The Smithsonian Tropical Institute will open a new Summit Park Amphibian Rescue Center in Panama. The laboratory’s mission is to prevent the extinction of a number of species including the endangered golden frog, Panama’s national animal. Since 1980 more than 120 species of amphibians have gone extinct, under assault from the rapidly spreading chytridiomycosis fungal infection....
National Environmental Authority personnel rescued an over-50 pound caiman crocodile at the Alonso Valderrama airport in Chitre. The crocodile is one of 19 caimans found wandering around the Chitre landing strip over the last five years. It, like the others, was removed from the airport and released into the Cenegon del Mangle wildlife refuge...
The National Environmental Authority inaugurated a new monitoring post on Canales de Afuera island in Coiba National Park. Built with funds from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Conservation International, the $72,000 facility has Global Positioning System equipment, binoculars, a telescope and radio communication equipment to safeguard this protected marine zone. Canales de Afuera is two...
The National Environmental Authority is investigating the killing of 54 whistling ducks in the the Herrera province. Residents of El Rincon de Santa Maria told authorities that poachers were shooting within the Cienega de La Macanas protected area. They reportedly fled from police, leaving behind two bicycles and two bags of dead birds. The...
A South Korean consortium led by state-run Korea Resources Corporation announced that it will develop the Cobre Panama mines in the first half of this year. The corporation and LS-Nikko Copper Inc., a South Korean copper smelter and refiner, currently own a combined 20 percent stake in the mine that they can operate for...
