Jewels of the Rainforest

Article by Richard H. Whitten, Biologist

I am a Biologist-Entomologist-Nature Videographer and have lived in Costa Rica for over 4 years. I am the creator and owner of The jewels of The Rainforest Entomological Museum in El Tirol, Heredia, Costa Rica.

Two years ago, Mr. Vinzenz Schmack invited me to his "La Laguna del Lagarto Lodge", a pristine area on a hill surrounded by 1,275 acres of virgin tropical rain forest in the extreme northern part of Costa Rica.

I have traveled extensively throughout Costa Rica in search of natural history subjects in either original, unaltered environment, as material for the various professional educational videos which I have produced here.

La Laguna del Lagarto Lodge and the surrounding tropical forests has provided me with the greatest selection of remarkable natural history material of any location I have so far visited in Costa Rica. Besides the tremendous number and species variety of my favorite subjects, the arthropods (Insects, etc.), this wonderful area is home to over 350 bird species including the rare Great Green Macaw and the Chestnut Bellied Heron! The howler, capuchin and spider monkeys are a common sight here as well as "the last of the Dinosaurs" in the forms of Iguanas, Basilisks, and of course, numerous Caimans in the surrounding lakes! Both red and metallic green Arrow-Poison Frogs occur here in great abundance!

I recommend, without reservation, La Laguna del Lagarto Lodge to anyone desiring the opportunity to be immersed in and to observe first hand the wonder of Central Americas Rainforests. You will not find another location with such easy access to wild tropical nature, while being provided with excellent, safe, accommodations and some of the best food anywhere!

Feel free to contact me at my museum if you desire further commentary regarding La Laguna del Lagarto Lodge.

Richard H. Whitten, Biologist

A Biologist First Impressions Of La Laguna del Lagarto Lodge

by Dr. Carlos Guindon Standing - Project Coordinator,
Great Green Macaw Research Project

Even after arriving late the night before, I could not resist the daybreak wakeup call of Mealy Parrots, Montezuna Oropendolas and many other sounds which quickly enticed me into the 500 ha forest right next to the lodge for a pre breakfast walk. I was glad to see that many of the trees along the main trail were tagged with their latin and common names and that they included some of the increasingly rare tropical hardwood giants.

Not far into the forest I found several large "almendros" (Dipteryx panamensis) in fruti with a tropo of Spider Monkeys enjoying their breakfast! While watching them I heard the loud squawk of the bird I was here to conduct research on: the endangered Great Green Macaw (Ara ambigua). In order to get a look at them and determine what they were eating I hiked off the trail for about 100 meters. Like Spider Monkeys they were also feeding on the fruit of the "almendro". On the ground their were many fruit and the tracks of peccary which must have come to enjoy "almendro" seeds as well. Fortunately, the "almendro" is still relatively abundant on the La laguna del Lagarto Lodge property. Due to its hard wood, these majestic forest emergents had until recently been saved from the saws of loggers and landowners pushing the forest back to make way for cattle, agricultural crops, and tree plantations. Unfortunately the scarcity of alternative hardwoods and the development of harder saw blades, has resulted in a rapid decline in this "keystone" species for the Great Green Macaw and many other organisms that inhabit this Atlantic lowland rainforest ecosystem. I returned to enjoy my breakfast grateful for my introduction to this important remnant of lowland rainforest.

I have since returned for many early morning walks on the trails of this reserve where I often hear the low drumming call of the Great Curassow and have several times been fortunate enough to find army ants swarms with Bicolored Antbirds, Ocellated Antbirds and many others making a feat of the insects being chased out of their hiding places. I have also found Snowy Cotingas and other fruit eating birds feasting on the fruits of trees and palms next to the trail. I have walked the trails only once at night and heard the calls of a Crested Owl, Vermiculated Screech-Owl, Great Potoo, and Common Potoo. I also saw frogs, and many interesting insects as well as phosphorescent fungi. I heard, but did not see, what was probably a peccary, and caught a glimpse of another large mammal that dove into the bushes from the base of a tree.

Many forest edge birds can be seen from the balcony of the lodge as well as raptors and carrion feeders including King Vultures which are now rare in most of Costa Rica. There is a colony of Montezuma Oropendulas at the end of the buildings which can provide many hours of entertainment. I have yet to explore the abundant swamps, rivers and lagoons with their unique set of flora and fauna.

Those of us conducting research on the Great Green Macaw are grateful for this small haven that the Laguna del Lagarto Lodge provides for this endangered species. We are also grateful for the project support provided by the owner of the lodge Vinzenz Schmack.

Dr. Carlos Guindon Standing - Project Coordinator,
Great Green Macaw Research Project