  The decrease in visitors could have allowed the wild feline to feel safe walking quietly on one of the trails used by tourists for the ascent to the Chirripó hill. - Chirripó National Park rangers courtesy photo - |
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 Published Monday, September 7, 2020 Jaguar
recorded in Chirripó park
The Chirripó National Park rangers, through the use of hidden cameras, recorded a jaguar (Panthera onca) walking along the slopes of the park toward the top of the hill, which is the highest altitude in the country. The Panthera onca is a large felid species and the only extant member of the genus Panthera native to the American continent. According to the National System of Wild Zones Conservation, SINAC, the park comprises parts from three provinces: San José, Limón and Cartago. It was established as a wild protected area in 1975. It is named for its most prominent feature, Cerro Chirripó, which at 3,820 meters, 12,530 ft, is the highest mountain in Costa Rica. The park is recorded in Costa Rica, one of the coldest places in the country, reaching -15 degrees Fahrenheit, -9 degrees Celsius. According to the park rangers, the number of visitors has decreased considerably due to the park closure as part of the emergency government measures caused by the pandemic. The decrease in visitors could have allowed the wild feline to feel safe walking quietly on one of the trails used by tourists for the ascent to the Chirripó hill.  In August, intending to increase tourism in the park, the government invested $1,015,042 in structural improvements. According to the Ministry of the Environment, among the new facilities is a rest area with a panoramic view of the areas of Los Crestones, Cerro Terbi and Cerro Pan de Azúcar. Improvements were made in the areas for park rangers and visitors, the infirmary, bedrooms, the warehouse, among others. To properly dispose of the wastewater, a treatment plant was installed in the park. This is a BIONEST system with the capacity to process five thousand liters of waste per day, using part of the infrastructure already existing on the site and incorporating two new tanks as biological bioreactors and a third tank as the main grease trap, the ministry said in its statement. "To guarantee the operation of the new treatment plant 24 hours a day, 19 solar panels and 12 storage batteries were also installed, which will be complemented with the energy generated by the existing hydroelectric plant in this National Park," said Zdenka Piskulich, executive director of the Costa Rica Forever Association, who supported this project. Costing $74,436 for the construction of the new wastewater treatment plant, $59,210 was donated by the Costa Rica Forever Association through funds from the U.S. Debt for Nature Exchange system. ------------------------- Have you heard about more wild animal sightings in public areas during the quarantine? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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