News + Stories

Uncategorized / 04.09.2015

[caption id="attachment_8196" align="alignleft" width="366"] Pilar (far right) explains and demonstrates the dissolved oxygen test.[/caption] Last week, the Osa Conservation Rios Saludables team joined four staff members from the Lapa Rios Ecolodge for their second monthly chemical and biological assessment of Rio Carbonero's stream health. Pilar Bernal (Education Outreach Coordinator) led the chemical portion of the monitoring, walking us through testing water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, conductivity, alkalinity, and nitrates. Julieta Chan, the Lapa Rios Ecolodge Experience Manager, took detailed notes and filmed most of the workshop. Jim Palmer,...

Uncategorized / 28.08.2015

We have the best staffers at our stations! They really go above and beyond to involve themselves in the environment and to inspire others to do the same. Osa Conseravation enables high schools, universities and school groups to learn, hands-on, in our field courses. Students get an amazing chance to actively learn important lessons with dedicated researchers in the paradise that is Costa Rica! Read below for the unique perspective of an OC Resarch Field Assistant leading these educational excursions. One of the greatest pleasures of working at Osa Conservation is being able...

Environmental Education, Science and Research, Volunteers and Visitors / 21.08.2015

Bats. These nocturnal creatures tend to get a bad rap. Associated for centuries with mythical creatures of the night, and used as Halloween decorations to add eeriness to a haunted house, the real life mammal often gets overlooked. OC aims to change that by collaborating with experts and educating the public on the crucial role bats play in restoration. [gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="8019"] Recently, Osa Conservation was honored with a visit from 2 remarkable scientists in the bat world: Cullen Geiselman, bat biologist and board member of Bat Conservation International & Gloriana Chaverri,...

Uncategorized / 21.08.2015

    Los murciélagos. Estas criaturas nocturnas suelen tener una mala reputación. Asociados por siglos con criaturas míticas de la noche, y utilizados como decoraciones de Halloween para hacer más escalofriante una casa embrujada, el mamífero de la vida real a menudo se pasa por alto. Mucha gente no saben o entienden el papel critical que los murciélagos tienen en la reforestación. Conservación Osa quiere cambiar esto por la colaboración con investigadores como Cullen Geiselman y Gloriana Chevarri. Recién, Conservación Osa fue honrada con la visita de 2 científicas notables en el mundo de murciélagos:...

Community Outreach, Environmental Education, Science and Research, Volunteers and Visitors / 14.08.2015

World Environment Day, 2nd Anniversary of the Luis Jorge Poveda Álvarez Arboretum and inauguration of the Centenary Forest. In early June, we had three important celebrations: World Environment Day, the 2nd anniversary of the Jorge Poveda Álvarez Arboretum and the inauguration of the Centenary Forest. World Environment Day was celebrated in early June, and had participation from diverse groups of people. We had students from various educational centers participate as well as people from organizations and businesses with various fields of focus, like mangroves in the case of Fundación Neotrópica, sea turtles in the case of LAST (Latin American...

Uncategorized / 14.08.2015

Día Mundial del Medio Ambiente, 2do Aniversario del Arboretum Luis Jorge Poveda Álvarez e inauguración del Bosque del Centenario Este mes nos ha traído tres celebraciones importantes: el Día Mundial del Ambiente, celebrado el 7 de Junio en donde contamos con la participación de estudiantes de varios centros educativos, organizaciones y empresas que compartieron sus conocimientos en diferentes temas como manglares con la Fundación Neotrópica; tortugas marinas con LAST y plantaciones forestales sostenibles con LATC, así mismo contamos con la participación de agricultores y artesanos locales con la exhibición...

Science and Research, Volunteers and Visitors / 07.08.2015

Submitted by Steven Waldron; Seattle, WA Twenty years ago, I backpacked and hiked along the wild beaches and coastal rainforests of the Osa peninsula and became acquainted with some of the fantastic wildlife that the region is well-known for. Near the Sirena station at Corcovado National Park, I became intimate with the loud squawks of Scarlet Macaws sailing overhead, the crash of surprised tapirs bolting through the forest, and the pre-dawn chorus of Howler monkeys. One of the sensory aspects I appreciate most about exploring this region is the...

Environmental Education, Science and Research, Volunteers and Visitors / 14.07.2015

The Magnificent Gleaning Phyllostomines of the Osa Submitted by : Doris Audet and Elène Haave Audet, University of Alberta, Canada Among the rich bat fauna to call Osa Conservation home, a select group speaks to the pristine nature of its old-growth forest: the gleaning phyllostomines.  These large-eared members of the highly diverse leaf-nosed bat family favour habitats of high ecological integrity that include mature forests and undisturbed riparian corridors. [caption id="attachment_8035" align="alignleft" width="300"] They kindly allowed us to take their photos before going on with their lives.[/caption] Phyllostomines are typically found in low abundance...

Community Outreach, Environmental Education, Marine Conservation, Sea Turtles, Volunteers and Visitors / 25.06.2015

When I came to a yoga retreat in the wilds of Costa Rica, I had no idea one of the best memories I’d take home at week's end would center around turtles--tiny baby ones, all girls. But when Manuel Mendoza of Osa Conservation visited Blue Osa Yoga Retreat & Spa to tell us about the work he and his team of volunteers do to protect these magnificent, highly endangered creatures, I couldn’t believe how paramount the need was, and was excited to become involved. I dragged myself out of bed the...

Uncategorized / 25.06.2015

Cuando llegué a un retiro de yoga en las selvas de Costa Rica, no tenía ni idea de uno de los mejores recuerdos que me llevaría a casa al final de la semana se centraría en las tortugas - específicamente los bebés pequeños, todas niñas. Sin embargo cuando Manuel Mendoza de Conservación Osa visitó Blue Osa Yoga Retreat & Spa para contarnos sobre el trabajo que él y su equipo de voluntarios hacen para proteger a estas magníficas criaturas, altamente en peligro de extinción, yo no podía creer lo...