Day 11

La Selva

Today the group travelled about 30 minutes from the hotel to La Selva Biological Research Station, which is a protected reserve of about 4000 acres. Here, scientists from all over the world come to study the plants, animals and ecosystems present in the rainforest.

We were very lucky today, as we got to actually participate in maintaining the rainforest, and helping to preserve its natural state. We had some hands-on experience with eliminating non-native, invasive species in the rainforest to make way for the natural flora to repopulate the area. Specifically, we were pulling out coffee plants that were introduced as a crop many years ago, but have since taken over the ground, light and water spaces of other native plants. Back-breaking, dirty work, but it felt great to give back and help this incredible ecosystem, even if only for one morning.

For my students: What other way do you think we can help the rainforest and these fragile ecosystems, plants and animals in our own lives? We live thousands of miles away, but the fact is that our everyday lives affect the lives of this very rainforest I am standing in today. What do you think?

In the afternoon, we got to go on a walking tour of the La Selva reserve with two naturalists pointing out and giving us information on all the wonders we were able to see. Leaf-cutter ants, toucans, howler monkeys, poison dart frogs, and peccaries, just to name a few!! An amazing time in an incredible place that I will never forget…

Pictures below…

This is called the Owl Butterfly. What patterns of other predators do you see on its wings?



This is, apparently, where the sidewalk ends...



No clue on the species, but what a great looking bird!



This is a howler monkey!!



Iguanas live in trees and eat leaves.



This is a peccary - it's a member of the pig family.




A view from one of the many bridges over the Sarapiqui River.




A Toucan! Finally!




Leaf-cutter ants at work. Amazing stuff.