We empower local people to conduct citizen science and community-based conservation of large mammals in Costa Rica

Large mammals in the cloud forests of Costa Rica's Talamanca Cordillera are little known and seldom studied. Species such as jaguar and tapir are threatened by illegal hunting and land use changes. With our Tico partners and collaborators, we are conducting long-term camera trap surveys to empower local communities to protect their own wildlife by promoting environmental education and citizen science.

Photography by Mike Mooring and friends

ABOUT US

We are a team of faculty and advanced biology students committed to building long-term research collaborations that connect people with wildlife in Costa Rica, facilitating community-based conservation.

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pROJECTS

Cerro Kamuk (La Amistad)

(L-R) Abner Rodriguez and Roger Gonzalez (PILA)

Cerro Kamuk (La Amistad)

(L-R) Freddy and his wife (Tres Colinas community), Roger Gonzalez (PILA), Steven Blankenship, Amy Eppert, Abner Rodriguez

Cerro Kamuk montane forest (La Amistad)

(L-R) Abner Rodriguez, Amy Eppert, Steven Blankenship, Roger Gonzalez (PILA)

Cerro Kamuk (La Amistad)

Roger Gonzalez (PILA) setting up a camera trap

Valle de Silencio (La Amistad)

(L-R) Steven Blankenship, Abner Rodriguez, Junior Porras (PILA), Amy Eppert, and volunteers from UNA (National University)

Valle de Silencio (La Amistad)

(L-R) Junior Porras in red (PILA) and team at the shack

Reserva Las Vueltas

(L-R) Gabriel (PNLQ park guard), Abner Rodriguez, Amy Eppert, Steven Blankenship, Mike Mooring

Reserva Las Vueltas

Carlos (PNLQ park guard) and illegal cattle

Centro Quetzal

(L-R) Wyatt Garley, Nancy Rayo (QERC housekeeper-cook), Abner Rodriguez in front of QERC

Chirripo-El Uran

(L-R) Mike Mooring, Wyatt Garley, Carlos Orozco (trainer), Viper (scent dog), Abner Rodriguez preparing to summit Mt Chirripo

Chirripo-El Uran

(L-R) Carlos Orozco and Viper (Hablemos de Perros), Mike Mooring, Enzo Vargas (PNCH) on summit of Mt Chirripo, highest peak in Costa Rica

Chirripo-El Uran

Viper (scent dog) and Enzo Vargas (PNCH)

Pittier (La Amistad)

(L-R) PILA park guards, Wyatt Garley, Abner Rodriguez, Manuel Orozco (handler) and Viper (scent dog)

Altamira (La Amistad)

(L-R) Abner Rodriguez, Mike Mooring, Wyatt Garley, Junior Porras (PILA), Manuel Orozco and Viper (Hablemos de Perros), Roger Gonzalez (PILA) at Altamira station

Valle de Silencio (La Amistad)

(L-R) Volunteer, Abner Rodriguez, Wyatt Garley, and Junior Porras (PILA) deploy a camera on the Valle de Silencio trail

Tapanti National Park

Park guard Mauricio (PNT) confronts signs of a stone age hunter on the trail

Reserva Las Vueltas

(L-R) Kirra Connelly, Tanner Mathews, Elvin (PNLQ park guard), Carlos Orozco (trainer), and Charlie (scent dog)

Mount Chirripo

2013 research team on the summit of Mt Chirripo (L-R): Michael, Mitchell, JP, Timmy, Po, Mike, and our guide Edgar

Centro Quetzal

Mike Mooring presents the Mammal research report for 2018 at our annual informe for the San Gerardo de Dota community

Cerro Kamuk (PILA)

(L-R) Roger Gonzalez (PILA) and Steven Blankenship on the trail