By: Larry Villalobos and Autumn Rauchwerk When a troop of squirrel monkeys passes near the station it is like watching a band of teenagers. Their antics are of course cute, and they look like they are happy and having fun. Of the four species of monkeys found in Costa Rica, squirrel monkeys are the smallest, weighing about one and a half pounds. This puts them at about the same size as a squirrel. Their fur is a rich orange color, and their faces are unbelievably expressive. These aspects make...
News + Stories
Uncategorized / 28.02.2013
Los Monos Ardilla
By Larry Villalobos and Autumn Rauchwerk Cuando una tropa de monos ardilla pasa por la estación es como mirando una banda de adolescentes. Sus payasadas, por supuesto, son lindos, y aparecen como si están alegres y disfrutándose. De los cuatro especies de monos que uno se puede encontrar en Costa Rica, los monos ardilla son los más pequeños, con un peso de aproximadamente 1,5 libras, casi el mismo tamaño de una ardilla. Su pelaje es del color naranja y sus caritas son muy expresivas. Con estas características, son irresistibles...
Community Outreach, Environmental Education / 18.02.2013
Preparing for Another Great Year of Environmental Education in the Osa Peninsula
By Pilar Bernal [caption id="attachment_4883" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Esquinas River which feeds into the Golfo Dulce[/caption] This year has been declared the International Year of Water Cooperation by the United Nations. As students return from vacations this month for another academic year, we at Osa Conservation are preparing environmental education materials and activities which will be taught in fifteen schools throughout the peninsula and surrounding areas. The environmental themes that we will be focusing on for this year are: terrestrial and marine ecosystems, deforestation and climate change, and waste management....
Uncategorized / 06.02.2013
Preparando las actividades de educación ambiental para este año
By Pilar Bernal Mientras en este mes de febrero los estudiantes se preparan para iniciar su periodo escolar, en el Programa de Educación Ambiental nos estamos preparando con los materiales, actividades y cronogramas para iniciar con los talleres a impartir a lo largo del año en 15 centros educativos de la Península de Osa. Los temas del currículo de educación ambiental para este año son: ecosistemas terrestres y marinos, deforestación y cambio climático, y manejo de desechos. Así mismo, todos los años en el mes de mayo Conservación Osa coordina...
Land Conservation and Forest Restoration, Science and Research, Wildcats / 23.01.2013
Jaguars: Jewels of the Forest
By Juan Carlos Cruz
Jaguars are very charismatic creatures, and for indigenous people and ancient civilizations, were considered symbols of power, majesty and wisdom. While that symbolism still holds true, we now also recognize their intrinsic value for maintaining biodiversity in the forests. They are on the top of the food chain and therefore the health of their population affects all subsequent levels. In the absence of Jaguars, breakdowns occur in the ecosystem such as increases of populations of herbivores, decreases in population of some species of plants (eaten by herbivores) and loss of other species of birds, insects and reptiles that depend on those plants.
The presence of Jaguars in a region is an indicator of the health and integrity of the forest since they are the most sensitive species of all large cats to exploitation and habitat alteration. Accordingly, they are also known as “health indicator species.”
The presence of Jaguars in a region is an indicator of the health and integrity of the forest since they are the most sensitive species of all large cats to exploitation and habitat alteration. Accordingly, they are also known as “health indicator species.”
Land Conservation and Forest Restoration, Science and Research, Uncategorized / 17.01.2013
Honoring Two Familiar Faces
In addition to celebrating a great year in 2012, Osa Conservation recently honored two staff members as outstanding employees of the year. If you have visited us here in Osa, these are most likely familiar faces. Thanks Agustín and Manuel for all of your hard work and for being such integral and exemplary members of the Osa Conservation team. Agustín Mendoza Augustín has been working with OC for five years on our land stewardship and maintenance team but has lived in Osa for 38. He grew up in Cerro Arbolito a remote...
Science and Research / 04.01.2013
Nature Sightings
As some of you may know from following our Facebook and Twitter posts, Manuel Sanchez Mendoza, our Research Assistant and Sea Turtle Conservation Program Field Coordinator, has one heck of a talented eye for photographing wildlife. As an Osa native, born and raised in the peninsula, Manuel has always been fascinated with wildlife, and although he has no formal training in photography, we like to think he has a natural-born knack for it. The past few weeks in particular have been very successful for Manuel and his camera, and we at Osa Conservation are excited to share his sightings with you! All of these photos were taken at or around our Piro Biological Center.
[caption id="attachment_4779" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
White-faced capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4780" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Great Curassow (Crax rubra)[/caption]
White-faced capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_4780" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Great Curassow (Crax rubra)[/caption]
Community Outreach, Land Conservation and Forest Restoration / 14.12.2012
Introducing the new Osa Conservation Interpretative Trail!
In order to create public access stations for environmental education purposes, Osa Conservation recently built and inaugurated a 2.5-mile interpretive trail. In this easy journey, adventurers will find 23 stations labeled to help them understand and interpret the ecosystems, species and ecological associations that cross the path, which is a representation of the biological richness of the Osa Peninsula.
Uncategorized / 14.12.2012
Sendero Interpretativo
Con el objetivo de crear un acceso público a las estaciones con fines de educación ambiental, se construyó un sendero interpretativo de 2.5 km. Este sendero es de fácil recorrido, en donde el usuario encontrará 23 estaciones rotuladas que le ayudarán a comprender e interpretar los ecosistemas, especies y asociaciones ecológicas por las que atraviesa el sendero, que son una representación de la riqueza biológica de la Península de Osa.
Uncategorized / 07.12.2012
Involucrando a la Comunidad en la Conservación de las Lapas Rojas
Las Lapas Rojas (Ara macao), son una especie en grave peligro de extinción. En Costa Rica existen solamente dos poblaciones viables de Lapas Rojas, la más grande de las cuales se encuentra en la Península de Osa. Esta población se estima entre 800 y 1200 individuos (Dear et al 2010). Dicha población fue eliminada casi por completo debido a la tala indiscriminada de arboles para madera y agricultura, la casería para consumo, y el comercio ilegal de estas aves como mascota. Durante las ultimas dos décadas, la tala comercial y la cacería de aves ha disminuido significativamente, y la población de Lapas de la Península de Osa se ha incrementado rápidamente. Sin embargo, la perdida de cavidades naturales usadas como nidos por estos animales ha limitado grandemente la recuperación de sus poblaciones. Un estudio realizado en los últimos anos recomienda usar un sistema de conservación de largo plazo que combine educación ambiental en las escuelas locales, involucramiento de las comunidades, y penalidades mas estrictas para los cazadores y destructores del hábitat de la Lapa Roja (Guittar et al 2008).