Bananas could be killing crocodiles
The globe’s £10bn banana market was reported to be threatening species of crocodile in central America, according to research published in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, in September.
Pesticides used in Costa Rica’s banana plantations were claimed to be contaminating blood samples taken from species such as the spectacled caiman in protected conservation areas.
The report’s author Paul Grant, from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, warned top predators – such as caiman – were particularly venerable to exposure to pesticides.
“Caiman near banana plantations had higher pesticide burdens and lower body conditions”, said Grant. “This suggests that either pesticides pose a health risk to caiman, or that pesticides harm the habitat and food supply of caiman, thereby reducing the health of this predator.”
Costa Rica exports up to 1.8M tonnes of bananas per year – 10% of the world’s total.