He following Article is one of a series written by a Dutch woman who came to Panama to be an Au Pair for a Dutch family. She met and fell in love with a Panamanian, and hasn`t looked back.....
Pedasi has a wide range of extraordinary wildlife, partly owing to the fact it is home to the biggest coral reef in the Gulf of Panama. The result is a spectacular marine ecosystem. In these waters lies the incredible Isla Iguana, with its whitesand beach and turquoise water, which is a Natural Wildlife Refuge - a nesting place for five species of turtles as well as many native marine birds and iguanas. In its waters, between July and October, you can find humpback whales, which migrate from the cold water of the polar areas to warmer waters in the tropics where they can mate, give birth, and teach their young to dive.
Another important refuge is Isla Canas, which has a 13 km long beach. Isla Canas is a strip of land that has been separated from the mainland by a river that feeds into the Pacific. It is used by thousands of turtles for nesting every year. There are only five places in the world where they come in such numbers. The local fishing villages work together with the National Authority of the Environment [ANAM] to take care of the turtles when they come to shore.
There are some spots where the ANAM people dig up the eggs that a turtle has just laid. They then bury these eggs back in the sand, but in a more secure spot on the beach. This is to be sure that the little ones that hatch can reach the ocean, as there are so many dangers for this endangered species. Others eggs are left in the hands of nature itself.
The people of the villages that work with ANAM guard the spots where turtle eggs are buried in shifts throughout the night. This is so the eggs and the turtles will not be disturbed and are safe during the times that tourists come to visit. These volunteers also write a report every day noting how many turtles there were on the island, and how many have laid eggs. This way, they help preserve the well being of these amazing creatures.
A small percentage of the eggs are given to the local people so that they can sell them. This way, there is no reason for the villagers to go and steal the eggs. However it does happen sometimes and that is a shame as there are not too many of these incredible creatures left.
If you are interested in seeing this wondrous, tropical beach and wildlife paradise for yourself, contact
Douglas M. Choy at
ThinkPanama.com. They will provide any guidance and information you may need.
