The Cuban crocodile is one of the most threatened New World crocodilian species, primarily because it has such a small and restricted distribution. Their main threat is humans, who have hunted the crocodile extensively and have largely encroached upon their habitats.

There are currently more than 600 Cuban crocodiles in the Lanier Swamp competing for space and food resources with at least 40,000 spectacled caiman. Likewise, the American crocodile has made incursions into the Zapata Swamp through a series of canals constructed in the 19th century.

There, American crocodiles and Cuban crocodiles are interbreeding, producing hybrids and leading to the loss of the Cuban crocodile’s genetic integrity. It is thought that there are around 3,000 purebred Cuban crocodiles in the wild.

Information on the ecology and natural history of the Cuban crocodile is still not widely known. Work needs to be done to increase and protect the remaining wild population. Cuban crocodiles are well represented in human care in the U.S., where most individuals are part of the Species Survival Plan population.

Farms were established in the late 1950s and 1960s for skin and meat production, and now a relatively large number of animals are produced annually to satisfy demand. One farm has been given CITES approval to start international trade in skins.