The biodiversity in Bocas del Toro
Hernan Araúz was
at the times of this writing a guide for Ancon Expeditions in Panama. He brings us
this short but interesting article about the biodiversity of Bocas del Toro.
2000
The islands of Bocas del Toro
were formed 8000 years ago when the sea level rose due to the melting of the
polar cap. The formation of these islands created a form of isolation that
fostered the evolution of plants and fauna that are unique to the region.
One of these unique species is the poison dart frogs such as this Dendrobates
Pumilio. These are called poison dart frogs because the indians of the region
(including South America) use their poison to make darts. Of this type
(Dendrobates) of frogs there is such a variety that on the mainland of Bocas
del Toro these frogs are red and blue, green with black spots on Isla Colon,
red and white with black specks on Isla Bastimentos and blue and black on Isla
Popa. You can find out more about this facinating species on the website of the
ITEC (Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation).
When we speak about biodiversity we are not just talking about poisonous frogs,
there a species of nocturnal monkeys, turtles of several kinds and in perils of
extinction, birds, and the beauty of the coral reefs and marine life.
This paradise was originally inhabited by native indians of the Ngobe-Bugle,
Teribe (Nazo), Bokota and Bri Bri. The conquest of paradise by Spaniards began
on the XVI century by Admiral Christopher Columbus when he arrived to the
shores of the isthmus for the first time while navigating the coastal areas of
central america. His ships where battered by the onset of terrible storms but
luckily he found Bocas del Toro with its serene and crystaline waters with the
most exhuberant vegetation, thanks to this he was able to reprovision his
'carabelas' and from there the names of the islands and towns such as "Colon",
"Bastimentos" and "Almirante".
Copyright �2000 Hernan Arauz, Ancon Expeditions.
