New camera trap design pays off BIG Posted on Aug 04, 2006 by admin

For over a year, ProCAT has been working on designing a camera-trap for field research. "The commercial models just don't cut it", says ProCAT director Jan Schipper, "after trying almost all the comercial models we decided we would have to design our own." So, scientists contacted a small company currently designing top end camera-traps, explained the problem and worked out a design that could work. Read More...

ProCAT in La Nacion Newspaper Posted on Aug 04, 2006 by admin

Interviews with ProCAT staff member Jose Fernando Gonzalez, and close examination of the past 3 years data - resulted in a full page article in La Nacion, July 10th, 2006. For full story (in Spanish) go here: http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2006/julio/10/aldea1.html

Source: Nacion.com

Jaguars found on the Pacific Slope!! Posted on May 21, 2006 by admin

ProCAT research coordinator, Jose Fernando Gonzales Maya, came back from a recent camera-trapping exepdition with great news: he found jaguar on the Pacific slopes of Talamanca in southern Costa Rica. After several months of surveying at higher elevations in cloud forests with no sightings, Jose got several shots from cameras placed in Finca Coton – a private wildlife refuge. This discovery gives hope that jaguar still persist in the Pacific (outside of the Osa Peninsula), will lend new insight to conservation planning, and demonstrates the value of private conservation areas. Read More...

ProCAT Receives Conservation Award Posted on May 21, 2006 by admin

The Jaguar Conservation Trust awarded ProCAT $15,000 in December 2005. These funds are earmarked for local capacity building, paying local salaries for field crew, field equipment, and for the creation and distribution of eduational materials. Read More...

Planning in a complex world Posted on May 21, 2006 by admin

ProCAT scientists are undertaking an interdisciplinary assessment of conservation planning across complex tropical ecosystems. The study site includes the join watersheds of the Rio Estrella and Rio Sixaolo on the Caribbean slopes of Cordillera Talamanca. Researchers will be developing conservation strategies across terrestrial, freshwater and marine systems to examine flows and connectivity between ecosystems.

Searching for wildlife on top of the world. Posted on May 21, 2006 by admin

ProCAT scientist Jan Schipper and a team of researchers are currently conducting species surveys along an elevation transect in Chirripo National Park, Costa Rica. The Chirripo Massif, rising to 3,820m is the highest peak in Mesoamerica. Ongoing projects include a wildlife survey and paramo soil conservation research. Researchers are interested in determining elvational limits and constraints to various mammal fauna, and in determining the effects of fire on high elvation grassland (paramo) soils.

The Valley of Silence Posted on Mar 11, 2006 by admin

ProCAT researchers recently returned from the first of three expeditions to the Valley of Silencio (Valle de Silencio). The valley, at 2500m, is dominated by cloud forests and interwoven with cool mountain streams (such as the Rio Terbi on the right). Researchers are interested in this site as a baseline in establishing whether jaguar and other nationally endangered species are using this habitat. This expedition is part of a larger project which will be using camera traps to conduct an elevational transect across he Talamanca Mountain Range over the next year. Read More...

8th World Wilderness Congress Posted on May 21, 2006 by admin

ProCAT brought a strong message to the 8th World Wilderness Congress: after 3 millions years of conecting North and South America, the Talamanca Mountains are once again an island for forest dependant species. Research was presented demonstrating that deforestation of the surrounding lowlands has isolated the range and its species both to the north and south, the consequences of which are not known. This loss of habitat coupled with high hunting pressure present an immediate threat to the presistence of area-sensitive species such as jaguar and white-lipped peccary.

Photo expeditions capture state of coral reefs Posted on Mar 05, 2006 by admin

ProCAT scientist have begun a photographic assessemnt of the largest remaining coral reef in Costa Rica - the Talamanca Coast. The reef system has been damaged by both natural and human caused "disasters", including earthquakes, sedementation and contamination. As a first step, researchers will take a "snapshot status" of various reefs which will be used for assessment and long term monitoring.