Aug

13

The Stars of the Rainforest

August 13, 2009 | Tags: Environment, Tourism | 5 Comments


Angelina Jolie as worn by Encar, Jaguar Centre

Angelina Jolie stretched out a delicate hand and gripped mine tightly. I was enchanted. After all it’s not every day that you meet a star. Impressively beautiful but also graceful, her charisma was palpable.

As she wound her tail around my neck and swung upside down I wondered if her namesake has the same ‘star presence’… For the Angelina Jolie I met lives in Playa Chiquita, not Hollywood, but like her namesake, is surrounded by stars – of the Rainforest.

At Jaguar, Rescue Centre for the Protection and Conservation of Wild Fauna of Costa Rica, orphaned, mistreated, injured and confiscated animals are brought to heal and/or grow before being reintroduced where possible, back into their natural habitat in protected areas.


Young smiley sloths with Blanca, the famous ‘Barefoot Vet’

Angelina Jolie and friends are lovingly looked after by the owners of Jaguar, Encar & Sandro who are ably assisted by this coast’s own ‘Barefoot Vet’, Blanca, and enthusiastic volunteers. Encar & Sandro created Jaguar to fulfill a need and it has become their passion and indeed a way of life. Totally committed to conservation and rehabilitation, Encar & Sandro can be found surrounded by an ever changing ‘galaxy of stars’. For a guided visit please telephone 2750 0710 or you can book a tour online through Gecko Trail Adventures which includes transport and other area spots of interest.


Amanda, dreaming up some new seductive moves.

Your donation of minimum US$10 will go in entirety to caring for their stars of the rainforest.

Angelina Jolie may be one of the newer stars, but she shares the stage with an impressive cast. Amanda, a flirtatious kinkajou with an eye for a good looking man, is a permanent resident. With three feet instead of four, she lives at Jaguar and practises her seduction techniques on visiting men.

Hollywood stars often claim that working with children or animals is to sacrifice their share of the limelight and certainly the ‘baby stars’ at Jaguar steal the show.

The baby stars at Jaguar may be adorable but the ‘dangerous’ stars have an appeal all their own. Ever seen a Margay up close? Stunningly beautiful, fantastically feline and deceptively cute, try and resist the temptation to play with them…they’re wilder and stronger than they look!


Eyelash Palm Pitviper

And last, but certainly not least, are the creepy, slithery stars that can make the hair stand up on the back of your neck if you come across one unexpectedly…The Snakes.

Venomous and non-venomous, Jaguar’s snakes are reassuringly housed so that you can see them up close without fear. But perhaps after listening to Encar or Sandro you might feel quite differently about the Snaky Stars and applaud their efforts to breed endangered snake species to reintroduce into the wild.

So the next time you’re in the area, give Jaguar centre a ring and visit some of the ‘stars of the rainforest’… you’ll be helping to protect the wildlife of Costa Rica and enchantment is guaranteed.


Amanda enjoys a snack from a volunteer and Sandro
A baby raccoon cuddling up with brothers and sisters

Baby Ginger monkey with cool dude hairdo
Tigrili, the Margay, on the lookout for a game at Jaguar Centre

Gianni the owl at Jaguar Centre
Terciopelo / Fer de Lance at Jaguar Centre

All photos taken at Jaguar Centre and used by kind permission.

Article by Zoë Courtier.  Zoë is the proprietor of Geckoes Rainforest River Lodge. Two luxurious holiday houses with private plunge pools in a magnificent rainforest and river setting minutes from Playa Cocles. More information at www.geckoeslodge.com

Aug

13

Recycling Program Back Online and Needs Volunteers

August 13, 2009 | Tags: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Since the recycling service started up again last week they’ve been inundated with six times the normal amount of materials. You have done a Fabulous job of saving your recyclables while the service was suspended.

Our friends at Biological Corridor have taken over the day to day management of the collection and separation system. You can understand, as with any new endeavor, there is a learning curve.

Have you seen our recycling center? It’s set in the jungle, bordered with gingerbread, there’s a really cool recycled bottle wall. Now, imagine the recycling center literally overflowing with tons of materials for the new team to deal with.

The Corridor is calling for you to come give a hand.

It may not be sexy work, but it is work that you can feel good about! The Corridor is seeking volunteers to participate in the process from now and until about a month from now when they can get on top of this big and important job.

Some businesses, thank you Hotel Guaraná, Casa Viva, & Café Viejo, have sent employees to the recycling collection center in Patiño to help out for a day or three (and they’ve paid their salaries!)

Please contact:
Alaine, in English: at
ATEC 2750 0398 or
cel 8320 4821 or
home for a while 2750 0089
or the Corridor en español:
2756 8033 or
2756 8136

If you can’t help out in person, consider making a donation.  You can arrange that through ATEC or online with a credit card here on Puerto Viejo Satellite and we will cover all credit card fees so 100% of your donation gets to the organization.

Source: Greencoast.com: Urgent Call for Volunteers–Llamada para voluntarios

Aug

5

New Immigration Law Passes 2nd Reading

August 5, 2009 | Tags: Government and Politics | 3 Comments

The details of the much talked about new immigration law are now basically final.

The measure was passed yesterday in what should be its final form. It will take effect six months after the administration publishes the law in La Gaceta so while there is some small measure of flexibility for when the government will implement it, the details are set.

The law is of great interest to the many ex-pats from North America and Europe who make their homes in the Puerto Viejo area as well as to the even greater number of Central American migrants from Nicaragua and other places.

Some of the highlights include:

- All residents will be required to join the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social as a condition of their residency.

- A new immigration police force will be formed out of the Fuerza Publica to enforce the provisions of the law

- Immigrants applying as pensionados (a status that allows a foreigner residency as a retiree but not to work) will now have to prove a monthly income of $1000US/month, up from $600. However, the part of the law that made that provision retroactive to pensionados already here was deleted so that worry was avoided.

- Immigrants applying as rentistas (a status that allows a foreigner residency and to work as a business owner or investor) will now have to prove a monthly income of $2500/month but this includes status for close family members.

- Police will now only be able to detain a person for a maximum of 24 hours while their immigration status is being verified.

The law does not address the issue of perpetual tourists, those who leave the country for 3 days every 90 days and then return for a new 90 day visa.  Some in government had suggested a rule allowing a maximum of two 90 day stays per year.

More details: La Nación: Próximo Gobierno tendrá nueva ley migratoria