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03 Oct 2006 |
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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, October 03, 2006
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| FADING Fast: Costa Rican scientists say populations of amphibian species like this agalychnis callidryas (red-eyed tree frog) are disappearing fast in Costa Rica. Scientists believe global warming is one of the main culprits. Jeffery Arguedas/ACAN-EFE |
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Cruise Ship Season Begins
The arrival of the Infinity and Regal Princess cruise ships to the Pacific port city of Puntarenas Sunday marked the beginning of the 2006-2007 cruise-ship season, according to a statement from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). These ships brought more than 3,000 tourists and 1,600 crew members.
(Click for more)
Over 20 Frog, Toad Species in
Costa Rica On Path to Extinction
More than 20 species of frogs and toads in Costa Rica may be on the path to extinction traveled by the golden toad, and national biologists are working to prevent their disappearance, explained Federico Bolaños, a herpetologist at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) in San Pedro, east of San José.
(Click for more)
October 03
Curious George Screening Fundraiser
A showing of the movie starring the popular children's book character Curious George (“Jorge el Curioso” in Spanish) to raise funds for the construction of a conservation and animal rescue center in the Pacific port city of Golfito, tickets ¢2,500 (about $5), 8 p.m., Cine Magaly, San José.
Benefit Concert
To raise money for the Young Singers Organization, with soprano Iride Martínez, 8 p.m., ¢10,000 (about $20), National Auditorium, inside National Children's Museum, San José. Tickets: 222-7647.
Edited By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
The arrival of the Infinity and Regal Princess cruise ships to the Pacific port city of Puntarenas Sunday marked the beginning of the 2006-2007 cruise-ship season, according to a statement from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). These ships brought more than 3,000 tourists and 1,600 crew members.
The season was officially inaugurated with a ceremony attended by local government officials, Pacific Port Authority (INCOP) president Paul Zúñiga and Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides.
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) is hoping for a strong season this year, with 90 cruise ships arriving to Puntarenas within the next few months, 18 more than last year, the statement said. Additionally, 110 ships are scheduled to dock at the Caribbean port city of Limón.
Costa Rica competes with Panama, Mexico, Honduras and several Caribbean islands to host cruise ships, whose passengers are estimated to spend $100 per day while on shore, Benavides said.
To bring more cruise ships to Costa Rica, ICT is working on projects with the municipalities of Puntarenas and Limón to beautify ports and offer more services to tourists.
Meanwhile, the Caribbean ports of Limón and Moín have been under a national spotlight for the past week after port workers began protesting using tortuguismo, or working at a minimum speed, to show their opposition to government plans to privatize the ports' management (TT, Sept. 29). Police early Thursday morning intervened to stop the protests and force workers to pick up the pace.
Atlantic Port Authority (JAPDEVA) president Walter Robinson said he is confident the protests will not affect the cruise-ship season.
“There will not be any problem. The ports are operating normally, and the workers are getting back to their jobs,” he said. “This will have a happy ending.”
-ACAN-EFE and Tico Times
Over 20 Frog, Toad Species in
Costa Rica On Path to Extinction
More than 20 species of frogs and toads in Costa Rica may be on the path to extinction traveled by the golden toad, and national biologists are working to prevent their disappearance, explained Federico Bolaños, a herpetologist at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) in San Pedro, east of San José.
Scientists are concerned about the drastic decrease in amphibian populations across the Central Ame rica since the 1990s, but to date they have only a few hypotheses to explain the cause of those dwindling numbers.
At least 2,000 of the almost 6,000 species of toads, frogs, salamanders and caecilians worldwide are at risk of extinction.
Costa Rican scientists are working to design a national strategy to guarantee the survival of many of these species over the next 25 years, Bolaños said.
Research to date points to two main causes of this alarming situation: global warming and a common fungus known as chytrid.
Apparently, climate change in recent years has altered living conditions for amphibians and caused new diseases to appear and existing ones, such as the chytrid, to modify, Bolaños said.
"The number of species under threat could climb to 3,000, or half of the world's amphibian species," Bolaños said.
Costa Rica is home to 181 species of amphibians. The small, shiny golden toad that once thrived here has not been seen anywhere in the world since 1989 and is classified as extinct by the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature and National Resources.
Apparently traveling down the same path are 23 other multi-colored and exotic species like the Harlequin frog, some venomous frogs and most of the toad family, with six of 14 species gravely endangered, said herpetologist Gerardo Chaves.
-ACAN-EFE
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