wonderful lady who took us into her home and fed us quesadillas and made us feel so welcome into her village. Marsha, thank you!
Kate Cahill
http://www.horsesinmexico.com

Posted by Jimmi Jorgensen on May 18, 2009, 2:07 pm, in reply to "Crocs kill dog in Boca"
189.162.30.197

This is a very sad story.

The couple used to public access to the beach, not the hotels access. The couple ignored signs of the danger over the crocodiles being present and dangerous. The first sign is right at the entrance and it states: DANGER...
Below DANGER we list the dangers and the first item is the crocodiles.

We also posted a warning over the ripcurrent and how to handle it if affected.

We have put up these signs to warn people...please notice that the people whom uses this public accesss does not come to the hotel but instead eats and drinks at the local umbrellas.

In hotel Boca de Iguanas we are pet friendly but no pet are to wonder free without a leash.

Many efforts on behalf of the hotel has been done to warn people from the dangers such as wanting to have the umbrellas removed, to put up fances and more signs but it becomes a delicated issue with the local people whom are selling goods at the beach.


For the record.....3 signs BEFORE you get to the mangrove water is posted warning people about the crocodile.....these signs have been up for over 3 months now.

I will place more but if the people ignores the signs, the impact of the signs are worthless.

Best regards

Jimmi Jorgensen