Wildlife in Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula
The Osa Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the few oases in Costa Rica for wild animals saved from the region's rampant pet trade. Since its founding in 1996, the sanctuary has become a haven for all types of animals injured by wildlife trafficking, car accidents, or local families trying to keep them as pets. The reserve’s goal is to rehabilitate these animals and, when possible, return them to the wild. The sanctuary now cares for more than 70 animals; its survives on donations and by giving tours to guests at nearby lodges. (See "Can Ecotourism Survive in Costa Rica?")
Sweetie, the sanctuary's matriarch spider monkey, shows a spot on her side in need of a scratch -- and expects me to do the deed. Sweetie greets every tourist group. A full-grown adult, Sweetie has lived at the refuge most of her life and runs free in the forest surrounding the sanctuary. She is enamored with people and uses guests as personal scratching posts. She is also known for riding on to the shoulders of the largest, most-dominant looking man in each tour just to show all the new visitors who’s boss.
A recent graduate of Yale University, Alice is the associate editor and lead researcher for the NRDC Smarter Living and Smarter Cities programs. Alice attended COP15 as a reporter for the Yale Wheel Journal of Sustainable Development and has worked w... READ MORE >