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EDITORIAL
I
f you haven't already heard, Howler Magazine came back to print in September with a brand new regional Jacó edition of the magazine! We now bring you a local publication with the power of a national platform! Howler Magazine has always been the trusted source for travel, adventure and lifestyle information about Costa Rica for the last 25 years. Now we are bringing you all the same highlights for the Jacó region, in print format, each and every month! From local events to restaurant guides, and articles written by locals about local surfers, artists, charity organizations and more … we have it ALL! We are proud to be taking the pulse of the community and giving you a taste of the local culture and energy of our booming beach town. As someone who has lived in Jacó for the last five years, I have been overwhelmed by the positive response we have seen bringing this regional magazine back to print! With visitors now filling our beaches on a weekly basis, to me this has been a clear indication that we are all ready for things to get back to normal. We have some very special things we are working on and will be released in the coming months, including animated ads for our emagazines that can be found online!
Read the full HOWLER
online October issue here!
One of the big differences that sets our publication apart is the online platform we provide. Backed by over 50,000 reads each month and over 40,000 followers across social media platforms, and with more than 85% of our audience residing in the U.S., Canada and Costa Rica, you have the ability to reach your ideal audience across Costa Rica and while future visitors are still planning their travel from the comfort of their own home.
Join the regional magazine publication by including HOWLER in your business marketing strategy. Contact Kelly today!
(506)8364 5376 kelly@howlermag.com kelly@howlermag.com
Publisher / Editor-in-Chief John B. Quam CR Office: (506) 4701-5942 Creative Directors Terry Carlile & Kelly Norris Graphic Design, Art Director & Rock Star: Adriana C. Zerpa The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Howler organization or its advertisers. The Howler Magazine does not assume responsibility for the content of its advertisements. Images not credited are acquired from stock photography services.
REGIONAL
Kelly Norris BY HOWLER s i n c e 1 9 9 6 o c t u b e r 2 0 2 0
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests write to: info@howlermag.com. Copyright © 2020 The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Copyright © 2020 Howler Media Holding, Inc. Panama The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Ced. Juridica: 3-101-725213 HOWLER (TM)2017
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REGIONAL JACÓ CR
ESCAPE
to Isla del Coco! How We left the World Behind for the ‘Lost World’ Story and photos by Tom Schultz
"W COVER STORY
e are going to Cocos Island!” drew the usual response when we told our friends:“Looking for sharks?” “No, no we are not diving,” we replied. ”What?! Why go then?”
If you are going to Isla del Coco not for the sharks, then what do you actually see and do there? 6
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Isla del Coco, or Cocos Island, is a tiny island ( just nine square miles) 550 kilometers to the southwest of Costa Rica. It became part of Costa Rica in 1821 as the country attained independence, was one of the first named national parks in 1978, and was named a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1997. The island’s fame has been driven by historical figures ranging from the pirate Sir Henry Morgan and scientist Charles Darwin, to the authors Robert Louis Stevenson and Michael Crichton, to the famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau. Even the U.S. mobster Bugsy Siegel is connected to the story of Cocos Island. And sharks. It is perhaps the best place in the world to see sharks.
Initially, seven people signed up for the trip, plus our guide, Serge. Two dropped out and a third tested positive, so five of us headed out with our negative PCR tests in hand to Isla de Coco. Our ship was the Okeanos Aggressor I, a “liveaboard” dive ship, based out of Puntarenas. It is the only way to visit, since there are no facilities to stay on the island, and overnight stays are prohibited. So home for the next 10 days would be in shared tiny cabins for two. Ours was complete with a porthole that looked like a front loading washing machine since it was underwater when the ship moved. On departure day, the Aggressor crew notified us that they wanted to leave early to catch the high tide. So we left home early, almost breaking the 5 a.m. rule for vehicle license quarantine restrictions. Since we were not allowed to drive that day, we carried with us an official document in case we were stopped.
UNUSUAL I N CENTIV E
The global pandemic brought a unique opportunity to sail out to Isla del Coco as part of the first non-diving tour in many years. The 10-day excursion was not for the usual reason of seeing sharks, but for nature, history, pirate and treasure lore, and more importantly — four special birds. Yes, it was a birdwatching and nature tour, organized by Serge Arias of Costa Rica Birding and operated through the Aggressor Fleet. With Costa Rica’s international borders closed for the most part, the ship could not fill itself with only Tico and resident divers. Therefore, the tour company offered an amazing deal that we could not refuse. All it took was time, money and a negative PCR test for COVID-19.
We boarded the ship along with passengers who would be diving: a Spanish expat and another from the U.S.; two tourists from the U.S. and Sweden who have been trapped in Costa Rica for five months; a German former divemaster with his Tica wife who has lived in Costa Rica for 20 years; a Polish filmmaker and photographer resident with his Tica friend (and his incredibly expensive Hasselblad cameras): and six other young, well-heeled Ticos. With so many nationals and longtime residents, it was a lively, funny and all-around great group. And, more importantly, since everyone in the crew and every passenger had tested negative for COVID-19, we went back in space and time once we boarded the ship to a world of
no masks or social distancing. It may be worth the trip just for 10 days of remembering and experiencing “The Before Times.” |7
REGIONAL JACÓ CR
OF F TO I SL A D E L CO CO
The question at hand: if you are going to Isla del Coco not for the sharks, then what do you actually see and do there? Let's start with the beginning. The voyage out to Cocos is long — 36 hours long. The island is actually closer to the Galapagos Islands than it is to Costa Rica. Heading out of port southwest for the 350-mile voyage, everyone was on deck and excited.
COVER STORY
Leaving early in the afternoon allowed for great viewing of wildlife in the Gulf of Nicoya: birds, dozens of leaping rays, dolphins, and — since it is whale watching season — amazing views of several, including a breaching humpback whale. We also all enjoyed our first beautiful sunset, with a glass of wine or a cold beer in hand.
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Dinner was a surprise for two reasons. As once-avid cruise ship fans, we were amazed at the cruise ship sharpness, friendliness and the amazing quality of the meals offered. Our group members included three with diet restrictions — two vegetarian and one gluten-free — and they |
were extremely well treated and fed. The second surprise at our dinner table was the bowl of what looked like candy, but was actually seasickness pills. It was around this time that we left the comfort of the calm seas in the Gulf of Nicoya. At only 110 feet long, the Aggressor is prone to the merciless turbulence of the open Pacific waters. Almost half of the 19 people on board would not be seen again before reaching the island. For the next day and a half, those of us who were able, basically stood at the ship’s bow birdwatching. We were looking for pelagic birds — those that basically live at sea, coming to land only to breed. The ones we saw sailing by included boobies, storm-petrels, shearwaters, petrels, tropicbirds and frigatebirds. Many were “lifers” for the birders among us who keep count of the birds we have seen on a life list. It was a fun way to spend our day at sea. At night, while growing closer to the island, we braved the heaving decks to watch and attempt to photograph yet another bird — the ghostly swallow-tail gull — as it followed the ship in the dead of light.
AR R IVAL AT COCOS IS L AN D A N D CH ATH AM BAY
The seas calmed and the ship slowed very early in the morning, a sign we were arriving at the island. We arrived and anchored at the north side of the island near sunrise. All hands were on deck to witness the first sunrise over Isla del Coco and Chatham Bay. Overhead flew scores of giant frigatebirds, red-footed boobies and the stunningly beautiful white terns, called espĂritu santo by Costa Ricans because they look like drawings of the holy spirit dove hovering over things. An unforgettable sunrise! There are only two small harbors to anchor on the island coast. Chatham is the larger of the two bays, but is unused. It has the former park ranger station, now abandoned, and a small hydroelectric power plant that was built to power the large marine radar tower at the top of the peak 300 meters above. This was once used to monitor illegal fishing activities, as described in past Howler articles, Click here to read more. Thus began our Cocos Island adventure. Stay with us and click here to read more in this e-magazine’s Travel & Adventure section. |9
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REGIONAL JACÓ CR
Brandon Walton is the captain of a 60′ Viking at the Los Sueños Marina.
Justin DeBoom lives in Jacó and works as a travel agent specializing in sportfishing vacations.
They support other local organizations that strive to better our coastal communities. 12
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Originally published in the Jacó Times, Sept. 8, 2020
LOCAL
FISHERMEN Feeding Families and More COMMUNITY FEATURE
by David Karr
I
t is inspiring to see the number of people in the Jacó community that work to help others. No doubt all that positive energy spreads and leads to asking more people how they can help make a difference. Recently a couple of local fishermen came up with a great idea to donate fish to feed families in need, which then led to them creating their own foundation with aspirations to now do much more than just help feed families. A Reel Difference is a program initiated by Justin DeBoom and Captain Brandon Walton, who fish out of Los Sueños Resort & Marina. While they have seen several great organizations and causes in the Jacó area, they always felt there was an opportunity for more. Specifically, they thought there were limited opportunities where bigger donors in the U.S. could make tax-deductible contributions.
With the donations, they plan to feed more families by utilizing the world-class charter fleet. Supporting these local fishermen who have not had a client since March is another way to improve the lives of all those affected. They also plan to sponsor educational days in the town of Herradura and Jacó to teach children and teens the potential for a better life through work in the fishing world. Finally, they support other local organizations that strive to better our coastal communities through education, cleanup, and conservation! The great news is that their foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization that qualifies for donors in the U.S. to receive tax deductions when they donate. Learn more and help the cause by going to their website: www.nowcr.org/a-reel-difference.
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REGIONAL JACÓ CR
A Breath of Fresh Air Danny Herrara and Artify Jacó By Kelly Norris
B ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
orn in the Caribbean province of Limón, Costa Rican artist Danny Alexander Herrera Batista lived his early years in the countryside. From the time he began painting at age 15, he has devoted himself to creating landscapes and animals. Using mostly acrylic paints, Danny enjoys using many different techniques and surfaces, from canvases to bird feathers and murals. Having grown up surrounded by nature, Danny has always been motivated to paint what is around him. With exceptional powers of observation and recall, he has cultivated an incredible talent for painting everything from memory, never using photographs or any other images to complete his beautiful artwork. Every piece is translated and recreated from pictures and sensations recorded in his mind.
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Currently residing in Quebrada Amarilla, a small rural town near Jacó, Herrara has created 20 murals during his artistic career. Six can be found throughout Jacó, including projects for private properties. The artist’s love for the color blue will be noticeable if you have the pleasure of viewing any of his paintings around Jacó, or in Tico Pod Art House & Gifts in the town center. The hummingbird mural he recently finished for the Artify Jacó 2020 project is a notable example.
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REGIONAL JACÓ CR
CBD
Effective Treatment for Breast Cancer
B
reast cancer is one of the tumors with the highest mortality and incidence in Costa Rican women and around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 458,000 people die from the disease.
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
This is not only bad news, but also a situation that we must deal with. In Costa Rica, records indicate that the incidence of these cases has been increasing considerably over the past decade.
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Reasons for tumor spread may be related to hereditary issues, radiation exposure, obesity and other factors. However, early detection and prevention has managed to reduce related deaths in recent years. In fact, the country registers 87% of cancer survival. The reasons: better access to diagnostic methods and a great diversity of approaches to the therapeutic treatment.
by Daniel Gómez
CBD AND THC: A NEW THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO BREAST CANCER The invasion and metastasis of aggressive breast cancer cells is the final and fatal step during cancer progression and is the least genetically understood. Currently there are therapeutic interventions, but they are still limited for breast cancers that are aggressive and metastatic. The effects of cannabis on cancer have been studied since 1970, when researchers found that cannabinoids (several molecules found naturally in our body and in cannabis) have the ability to regulate tumor growth and in some cases lead cancer cells to death. Although there are more than 100 cannabinoids found, the most studied are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The fundamental difference between the two is that the first provides psychotropic effects, while the second provides no psychotropic action. That means that it will not give you the “high” commonly associated with marijuana.
Scientific research has found that these components working together can reduce or even eliminate different carcinogenic tumors, and also helps as a treatment against the side effects of chemotherapy. Among them are nausea, insomnia and mood changes.
Scientific research has found that these components working together can reduce or even eliminate different carcinogenic tumors.
Last year, new research published in Egypt showed that a CBD extract induced the death of cancer cells in a study of women with breast cancer. All these results support evidence found by Cristina Sรกnchez, a researcher at the Complutense University of Madrid, on the ability of cannabinoids to decrease or treat various types of cancer, including breast cancer. A few years ago, Sรกnchez presented her research "Cannabinoids as Anti-Tumor Therapy" in the country to raise awareness of the subject. CAN CBD BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE IN COSTA RICA? At least 40 countries have regulated the production of hemp or medicinal cannabis. In Costa Rica, President Carlos Alvarado and the Congress are promoting initiatives to regulate local production. The government promotes hemp cultivation, while the bill entitled "Law for Medical Cannabis and Hemp Production" of Congresswoman Zoila Volio, would regulate the production of both medicinal cannabis, and hemp.
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REGIONAL JACÓ CR
"Marijuana" and hemp are both varieties of the cannabis sativa plant and have great potential for medicine, industry and food. CBD is present in both varieties, but the big difference is that marijuana produces higher THC levels than hemp. The local industry could benefit from THC, CBD or fiber production. In Costa Rica, the production and sale of cannabis products remains illegal. According to international reports, at least 70% of hemp CBD products are contaminated or mislabeled. Therefore, a proper local regulation would benefit local patients looking for legal products.
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
Patient groups such as the Fundación de Pacientes Pro Cannabis (FUCOCAME) are glad about political conversations, although they are concerned about possible overregulation and bureaucracy in the governmental initiatives.
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"For the sector to be internationally competent, we must avoid excessive bureaucracy,” said FUCOCAME President Mauricio Liscano. “The initiatives have progressed, but fundamental aspects such as citizen participation, seed distribution and the licenses are not yet clarified." With the current political context, the future of cannabis medicine in Costa Rica could be decided in the upcoming months.
Medical Cannabis News has more information Website: medicalcannabisnews.com Instagram: @mcnglobal www.facebook.com/mcnglobal Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ Medicalcannabisnews/videos
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REGIONAL JACĂ“ CR
GIFTS
of LOVE and Hope from Within
When Cancer Hits the Pause Button
I
by Lussania Viquez
remember when they told me "Lussania, you have to repeat the biopsy. It came out suspicious but not conclusive." I told them, "Okay, no problem."
I was so sure that there was no need to feel afraid. Two years ago I had had a biopsy done for the same reason and the result had been negative. Unfortunately this result was very different.
Awareness
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BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
And that is how my life battle began. In January 2012, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at only 26 years old — a young woman with a healthy lifestyle and many projects in hand. I had all the will to live, but a diagnosis that forced me to disrupt my life. I had surgery in February that year to remove the tumor and then in March to place a catheter to apply chemotherapy. In April I started the treatment: a total of 16 sessions for six months in a row. After finishing chemo, I received 33 radiation therapy sessions every day for two months. It is no secret to anyone that chemotherapy is a very powerful treatment, so it inevitably changed my physical appearance. I lost my hair completely: my waist-length hair, my eyebrows and my eyelashes. My nails peeled away from my skin and I gained weight from fluid retention. M ETAM OR P H OS IS W ITH IN Even more devastating than these physical side effects was the metamorphosis that I lived internally to try to stay on my feet. Many radical and unexpected changes were occurring emotionally and spiritually at the same time.
This pause that life imposed allowed me to know another part of myself. I learned to show off my best beauty, inner beauty. I learned from my own experience that God gives us what we need to overcome trials if we ask him from the heart. Although it sounds ironic, we must carry the cross with joy to make it easier.
need hope! MA N DATOR Y BR EAK I think the hardest part for me was taking a mandatory break in my life. It is like zooming along in a sports car at 200 kph and suddenly, colliding with a concrete fence! That's how I felt when they told me, it's cancer!
Many times I had fear and moments of weakness during the treatment. So many things came to a halt, but never my dreams or my desire to fulfill them.
But this unexpected pause helped me focus on the really important things in life. It allowed me to identify more with the suffering of others and do what I can to help others. It helped me to value every To encourage myself, I kept ray of sunlight and every detail of thinking that it was a process, that creation, no matter how small it may it was temporary, and that seem. It taught God squeezes but does not me not to wait It taught me hang. I learned to ignore for tomorrow these messages: "Poor not to wait for to tell someone thing, so young and with I love them or cancer" and "Oh, what tomorrow to tell refrain from a shame she is sick."he giving a hug. someone I love sunshine — without having to wait to reach the after them or to refrain thatToday, final destination. tough from giving a hug. experience, One day reading a I am totally book, it occurred to me healthy. My life that I was focused on myself, on returned to normal little by little moving forward with "me," and on and God has blessed me with a job “me� being well. But I realized there that I am passionate about. I am a were other people who were going communicator by profession and I through difficult things too, and a can develop in the area that I love need for me to show caring for them. the most, the media. That's how I decided to share my history, helping women who are going through the same experience. In short, I began to do what I could from "my chair." Although it is true that all cases are different, we all
Photos by Daniel Moreno
Family photos Family photos
I feel deeply blessed and chosen, because despite the ordeal, cancer made me a better human being in all aspects of my life. Cancer has allowed me to touch many hearts with the grace of God.
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by Marian Paniagua
YOGA
in Breast Cancer Care It can make a difference
R
egular practitioners of yoga attest to its positive impact on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Yoga can be empowering as we strive for balance and inner awareness. Moving from one pose to another, slowly and deliberately, encourages us to maintain sensations and notice what’s happening in our body, with curiosity instead of fear. This sense of presence and compassionate self-awareness is how we identify unresolved issues in our physical body.
YOGA WISDOM
But what if those issues have already manifested in our body as a disease like cancer? Can a regular practice of yoga have an effect on a person’s recovery?
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There are compelling reasons to answer, yes. Yoga has much to offer during recovery from illness, including breast cancer. Various yoga poses — particularly forward bends, back bends and twists — can help pacify and then activate the adrenal glands, which are depleted through the stress and anxiety typically associated with cancer treatment and recovery.
One of the ways yoga promotes this is through the practice of “santosha,” which translate as contentment — accepting the present moment as it comes. It does not mean giving up, but rather is an active form of surrender to the here and now. Instead of judging a life experience as good or bad, we can adopt a neutral point of view, detached from the outcome. Many attribute their acquired wisdom in dealing with life’s difficulties to this practice of detachment or contentment. Science supports yoga as a complementary therapy for breast cancer recovery. A 2014 Ohio State University study, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that yoga significantly improved symptoms of fatigue, low vitality and inflammation.
Daily yoga practice has also been shown beneficial in overcoming fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression. It can lift our spirits and help us regain valuable energy. Equally important, it’s a time for meditation and quieting the noise of our mind, so we are better able to make thoughtful, careful choices. When a woman undergoes chemotherapy, the impact on her body is dramatic. In addition to hair loss, her nails may become darker and more fragile and her skin appearance may change. Yoga can help a woman adjust to these changes in her body. It can help her develop the emotional strength to feel more comfortable embracing the way she looks, the way she moves and how she is feeling.
Women in the test group attended 90-minute hatha yoga classes, twice a week for 12 weeks. They were randomly selected from 200 research participants in different stages of breast cancer, all having completed treatment within the past three years, and follow-up therapy at least two months earlier. Comparisons with the control group showed that the women attending yoga classes had significantly higher vitality rates early in the study and at the end. Fatigue and inflammation symptoms were significantly reduced in the yoga group after three months. The investigators concluded, “Chronic inflammation may fuel declines in physical function leading to frailty and disability. If yoga dampens or limits both fatigue and inflammation, then regular practice could have substantial health benefits.” | 31
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REGIONAL JACĂ“ CR
RESCATE
WILDLIFE
Many Ways to Help Animals in Need
R
rescues remain under lifetime care ecently, I was contacted by at the facility; these are animals that Rescate Wildlife Rescue would not survive in the wild due to Center and asked if I could use my health or behavioral issues. photography skills to help Costa Rican animals in need. Rescate is Rescate receives over 3,000 an animal sanctuary and wildlife conservation center that rehabilitates animals yearly and releases most of them back into the wild. The center wildlife, breeds endangered species, also has successful breeding preserves habitats programs that help protect and provides lifetime Rescate endangered species from care to wildlife when extinction. The lifetime care necessary. Rescate receives over sanctuary is the only part of is also a nonprofit 3,000 animals Rescate that is open to the foundation that uses all public. Only staff are allowed of its funding to help yearly and to enter the rehabilitation the animals that they releases most and breeding facilities rescue. of them back so maximum privacy is provided to animals Previously, Rescate into the wild. undergoing rehabilitation was called Zoo Ave, but or in the process of the name was changed reproduction. to more accurately reflect the organization’s mission as it is truly a The lifetime care sanctuary wildlife rescue center, not a zoo. houses more than 125 species of animals (over 800 individuals) Since its formation in 1989, that have been rescued and cannot Rescate has been located in La be released back to their natural Garita, Alajuela, on 34 acres of habitat. These animals live within tropical rainforest. The rescue center the beautiful botanical gardens rehabilitates orphaned, injured, or confiscated animals and then releases of Rescate. The rescued animals them back into the wild at two release all have large enclosures that are naturally designed to offer these sites located in Nicoya and Golfito. animals high-quality lives. Only 2% of the animals Rescate
ANIMAL LIFE 36
Story and photos by Lori Anne Haskell
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PURA VIDA / LIVING CR
P H OTO S TO E D UC ATE
ANIMAL LIFE
My first visit to Rescate was in August 2020. The drive takes me about 70 minutes from where I live in the Central Pacific. Upon arrival, I was greeted by two volunteers and a staff member and was put to work right away taking pictures of the animals. I have since visited Rescate two other times. Each time I visit, the staff has a list of animals that they want me to photograph. The pictures I take are used to educate the public about the plight of the rescued animals, as well as important conservation and biodiversity preservation issues. I already feel like part of the family at Rescate, even though I have only visited three times so far. I have a connection to the people there as well as the animals. I want to detail some of the animals I have had the chance to photograph and fall in love with. First, there is a jaguar named Guapo. Guapo has a huge enclosure and seeing him is not guaranteed while at Rescate.
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I have been lucky enough to see him all three times I have visited. Guapo eats about two kilograms of meat per day, and the monthly cost of feeding him is approximately $250. I was asked to participate in environmental enrichment with Guapo, and was able to work with the staff member who prepares the daily meal for him. I also got to witness Guapo eating his meal, which he devoured in about 10 seconds. He is such a powerful, beautiful creature. Rescate also houses two pumas, named Luna and Dota. The worker who feeds them sometimes wraps each puma's food in banana leaves. This is done so the pumas have to use their senses to find the hidden food in their enclosure. During my last visit, I got to see the resident tapir, named Piki, a little bit more closely. He is usually pretty far back in his enclosure, but on this visit he was right next to where I was standing. I got to see his mouth and teeth and monitor his behavior. His behavior seemed very similar to a pig, but he is much larger than a pig!
VITA L EF FO RTS It is crucial that Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center continues to save Costa Rica’s wildlife. For the past 30 years, its vital work has been funded through visitor entry fees. But now the center is really struggling financially because it was forced to remain closed to the public for several months during the COVID-19 quarantine. Additionally, due to the lack of tourism in Costa Rica because of the pandemic, Rescate is only generating roughly 10% of the income required for animal care. You can help by donating through the Rescate website or by making a donation to its Gofundme campaign. Rescate is also in need of volunteers, and the website provides a contact link to learn more. Another way you can help if you live in Costa Rica or here visiting. Simply take a trip to Rescate’s lifetime care sanctuary in La Garita. It is a wonderful way to see many animals that are difficult to see in the wild. Your entry fee to the sanctuary and any money spent in the facility goes directly to help the animals.
BA BI E S GROW QU I CKLY During my visits to Rescate, I have really enjoyed watching the baby animals grow. Since I am only there about every two weeks, some of the small babies get significantly bigger between visits. One of the babies I have enjoyed seeing grow a little bit bigger is a baby sloth named Frai Choco. He is so cute! Other babies I have been watching grow up include a pair of squirrel monkeys, a trio of howler monkeys and a pair of capuchin monkeys named Bugsy and Diego. Another fun experience I had at Rescate was visiting a group of parrots. As I walked into the building to take a picture of a yellow-naped Amazon parrot, I heard a voice say "hola, hola." I knew a person was not saying this and soon realized it was one of the parrots. So far, my work at Rescate has been at the main facility in Alajuela, but I look forward to visiting the release sites in Golfito and Nicoya in the future as well. | 39
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