128Canopy Blog

The Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast is considered one of the country’s most cherished parks of its National Park System due to the variety of its flora and fauna as well as wildlife.

Located in the Osa Peninsula, the Corcovado National Park was called “the most biologically intense place on Earth” by the National Geographic Society.  Unfortunately, the constant expansion of civilization as well as the uncontrolled illegal hunting in the region has directly affected the Corcovado wildlife.

The National University conducted a study in the region in order to learn about the Jaguar population as well as other endangered species as well.  The Costa Rican Jaguar is considered a symbol of the vast wildlife has to offer and is even displayed on the largest currency denomination bill of ten thousand colones.

In 1996, the Jaguar population in Corcovado was an approximate 75 to 120 individuals.  The unregulated hunting of the wild boar by locals has left the Jaguar population without its main food source.  The latest study revealed that the current Jaguar population in Corcovado is down to around 40 to 50.  Experts revealed that if the situation was not addressed by authorities, the Costa Rican Jaguar will disappear in less than 10 years.

Other feline species such as the ocelot and manigordo along with the Jaguar are seriously threatened due to their small population and reduced hunting and reproductive habitats.  Biologists have called upon Costa Rican authorities to reinforce legislations to address the issue and reverse the threat.

Each year the town of Puntarenas in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast receives an approximate 100 to 120 cruise ships which make a one day stop at the port of Puntarenas or Caldera.

This year’s season started yesterday as the first cruise ship from Princess Cruises docked at the port of Puntarenas.  However, tourists as well as local vendors were surprised to learn that a group of independent transporters had blocked the loading area where tourists board buses to be taken to their tour.

The disgruntled independent transporters organized the block in protest that the local Public Transportation Counsel issued a statement in which the independent workers are forbidden to transport tourists from the docks of Puntarenas and Caldera.  Tourists were forced to walk about 900 feet in order to board the authorized vehicles that would take them to their tour.

The blockage was lifted before noon as the transporters and the local Transportation Director reached an agreement that would let them offer their services for the next two cruise ships scheduled to arrive on September 28 and October 2nd.

The cruise season is eagerly awaited by local commerce as each tourist spends an approximate $100 in souvenirs and food.  This year’s schedule shows a total of 75 cruise ships arriving at Puntarenas and 50 at Caldera.

The President of Puntarenas’ Chamber of Tourism stated that the town of Puntarenas receives an approximate $120 million income due to the tourists who arrive via cruise ship.

A group of experts are currently in Costa Rica carrying out field work in the study of the Green Macaw.  Biologists from Central and South America are gathered in the town of Siquirres in Costa Rica’s Atlantic region where the Green Macaw Conservation Workshop is taking place.

The Green Macaw is the largest of the parrot family and lives in the tropical rain forests of the countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador: countries from which the experts come from.

A representative for the Tropical Scientific Center said that the biologists will focus on studying the bird’s tendencies and determine if its population is increasing.  The purpose of the workshop is to set a cooperative plan to come up with common strategies that will help preserve the Green Macaw species.

The Green Macaw species has been declared as an endangered species and experts estimate that there is an approximate population of 3,800 left in the Central and South Pacific Region.   In Costa Rica, authorities have adopted measures that protect the Green Macaw as well as its habitat that may serve as a starting point for the rest of Central and South America.

Some of the measure Costa Rican authorities have taken to protect the species includes the temporary prohibition of cutting down the almond tree from which the Macaw feeds as well as where it reproduces.

Costa Rica was able to lower the amount of illegal traffic of the Green Macaw which the countries of Ecuador and Nicaragua are still struggling to bring down.