Central American Squirrel Monkey (aka Mono Titi)
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Costa Rica is home to more than 500,000 species of animals, which represents nearly 5% of the total animals worldwide, putting Costa Rica on the list of countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. All that in a country that only makes up about 0.1% of the worlds landmasses.
Over 850 different types of birds call Costa Rica home. Thats more birds in Costa Rica than in Canada and the US combined. This makes Costa Rica a great bird watching location.
There are around 180 species of amphibian, and 230 different reptiles, as well as an abundance of insects. Costa Rica is also home to around 7.5% of the worlds snakes, luckily for us, 75% of them are non-venomous. However, amphibians like the poison dart frog have enough toxins to kill eight adult humans.
Costa Rica is home to over 200 known mammals, some of these species are extremely rare; and others cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and there are said to be a large number of species that remain unidentified.
There are over 100 animal species that are endangered in Costa Rica, with another 100 considered vulnerable. Visitors coming to Costa Rica should be respectful of these creatures and their habitats and also be conscious of the potential risks that Costa Rican wildlife can pose to human explorers.
Today I want to talk to you about this little guy here.
This is a Central American Squirrel Monkey (Mono Titi) and can only be found in the Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica and Panama. In Costa Rica, it can be found in places like Corcovado and the Manuel Antonio (Quepos) area.
This particular sub-species was filmed in the Manuel Antonio (Quepos) area, and is considered to be an endangered species. With the over population and growth of the tourist industry in Manuel Antonio (Quepos) many of the corridors which these Squirrel Monkeys (Mono Tits) use have been cut down to make room for hotels, condos, and other businesses leaving them with little room to get around.
There is said to be approximately 1500 of these particular Squirrel Monkeys (Mono Titis) left in the area, and with rapid deforestation happening around them, not to mention natural predators as well as locals catching them for profit and pets, there leaves little doubt that their numbers will decline even further.
Efforts are being made by different organizations in the area to save the Squirrel Monkeys (Mono Titis) and their natural habitats. But with the overly rich and powerful business men coming to the area that are able to pay officials off, the organizations are finding it a hard uphill battle to fight and save the lives of the Squirrel Monkeys (Mono Titis) in the area.
That being said. I leave you with what might be one of the last encounters well get to have with these Squirrel Monkeys (Mono Titis). My hope is that with the help of some courageous people, you too will be able to observe the Squirrel Monkeys (Mono Titi), in abundance, in their natural environment.
All creatures are important in the 'circle of life' and these little guys are no exception. Although Costa Rica Is a beautiful country, like all countries, it still has its problems... overbuilding, and deforestation wreak havoc on the habitats such as with the Squirrel Monkeys (Mono Titis) of Manuel Antonio (Quepos). If you would like to help preserve these little guys, please contact us, thanks for watching and REMEMBER when visiting Costa Rica don't feed the monkey's and only leave with memories. Pura Vida.
michael alan's Blog- Do'in Costa Rica - Monday, July 20, 2009
