Paso Pacífico

Why Is the Whale Shark Endangered?

Beyond their vast proportions, whale sharks seldom escape notice, not only due to size but for the peculiar patchwork of spots and stripes adorning them. Curiously, these visual signatures differ for each individual—akin to fingerprints among humans—serving as markers for differentiation. Classified under the scientific name Rhincodon typus, these giants are the planet's largest sharks and fish. Fully matured specimens stretch to an imposing 60 feet and tip the scales...

Facts About the Brown Pelican

Flanked by the vast Pacific on one side and the Atlantic on the other, Central America’s shores stretch for hundreds of miles, hosting an impressive variety of coastal wildlife. Among their standout inhabitants is the brown pelican, a formidable seabird and one of the largest in these waters. Scientifically named Pelecanus occidentalis, their presence signals not just natural beauty but also the health of marine ecosystems. These pelicans are vital...

Ocelot Habitat Loss: Why Help?

Native to America—particularly the US-Mexico land borders and southern Argentina—ocelots are shy and elusive wildcats that are facing threats due to the disturbance of their habitats. The Paso Pacifico team is working with local communities and landowners in Central and South America to secure core habitats. We believe giving them an optimal place to hunt, reproduce, and rear their offspring requires an integrative approach. Various factors contribute to the fragmentation...

Meet the Tree-Loving Gray Fox

The gray fox is not as ubiquitous as other fox species as they veer away from urban areas and are hard to spot in the wild. Their salt and pepper color allows them to blend with nature and avoid people. A bit stockier and more agile than the red fox, gray foxes’ total length range is 31 to 47 inches with weights of around 6 to 15 lbs. They are...

Marine Corridors: Why Have Them?

The world’s oceans are teeming with all kinds of marine life but it may not stay that way for much longer. By the year 2100, over half of the world’s marine species may be extinct. But we can reverse this destructive trend by preserving our marine corridors. Read on to discover how these vital corridors maintain the health of marine ecosystems. If you’re up for the challenge, you can lend...

Save the Sea Turtles of the Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is home to sea turtles, a keystone species. They distribute nutrients throughout the waters, positively influencing ecosystems—especially those that exhibit poor primary productivity. They also help maintain stable dune vegetation critical to their reproductive success. Additionally, marine turtles keep the numbers of jellyfish, sponges, and seagrass in check, encouraging the faster and healthier growth of seabeds while supporting the food chain’s integrity. They are unquestionably critical to...

5 Ways to Protect Marine Life

Life likely began in the oceans, which cover 71% of the Earth's surface. These majestic water bodies contribute heavily to climate regulation. They produce roughly half of the oxygen we breathe and absorb a quarter of the carbon dioxide emissions generated by human activity. Most importantly, they’re teeming with an abundance of life. With more than 80% of the ocean yet to be explored, we don’t have a correct estimate...

Do’s and Don’ts When Caring for Turtle Eggs

Turtles are ancient reptiles with an average clutch size of 100 eggs—some go as high as 138. But survival is an uphill battle for the hatchlings. They face various obstacles, including anthropogenic (human) threats. The impacts of these threats are immense. Out of seven turtle species, six of them are classified as threatened and endangered. Since they’re keystone species that play a major role in marine ecosystems, it’s critical to...

American Crocodile vs Alligator

Many people have trouble telling american crocodiles apart from alligators, especially when comparing the American crocodile vs American alligator in terms of their appearance and behavior. These cold-blooded behemoths look similar but several defining characteristics separate the two. Join Paco Pacifico as we explore the difference between the American crocodile vs alligator. We’ll also provide insights into how wildlife corridors, like the one at Paso del Istmo, play a key...

Explore the Vibrant World of Trogons

Trogons — from the same bird family as the quetzals — have a brilliant plumage with contrasting colors, which makes them popular with birdwatchers. Popular among birdwatchers, trogons are known for their brilliant plumage with contrasting colors. Like other tropical birds, this non-migratory species can stay perfectly still to survive, making them difficult to spot. Though trogons have been around for millions of years, their populations are dwindling. Learn more...

Mantled Howler Monkey Habitats

The mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) is a New World Monkey, one of the five families of primates residing in South and Central America as well as Mexico. It has characteristics that make it seem more threatening than it is. The species is marked by a large, stocky body and a roar so loud, it has been compared to that of a lion! But they don’t pose a risk to...

Possum vs. Opossum: Same animal?

Possum vs. opossum? Aren’t they different spellings of the same word? Understanding the difference between possum and opossum is essential, as they are not the same animal Many non-native English speakers struggle with telling the 2 species apart. This is mainly because the word “possum” is often used in American colloquial conversation as an abbreviation for “opossum.” Despite the confusion, they’re very different animals. Paso Pacifico will take you through...

Fascinating Facts About the Scarlet Macaw

When you think about parrots, you’re probably picturing the scarlet macaw with its brilliant red plumage, bright blue and yellow feathers, and creamy white face. Intelligent, sociable, and stunningly beautiful, it is the world’s most famous parrot species. Aside from being frequently featured in TV shows and films, the scarlet macaw plays an important role in our ecosystem. For one, this neotropical parrot distributes seeds throughout its vast Central and...

QCDs: Pay Less Taxes. Help the Planet

Are you a retired individual with a tax-deferred Individual Retirement Account (IRA)? Once you reach a certain age, you’re required to start withdrawing money from your IRA. The additional income you receive can push you into a higher tax bracket, which means you’ll have to pay more taxes. This can have a significant impact on your net income. Because of this, many retirees opt to donate the money (all or...

Different Types of Forests

Forests are the lungs of our planet and make up 31% of the world’s land area. They also come in diverse forms, each with unique ecosystems that provide a sanctuary for a large number of birds and animals, many of them endangered. They’re also home to more than 80% of terrestrial species and absorb roughly 15.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually.Along the Pacific coast of Central America, these ecosystems...

Help Sea Turtle Conservation in El Salvador

The sea turtle is one of North America’s most treasured species. People often pay huge amounts on excursions to witness these creatures in their natural habitat, swimming among coral reefs in the middle of stark blue seas. There are currently seven sea or marine turtle species in existence: Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Olive ridley, Green, Flatback, and Kemp's ridley. Most of them can live up to 100 years. However, it is...

Why Are Jaguarundis Endangered?

When you think about the wild cats of the Americas, the cougar and jaguar are the stars of the show. Even though these large predatory cats are iconic in their own right, they take attention away from the rest of the New World’s felid guild. A wide array of small and medium-sized cats stalk the forests of North, Central, and South America. Among these lesser-known wildcats, the jaguarundi stands out...

Black-Handed Spider Monkeys (Facts)

Central America has a diverse array of dazzling landscapes and biospheres. Its lush rainforests and montane forests are home to a charismatic primate that has become an icon of Central American wildlife, the black-handed spider monkey. The black-handed spider monkey is one of the seven species of spider monkeys found in Central and South America. These curious and charismatic primates can be seen swinging through the treetops, congregating noisily, and...

What To Do if You Encounter a Sea Turtle

In the sea and on land, sea turtles are some of the most majestic creatures on our beautiful planet. Witnessing a sea turtle swimming through open blue waters, foraging through busy coral reefs, or just basking on white sand beaches is one of the most amazing ecotourism adventures you will ever experience. If you’ve added “encounter a sea turtle” to your bucket list, not many places will offer you the...

Greater Grison: The Mysterious Mustelid

When you think of Central and South American wildlife, you’re probably picturing iconic species of the rainforest like jaguars and anacondas. These large and impressive predators are the main attractions for wildlife tourism in the region, but they wouldn’t be there without a thriving, healthy ecosystem. that includes lesser-known species such as the greater grison, an important part of this intricate web of life. The web of life that holds up...

Are Jaguars Endangered?

Few animals embody the wild and beautiful nature of the neotropical jungle like the jaguar. This apex predator is an icon of the Mesoamerican and Amazon forests and can be found in 18 countries across Central and South America. Some species are so charismatic, fascinating, and frightening to local people that they become more than just wildlife. They become part of native storytelling. Jaguars enjoy that lofty position, but with...

Facts About Humpback Whales

The planet’s oceans are teeming with fascinating creatures but few capture our imaginations as whales have. These gentle giants travel great distances each year and can be found in all of the world’s oceans. The sight of a massive whale breaching the surface is breathtaking whether you’re seeing it on video or firsthand. One species of whale known for this breaching behavior is the humpback whale. The species’ history can...

How Christmas Cheer Is Rooted in the Wild

Each holiday season, poinsettias adorn our homes, workplaces, and parties with their vibrant red and green leaves. They are the world's most economically important potted plant, and our holidays are more joyful thanks to this gift from the forest. Here are some ways that wild populations of undomesticated poinsettias play a crucial role in protecting both the species, the poinsettia industry, and our holiday season: Genetic diversity: Wild poinsettias harbor a...

An Overview of Wildlife Corridors

by Nicholas Bridgman At Paso Pacífico, we talk a lot about wildlife corridors like the Paso del Istmo Wildlife Corridor. What is a wildlife corridor? A wildlife corridor is a network of larger areas of wildlife habitat linked by another passage of habitat. Its goal is to counteract habitat fragmentation, a main cause of biodiversity decline. Fragmentation, such as by human development, leads to smaller and smaller islands being created,...

Happy Bat Month!

The great false vampire bat (Vampyrum spectrum) is the largest bat in the New World, and the largest carnivorous bat in the world. It can look scary when its wings are extended. Kim Williams-Guillen and Merlin Tuttle hold a great false vampire bat Notice the word “false”? Because this bat doesn't suck blood, it’s not a true vampire bat. But it is carnivorous, which means that it can eat a LOT of...

Press Release: Machete Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sarah Otterstrom Phone: +1-805-643-7044 Email: sarah@pasopacifico.org Paso Pacífico Commits to Launch Machete Project for Forest Restoration A youth-led, farmer-centered solution to address climate change New York, New York, Sept. 22, 2023 Paso Pacífico and its partners announced a Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2023 Meeting. Paso Pacífico will launch its open-source digital platform, the Machete Project, to catalyze forest restoration by connecting 300,000 youth with...

Two black Paso Pacifico pens by Dayspring Pens in a white and gray gift box

A Donation of Luxury Pens

Guest post by Dayspring Pens Dayspring Pens is proud to partner with Paso Pacífico through a donation of 40 engraved pens. It is an honor to be able to donate to an organization that works so diligently to protect and restore the endangered dry tropical forest and coastal ecosystems of Mesoamerica’s Pacific Slope. Paso Pacífico works with local communities, landowners, and partner organizations to address the most urgent conservation needs...

World Ocean Day Is Coming!

Have you heard of World Ocean Day? World Ocean Day is a global day to dedicated to the ocean, climate conservation, and activism. It was originally proposed by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The United Nations General Assembly officially recognized June 8th as World Oceans Day in 2008 after a four-year petition drive and years of groups holding events to promote the movement. World...

Press Release with SoftServe

Press Release: SoftServe and Paso Pacífico to Deliver a Digital Platform for Tropical Forest Restoration SoftServe supports the non-profit Paso Pacifico to develop a digital platform to slow climate change through tropical forest restoration in Central America. The project has started within Open Tech, SoftServe’s corporate pro bono program, where the company’s associates volunteer to deliver tech solutions for communities. Carbon emission is one of the primary drivers of climate...

Fotografía de Daniel Boyano S. Humpback whale tail in Los Cobanos, El Salvador. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, posted by Flickr user zambomba.

I Monitored Humpback Whales!

Guest post by Paso Pacífico volunteer Ula Leavitt. In early 2023, Ula traveled to Playa Los Cóbanos, El Salvador on our behalf to participate in humpback whale research with Proyecto Megaptera. Their research is being carried out in partnership with The Society for Marine Mammalogy, Panacetacea, PRIMMA/UABCS, IDEA WILD, La Orca de Sayulita, Fundación Naturaleza El Salvador, Bar Ballena and Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. I am a 16 year old...

Pochote Oyster Update!

Oysters keep the oceans healthy. They filter up to 50 gallons of ocean water a day and form banks with their shells, giving habitat and protection! Without them, seawater is more polluted, coasts erode more easily, and there is less habitat for sea life. With your support and with generous funding from the PRBB Foundation, the oyster cooperative in the village of Pochote has made great strides for oysters and more. The aim...

Surfing in El Salvador's Wild East Oriente Salvaje, photo by Javier Alejandro Ramos Arias

A Tale of Two (Surf) Cities

By Jason G. Goldman Later this month, more than 250 surfers from 52 nations will take to the waters of El Salvador to compete in the 2021 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games. Meeting in the town of El Tunco, around 80 kilometers east of Los Cobanos on El Salvador's Pacific Coast, the athletes will compete for the twelve remaining slots available for competition at the Tokyo 2020...

The Global “City Nature Challenge”

By Jason G. Goldman When Lila Higgins first had the idea to pit Los Angeles against San Francisco in a race to see which city could generate the most biodiversity data in just eight days, she had no idea it would spawn a global movement. The year was 2016, and the Obama White House had declared April 16 of that year as "Citizen Science Day." Higgins, the Senior Director of...

This Machete Grows Trees!

In Central America, some farmers use machetes to plant "living fences" and assist forest regrowth. There is significant potential for mass forest regrowth efforts using their techniques, but this information is hard to find. Today, you can fund the pilot project that will gather this information, design easy instructions and pilot this program to 1000 farmers so they can grow 20,000 trees. Until 11:59 pm EDT on Friday, April 23,...

Big Cats

By Jason G. Goldman Biologist Miguel Ordeñana crouches down in the shade of a forest and reaches into his pack for a small bottle. He sprays the substance on a tree just a few feet above the ground. A few meters away behind him is a camera trap he's deployed. The liquid he's spraying is a cologne called Calvin Klein Obsession for Men and if he's lucky, the scent will...

Marcos Calero delivers incentives to a family of parrot protectors in front of the parrot-adorned truck funded by Loro Parque Fundacion.

Partnering for Parrots

By Jason G. Goldman The writing was on the wall more than a decade ago, or at least it seemed to be. Though the species was classified as one of "least concern" by the IUCN, yellow-naped amazon parrots were struggling in the Paso del Istmo region of Nicaragua. The green-feathered birds sport patches of red on their wingtips and are named for the yellow on top of their necks. A...

View of San Salvador. Photo by Sarah Otterstrom.

Urban Parrots of San Salvador

By Jason G. Goldman The world lurched to a standstill in the spring of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic infiltrated nearly every corner of the planet. But while our daily lives slowed and changed, the rest of the natural world kept plodding on, almost oblivious to the fear and angst gripping human communities. Spending all that time at home, many people began looking out their windows or going on long...

Decoy Eggs

By Jason G. Goldman As the sun sets on the beaches of Costa Rica's Pacific coastline, a man walks along looking for comma-shaped scoop marks in the sand, the telltale sign of a nesting sea turtle. He follows a set of tracks from the water's edge until they stop. That's where he starts digging. Eventually, he uncovers a hundred or more leathery eggs, each the size of a ping-pong ball....

Willow flycatcher, photo by Oswaldo Saballos

Save an Endangered Willow Flycatcher

Every winter, the willow flycatcher travels from the U.S. to Central America for the season. Five years ago, we began studying the bird's habitat use in Nicaragua. What we learned was surprising! The birds return each year to nearly the same location. These small flycatchers prefer scrubby vegetation near water. Sadly, these are areas most frequently burned or cleared by farmers. Will you help save one willow flycatcher? Your donation...

Making Way for Monkeys

By Jason G. Goldman This is the third article in a three-part series on connectivity. Click here to read part one: “Coexistence, Not Corrals” and click here to read part two: “Building Bridges – Literally.” Once upon a time, an animal that was sufficiently motivated could safely travel the 2500 miles from the forests of southern Mexico through Central America to wind up safely in Colombia. The so-called Mesoamerican land corridor is still...

Building Bridges — Literally

By Jason G. Goldman This is the second article in a three-part series on connectivity. Click here to read part one: "Coexistence, Not Corrals" and click here to read part three: "Making Way for Monkeys." The natural world is being carved and sliced into smaller and smaller parcels. Forests and grasslands and deserts are becoming like individually wrapped fun-size candy bars of nature, each with its own fragmented community of wild plants and...

Coexistence, Not Corrals

By Jason G. Goldman This is the first article in a three-part series on connectivity. It was the first of March, 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law. With his signature, the nation's first national park was officially born. It's hard to say exactly where the idea for a national park came from, but the origins of Yellowstone seem to lie in...

Black-handed spider monkey. Photo by Phil Torres.

Baby Spider Monkeys Need You

This year’s pandemic is causing extra poaching for the pet trade in Central America. Endangered baby spider monkeys are now much more likely to be stolen from their mothers and sold into a life of captivity. But there’s good news: you can help! Giving Tuesday officially kicks off the holiday giving season. Will you please send a year-end gift today to protect at least one baby spider monkey during the...

Raptor Counting

By Jason G. Goldman Every year, millions of birds of prey migrate from summertime breeding grounds in North America to overwintering grounds in South America. One section of their pathway stretches nearly 2500 miles between central Texas and northwestern Colombia’s Chocó rainforests and is known as the Mesoamerican Land Corridor. More than five million raptors – the family of birds that includes vultures, hawks, eagles, and owls – can be...

The InvestEGGator works!

By placing 3D-printed and GPS-enabled decoy sea turtle eggs into nests on the beach, it’s possible to gather key evidence needed to expose rampant illegal trade of the eggs, suggests a study publishing in the journal Current Biology on October 5. The researchers specifically tested how well the decoy eggs work and their safety for the endangered turtles. “Our research showed that placing a decoy into a turtle nest did...

Get Your Gift Matched for Macaws

Join the cyanoptera macaws' fight for survival! Fewer than 20 of these birds are left in Nicaragua. Nesting season is coming, and their babies are hot on the black market. They need YOU to survive in the wild. Until 9 p.m. Pacific time on September 18, 2020, your donation to our GlobalGiving campaign will be partially matched. Your gift will make it possible for us and our partners to save...

Thank You for 15 Years!

This month, we are celebrating our 15th anniversary. Wow! Our supporters have made possible a journey full of impact for endangered species, communities, and the future of the "corredor seco" region of Central America, where conservation investments have been historically very limited. We feel proud to say we are there, and our commitment is solid. From ridge to reef, from Nicaragua to California, from fishers to Junior Rangers, we say—Thank you for...

Nicaragua’s Nature Stewards

Earth Day turns 50 this year. In its honor, we invite you to make a gift supporting education for 93 children in Nicaragua. From April 20-24, your gifts under $500 will be matched at 50% by Global Giving! Our Junior Ranger program helps children ages 8-13 learn how to save nature this year in the rural areas where they live. Nicaragua's amazing biodiversity and landscapes have been significantly damaged, and these...

Help Fight COVID-19 in Central America

Local communities are critical partners in our mission, and they are now under threat. Nearly 700 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Central America. El Salvador is completely locked down. In Nicaragua, almost no COVID-19 mitigation measures have been taken and food prices have doubled. We anticipate both food shortages and high rates of infection very soon, which means the most vulnerable people will starve as this pandemic hits...

Discover Your Power

Saving the planet requires millions of parts to be successful. You are needed. As a supporter of Paso Pacífico, you are already playing a part — but do you know how to multiply your efforts? Discover your power using the steps below! 1. Share Share our social media posts and e-newsletters, as well as the experiences you’ve had—why you have saved nature through Paso Pacífico. Have you lived in Central America...

Author: Paso Pacífico