34 species in three hours: National Reptile and Amphibian Census in San Miguel
On Saturday, June 13, a group of 32 people set out in the dark to look for frogs, snakes, and lizards. They were students, staff members, and residents of San Miguel, and together they participated in Costa Rica’s third national reptile and amphibian census. The result was 34 species in just three hours—and a village eager for more.
A count in the whole country
Every year, on the same evening, people across Costa Rica head out into nature to count reptiles and amphibians. The count has two goals:
- Knowledge: to gain a better understanding of which reptiles and amphibians live in the country.
- Awareness: to educate people about these animals and help them appreciate them more.
This year, more than 1,000 people participated, spread across more than 100 routes throughout the country. One of those routes was covered by the Work with Nature Foundation, our organization in Costa Rica.
More signups than spaces
In San Miguel, many people were eager to participate. To ensure everyone’s safety, we could only accept the first 18 people from the village who signed up. We were disappointed by that, but it’s also a positive sign. Together with our specialists, students, and staff, we ended up with 32 participants.
Searching for three hours in the dark
From 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., we set out in three groups. We searched the research center’s garden and the forest next to it. Using flashlights, we scanned the leaves, tree trunks, and the forest floor.
We found 34 different species of reptiles and amphibians. With each discovery, our experts were able to show the participants exactly which animal it was and explain what made it special. For many participants, this was an eye-opener. They had never imagined that so many different animals lived right near their village.
“When is the next one?”
Afterward, we sat down together and discussed what an evening like this means: for nature, for research, and for the people themselves. Our neighbors were incredibly enthusiastic and would love to see more activities like this.
That aligns perfectly with what we stand for. Protecting the rainforest is only possible in partnership with the people who live there. Anyone who sees with their own eyes how much life there is in the forest will want to protect it. That’s why we’ll continue to organize educational activities, so that more and more people can experience this for themselves.
With special thanks
The special T–shirts for this evening were sponsored by Ecole Travel. Adopteer Regenwoud provided the materials and guidance. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Photos by Maarten van der Beek. Copyright by Adpteer Regenwoud.
on with Utrecht University. The foundation was ready for a new step to professionalize the research project and Utrecht University was looking for a stable and reliable partner in Central America to conduct solid research in the rainforest. So for both parties this is a wonderful collaboration! Because of this we will make a big step in professionalizing our current research on biodiversity in our reserve. Together with the visiting students we will focus on scientific research in which the diversity and development of nature in our reserve, with an emphasis on flora, is central.