An albino howler monkey is a howler monkey born with albinism. Albinism is a genetic condition that reduces or eliminates the production of melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for skin, fur, and eye coloration. As a result, an albino howler monkey typically has white or very light-colored fur, pale skin, and light-colored eyes. Albino individuals are extremely rare in wild primate populations. Definition of Albinism Albinism is an inherited...
The coyote (its scientific name is Canis latrans, though most people never use that) is a wild canine that lives across a huge part of North and Central America. They are versatile, medium-sized canines found in North America, frequently referred to as the "prairie wolf" or "brush wolf." Weighing between 20 and 50 pounds, they are smaller than wolves, featuring grayish-brown fur, yellow eyes, and prominent, pointed ears. They are...
National Endangered Species Day, celebrated on the third Friday of May, which falls on May 15, 2026, highlights awareness of endangered species and honors achievements in conservation. It emphasizes the significance of safeguarding endangered species and their ecosystems, frequently hosting educational activities, zoo excursions, and initiatives to uphold the Endangered Species Act. Some key facts about this day are: Objective: To inform the community about the significance of safeguarding endangered...
Every April 22, Earth Day is celebrated. While some people treat it like a big global event, others barely notice it. Recognizing this day is important because it’s a reminder that things are changing. Coastal communities have been seeing that firsthand: beaches look different, the weather feels less predictable, and certain species aren’t as common as they used to be. What Is Earth Day and Its History Earth Day has...
National Wildlife Week in 2026 takes place from April 5 to April 9, emphasizing conservation, education, and engaging individuals with nature. Organized by the National Wildlife Federation, this yearly April event emphasizes the significance of safeguarding endangered species and their environments by engaging in activities such as planting native flora, utilizing wildlife cameras, and building birdhouses. It’s an important occasion that many people overlook. The essential elements of National Wildlife...
Most people exploring the Pacific Coast forest are most likely not going to notice an amazing bird: the Thicket Tinamou. Even experienced birders sometimes miss it. That’s not because it’s rare in the right habitat; it’s because it has perfected the art of not being seen. The Thicket Tinamou (Crypturellus cinnamomeus) lives low, almost entirely tied to the forest floor in the areas where Paso Pacífico works. In this region,...
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth ranks among the slowest mammals globally. They’re so inactive that algae develops on their fur! If you’re interested in learning more about these curious animals, this article is the perfect place to discover relevant facts! Physical Description Both males and females display sexual monomorphism. Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths possess rounded heads and flat faces. The tiny snout is bare and extends from the flat face. Ears are circular...
In Central America's tropical forests, the great curassow stays on the forest floor and in the lower canopy. This species has unique black feathers and a noticeable curled crest. Experts see this bird as a key bird species in the region. They currently classify it as endangered.. At Paso Pacífico, we protect the unique biodiversity of the Pacific Slope. This includes famous species such as the great curassow. But time...
Nature works on a very straightforward principle: plants and animals need each other to survive. Scientists call this co-evolution flora and fauna–a relationship that plays out in our backyards, in gardens, on rainforest floors, and even in the deep oceans. This balance becomes exceptionally clear along the Pacific Slope of Mesoamerica, where endangered dry tropical forests and coastal wetlands put this relationship on full display. Understanding what flora and fauna...
While families gather to watch multicolored displays illuminate New Year's Eve skies, both wildlife and domestic animals endure something far more primal; fear. Across Mesoamerica forests, fireworks and animals create a devastating dynamic: explosions trigger mass panic, forcing animals to run for cover. Understanding this impact is crucial for protecting vulnerable species during celebrations. Why Are Animals Afraid of Fireworks? Why are animals scared of fireworks? Because their biology registers...
Along the Pacific coast of Mesoamerica, people, plants, and pollinators have shared a bond that goes back thousands of years. There are three key players at the heart of this story: the farmers who tend the land, the native bees that pollinate it, and the humble squash plants that have nourished families for generations. These three have always worked in harmony. The bees visit the squash blossoms at sunrise, helping...
From eponymous superheroes to urban legends, bats have always been associated with darkness and mystery. But since October is Bat Appreciation Month, let’s set the record straight. Admittedly, October being the chosen month sort of foreshadows their often unfortunate reputation. But it’s undeniably the perfect time (and opportunity) to learn more about these winged mammals. Why? Because many species of these so-called “creatures of the night” are endangered today. The...
Have you ever dreamt of taking your dream vacation in Mexico? Do you picture white sandy beaches and endless parties under the stars? Well, here's something you may not know. You'll find more than just beaches or delicious food in Mexico. It also has some of the world's most diverse and rich ecosystems. Take Oaxaca, for example. This Mexican state has over 8000 species of plant life. Fascinated with animals?...
The Pacific coast is home to some of the world’s most unique wildlife. In this region, you can find sea turtles, jaguars, and even spider monkeys—all of which play a crucial role in maintaining the balance in this fragile ecosystem. But did you know that the Pacific coast is also home to a fascinating seabird that is steeped in legends and folklore? We are talking about the ashy storm petrel...
The words threatened, endangered, and extinct may not seem very different to us. But for wildlife specialists, the differences are very important. It’s how we understand the unique threats each species faces, and how we devise methods to protect them. It teaches us to better account for an animal’s needs. It’s essentially what enables groups like Paso Pacifico to lead conservation programs across Mesoamerica — and the rest of the world....
The Pacific Coast in the Mesoamerican region stretches from sunny California and Mexico to the heart of Central America. The region is not just rich in history and culture, but also abundant in tropical dry forests, mangroves, and grasslands. And, when the monsoon rains fall, the landscapes and canopy are transformed into a lush green carpet. And what about the animals of the Pacific Coast? Well, some move to wetter...
Do you know what’s the most fascinating thing about nature? Even its smallest creatures carry the biggest imaginable responsibilities. And, a fine example of that is the Central American Agouti. This seemingly insignificant creature that looks like an odd cross between a capybara and a squirrel helps in improving the green cover of its habitat. Never heard of them? If you didn’t, agoutis are small-to-medium-sized rodents native to Central and...
Fondly nicknamed the prairie wolf, coyotes are a canine species endemic to the western parts of North America. They rose in ecological prominence during the Middle Pleistocene era. Known for their adaptability and ability to thrive in adverse conditions, modern coyotes have since expanded their territory. Today, these “song dogs” run wild in Central America and even Mexico. Because they have been cohabiting with their human counterpart for times immemorial,...
World Oceans Day 2025 is coming up on June 8. This annual event brings to the fore issues concerning our oceans — the vast part of the earth that makes up 97% of the planet’s water and covers 71% of its surface. With this year’s theme, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” the UN urges communities, governments, and other stakeholders to grasp the magnitude of the ocean’s wonders and how to...
"Beat Plastic Pollution" is the challenge this World Environment Day. World Environment Day 2025 aims to amplify its call for collective action to protect the planet on a global scale. It is slated to take place on June 5 in the Jeju Province of South Korea, two months before the world reconvenes to negotiate an international treaty that ends plastic pollution. The event will also focus on scientific research that...
At Paso Pacifico, we take the plight of endangered birds in America to heart. Together with our volunteers, partners, donors, and sponsors, we do everything we can to keep these species from going extinct through our programs and partnerships. Did you know that approximately 1 in 8 bird species is threatened with global extinction, with over 1,100 species facing survival challenges? This is primarily due to habitat loss, climate change,...
Have you ever wished to take a walk through the wooded wilderness of Central America? It’s an amazing place to discover, and the place where you’re very likely to find a really curious creature sporting a mishmash of characteristics. But what is this creature? Let me describe it to you: a twitchy snout, banded tail, and distinctive facial markings, make the famous the white-nosed coati a common beauty located in...
From the snowy wilds of Alaska to the rugged southern tip of Chile, one big cat has mastered a variety of biomes. In North America and South America, the puma stalks its prey, raises its young, and splits the air with its distinct screaming calls. This long-tailed, enigmatic felid has proven extremely adaptable to a range of environments despite threats like human hunting and habitat loss. At Paso Pacifico, our...
Your support for our sea turtle program is vital for the future of the hawskbill sea turtle in the Pacific Ocean. Recent research by members of the Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative (ICAPO), including members of our team, collected genetic samples from critically endangered hawskbill sea turtles. Samples were collected from both juvenile turtles that were feeding in mangroves and on reefs, and adult female turtles that were nesting on beaches...
Yellow-Naped Amazon Numbers Are Declining in Most Habitats The yellow-naped amazon parrot, native to coastal regions from southern Mexico to northern Costa Rica, is currently hovering on the brink of extinction. This is due in part to habitat loss caused by agricultural development, as well as heavy poaching into the illegal pet trade throughout Central America. In the 1990s, almost 100% of known nests in southern Guatemala were poached. A...
Why These Parrots Are Popular Pets The yellow-naped amazon parrot is a highly popular pet in Central American households and elsewhere. In addition to being colorful, it is at least as intelligent as the average toddler and is naturally social, curious, and playful as well. These birds have long lifespans and are skilled at mimicking human speech. Outside of their adolescent period, they’re also less likely to bite, which adds...
By Jason G. Goldman One of the best places in the world to see whales in their natural habitat is in Latin America. The waters around the continent include some 64 species of whales and dolphins: about three-quarters of the planet's total cetacean biodiversity. That might explain why whale watching tourism has grown around 11% each year there, a rate that three times the annual growth of global tourism and...
By Jason G. Goldman Humpback whales can be found throughout the world's oceans, from the iciest waters of Antarctica, to the balmy seas surrounding Hawaii, and everywhere in between. While the males are best known for their soulful songs that can be heard perhaps hundreds of miles away, the concert singers of the sea are also responsible for some of the longest migrations in the world. The whales gorge on...
Since the beginning of the pandemic, news outlets have reported on investigators’ efforts to pinpoint the “ground zero” of the COVID-19 virus. The question seemingly not under media scrutiny, however, is how we may be able to prevent such outbreaks of disease from occurring in the future. Although many think of vaccines as the best way to prevent disease, the best preventive medicine may in fact be maintaining tropical rainforest...
The Pacific leatherback sea turtle has survived since the dinosaur age—and as the largest turtle species, this reptile is a giant in its own right. Yet today, these turtles are in imminent danger of extinction, in part because of declining numbers of viable nests. In Indonesia, which is the primary nesting habitat for the Western Pacific leatherback sea turtles, numbers have dropped by over 80%. In Mexico and Central America,...
Have you ever seen a yellow naped amazon parrot? Also known as golden-naped, these beautiful birds are very smart. They’re a sub-species of the yellow-yellow parrot, and usually live around the forests or tropical areas of the Pacific coast areas, ranging from Mexico to Costa Rica. Sadly, they’re threatened. If we don’t put a stop to illegal trade and deforestation, their population will continue decreasing. Learn what to do to...
After millennia of industrialization and ecologically harmful practices, the planet has now reached an advanced state of environmental deterioration. Among the most significant problems are global warming, deforestation, species extinction, and climate change. The best path to mitigating or reversing these problems is through effective education for adults and children. In particular, teaching kids about our planet will equip them to better preserve the earth throughout their lives and for...
Bird populations in Central American countries include a wide variety of migratory species. Migratory birds make up around 25% of Costa Rica's avifauna and almost 50% of El Salvador's. Some travel as far as South and North America. Migratory birds are an important natural resource because they contribute to biodiversity across the Americas, particularly with regard to the pollination of flowers, seed dispersal, and pest control that they provide. All...
As you may know, Nicaragua went through a serious drought earlier this year. In fact, it’s the worst dry spell Nicaragua has experienced in over 30 years. The dry tropical forests in the Paso Del Istmo that we work in have been hit hard, and as a result many species are struggling to find the water that they need to survive. One such species is the Mantled howler monkey. The...
On April 22, 2015, USAID issued the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge in an effort to bring together international communities to create solutions that address critical wildlife crime issues. One of the issues highlighted by the challenge is the network of well-established international transit routes that poachers and traffickers use to move their products to customers. These transit routes are the backbone to the global wildlife trafficking industry which generates billions...
As a conservation biologist, one of the most important parts of my job is making trips to the field so that I can better design and manage the many scientific projects that Paso Pacífico's local employees work on. Others imagine that I spend most of these trips walking up rivers to survey frogs, scrambling through jungle to follow monkeys, or capturing bats on the crater edge of and active volcano...
When 8-year-olds Matson and Jonas decided to do something to save sea turtles, they reached out to their school community for help. They received an extraordinary response from teachers, staff, students, and families at Oak Grove School. Through a village of shared learning and friendship, the boys were able to reach a much larger audience with their campaign. The power of this collective was so great that it helped the...
Cristian Bonilla is a local para-biologist who has supported Paso Pacifico's wildlife research for over six years. Although Cristian has helped us study everything from bats to lizards, in recent years he has become a specialist for Amazon parrot conservation. Cristian is a skilled tree-climber and hiker and is very good at monitoring nests and following parrots using radio telemetry. Cristian is admired and respected across the rural communities for...
This spring we were thrilled to receive Patagonia’s Miracle Grant award. This support has helped us advance our mission to restore and protect endangered forest and coastal ecosystems in Nicaragua. We have applied these generous funds to two specific programs: 1. our work linking the Nicaraguan surfing community to ocean conservation. 2. the protection of the critically endangered Robber frog (Craugastor ranoides) Surfer-led Ocean Conservation Nicaragua’s Pacific coast is home to some...
Sea turtles have been on the planet for over 100 million years! They are one of the Earth's most ancient creatures and have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Turtle Friend will help tell this story...LIVE! By bringing the global community's attention to these animals we can help protect this important piece of our natural history. Thanks for being our Turtle Friends and happy Earth Day! If you...
www.turtlefriend.org Watch, track, and protect sea turtles...LIVE! In early 2014, two eight-year-olds (Jonas & Matson) came to us with the vision of creating an app to broadcast the life cycle of sea turtles in the Pacific. They called it "Turtle Friend" and their goal was to create an education and fundraising tool for sea turtle conservation. What is it? An app & website that: broadcasts live nesting events, sea turtle egg...
This month we are teaming up with Fashion Project to help protect nesting sea turtles in Nicaragua. Fashion Project's mission is to "raise as much money as possible for charity by creating a community where our members can donate clothing and shop for causes they care about." They are the industry leader in online clothing donation. Items sold on their site can raise up to 100x more for your favorite charity — a lot...
This spring, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is making the journey from its overwintering grounds in South America through the forests of Central America and then up to North America. It is a perilous journey because of the destruction of forest habitat along the way. Scientists have partially attributed declines in this species to deaths that occur during migration. The western sub-species is now considered in danger of extinction and is under review...
Nicaragua has committed to reducing its dependence upon foreign oil by investing in renewable resources. Learn more about this effort in this recent video. Header photo: "Electricidad," used under CC BY-NC 2.0 from Nyall & Maryanne on Flickr.
We are working to protect wildlife in Central America and to celebrate World Wildlife Day we've put together this short video. Hope you enjoy!
Paso Pacífico is thrilled to announce that Claudia Perla (pictured above) has been honored with a Disney Conservation Hero Award from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF). The award recognizes local citizens for their tireless efforts to save wildlife, protect habitats and educate communities. . Claudia has demonstrated exceptional personal strength and commitment during the five years she has worked to study and protect the endangered Black-handed Spider Monkey...
by Richard Joyce Marcela Gutierrez, Paso Pacífico's agronomist, has been eagerly awaiting the rainy conditions that will allow planting of thousands of trees in the Paso del Istmo. "Because of El Niño, the rains are coming later this year, so we might plant in early July." With a degree from EARTH University in Costa Rica and ample experience working in her native Nicaragua, Marcela is leading the effort to restore forests...
by Richard Joyce Paso Pacifico Meliponiculture Intern A lean man past middle age, Francisco Cerda still goes to work most days of the week at a limestone quarry in Las Mercedes, an area of the Paso del Istmo near the Costa Rican border. His house is rustic and similar to many in the region. Approaching it, we pass a well, an outdoor shower, and a large basin for washing clothes. Scrawny...
In 2013 Paso Pacifico made a commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative to strengthen economic development and restore coastal environments. To achieve this goal, Paso Pacifico has begun a partnership with local women in the fishing village of Ostional in order to develop a women’s shellfish farming cooperative. This past month Paso Pacifico volunteer Angie Gerst from British Columbia, Canada, conducted an exploratory study to document the current economic and...
by Sarah Otterstrom I grew up spending lazy summers along the shores of northern lakes in the Inland Pacific Northwest. Maybe this is where my love of “biodiversity” was born. If anything, it was where I first learned to recognize the magic of the natural world. At the lake, my cousin and I built a tree fort with a plush carpet made of fresh moss and we decorated the ceiling...
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