Flora and fauna
-High annual precipitation result in a large amount of water courses (such as Sirena, Llorona, Molina, Madrigal rivers) and Lake areas, favouring the development of forests with high altitude trees (the Nazarene, the garlic, plomo, ceiba and pylon) in almost complete alternation with others such as the guayabon, the espavel and the cider, all of these trees are covered with epiphytes.
-It develops ideal habitats for the development and maintenance of 350 species of birds, 150 species of mammals, over 100 species of reptiles and amphibians, as well as about 5500 of insects.
Importance of the Park
-Corcovado has an unusual level of biological diversity that is not exceeded by any area of similar size in the world. The area includes 25 to 30 ecosystems that host to large populations of species such as the jaguar, puma, wild pigs and the tapir, in Costa Rica.
-The Park protects an important maritime extension (almost 54 km²) that develops a wide variety of marine life, in which it is known that the humpback whales are breeding from both the northern hemisphere and South East of the Park.
-The Park is home to endemic species of great importance, including 12 tree species in danger of extinction.
The peccary, tapir and the scarlet macaw are some of the species considered and classified as extremely endangered according to CITES.
-Government support has declined dramatically, so the Park has gone from 63 park rangers in 1999 to about 10 today. These 10 park rangers must patrol and protect an area of almost 560 km². This causes a lack of control which, in turn, leads to a massive poaching.
-Scientists are alarmed at this situation. Eduardo Carrillo, who has developed long-term studies on Jaguars and other cats of the Osa peninsula, has warned that these animals are in serious danger of extinction in the region.
-The illegal hunting of peccary (Tayassu pecari) in the National Park has led to a critical reduction of these animals, which are the main source of food for the Jaguars. This has led the Jaguars to leave their natural habitat and closer to populated areas in search of easier preys such as goats, cows or dogs.
-Fundacion Corcovado reported a recent case, a few people in a neighboring community to the Park killed two Jaguars, leaving orphaned a puppy who probably could not survive. Action with rigidity to protect the population of Jaguars of the Pacific coast of Central America, the population of Jaguars in Corcovado is estimated at 50 cats.
-Deforestation in the Golfo Dulce forest reserve, which forms a corridor that joins Corcovado National Park with the Piedras Blancas National Park, ensures animals requiring more space to move along the forest between both parks.
-Recently, and thanks to the help of organizations such as Bosque de los Niños of Austria or The Nature Conservancy, Corcovado Foundation has been able to hire 8 full-time Rangers to patrol and protect the area. The number of citations issued to hunters has tripled, challenging those who in the past acted with impunity.
Top left: Flower stamens. Top right; a very tiny zebra praying mantis camouflages on a moss covered tree trunk.
Below left; epiphyte blossoms hanging on a tree trunk.
Below right; a giant gecko hiding and playing dead on a flower.
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