Prosecutors seek to drop drug charges against Costa Rica park ranger convicted of attempted murder of poacher
Prosecutors in Osa, Puntarenas late last week told a court that they have insufficient evidence to continue pursuing charges of drug trafficking against former Costa Rica park ranger, Mauricio Steller Fallas.
Steller was convicted in August of this year of attempted murder as a result of his shooting of an alleged poacher of protected sea turtle eggs in September 2009.
How Panama is saving the world’s frogs (VIDEO)
Frogs are disappearing at an unprecedented rate around the world due to a fungus that is spreading fast. About a third of the world’s amphibian species are in danger of extinction and around 40 percent of frog species have already been wiped out.
Nicaragua OKs canal’s impact studies, clearing way for construction
The state-run Nicaraguan Grand Interoceanic Canal Commission on Thursday approved Chinese concession holder HKND Group’s environmental and social impact studies for that waterway project, clearing the way for construction to begin after having been postponed last month when some details of the environmental studies were made public.
Bill would ban plastic shopping bags in Costa Rica
A bill presented by Frente Amplio (Broad Front / FA) lawmakers to Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly on Thursday would prohibit plastic shopping bags in the country.
Latin America’s vampire bats groom one another, reveal primate-like behavior
Vampire bats, which live in Latin America and feed at night on the blood of large animals like cows and deer, are surprisingly brainy and social creatures, engaging in certain behaviors such as social grooming that aren’t common outside of primates.
“Strongest hurricane in recorded history” set to hit Mexico as authorities prepare for “catastrophic destruction”
The strongest hurricane recorded in history has Mexico holding its breath Friday as residents prepared for its “potentially catastrophic” landfall later in the day. Hurricane Patricia, which grew to a Category 5 storm Thursday night, swirled off the country’s western coast with 200 mph winds while meteorologists attempted to pinpoint what areas would be hit hardest.
Costa Rica prohibits export of three species of hammerhead shark fins, meat for one year
Based on the recommendation of the Scientific Committee of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), Costa Rica will impose a one-year moratorium on the export of fins and meat of three species of hammerhead sharks.
Just so you know: Howler monkeys with deeper, louder voices have smaller testes and less sperm
Howler monkeys with lower calls have smaller testes, according to new research.
