My Pura Vida

Volunteering to Cleanup the SF Bay from the Oil Spill

Volunteers are required to attend a training course first.  Here are the details about the training and volunteer needs. 

REACH and Animal Testing

I have written a number of times about the importance of new regulations requiring the testing industrial chemicals, consumer products, paints, cars, food additives and cosmetics for chemicals that can be detrimental to human and environmental health.  The majority of products in the marketplace have not been tested for safety to humans and the environment.  Beginning in June 2007 in the EU REACH legislation will require companies to prove the safety of all chemicals used in their products, whether old or new.  While the legislation is EU based, it really should have far reaching benefits for the entire world, as we will gain much needed information about the current chemical soup our bodies are exposed to on a daily basis.  Unfortunately, the grim news is that much of the testing will involve outdated means of testing involving of over a million animals in new experiments.  Please learn more about the alternatives to animal based testing.  No matter what part of the world we live in, we have a responsibility to respect the lives of other species by using more humane alternatives to animal testing. 

The Oxcarts in Use

The painted oxcarts aren't just for show.  Just a few days after writing about the oxcarts in Sarchi, we saw a farmer on the southern pacific coast loading up the bulls to one of the worn but still colorful painted carts to go collect some wood.  The cart is attached between the two bulls horns.  I wonder what the bulls think about this getup...

Feeding the Coati

We were visiting Monteverde last week to study a water conflict.  In the morning the coati came up to the kitchen for a snack from the hotel owner.  It reminded me of living on the canyon in San Diego, when the racoon mom would bring her babies up to the house and we would feed them cat food.  I know that you aren't supposed to let the wild animals get comfortable around humans for thier own safety, but they are so cute...

Monkey Sightings

Finally, I got to see monkeys.  This white-faced capuchin was one of many that we saw at Tortuguero National Park.  Additionally, while visiting Puerto Viejo beach we heard and saw the howler monkeys.  The sound they make is amazingly loud for such small animals.  It could be heard throughout the town. 

Street Dogs

Leash laws don't exist in most Latin American countries.  It is true here in Costa Rica too.  Dogs are on the street everywhere.  Some belong to people.  A lot don't.  Most of the dogs are smaller breeds.  They are usually very thin. 

They know the town.  Sometimes they patrol it in packs.  One that lives next door to us followed us to the bus one day, about a 1 km walk.  He made his way back home and was there when we returned several hours later.  A very thin one followed me home this week.  I gave him water, but no food.  I am already feeding one of the cats in the neighborhood.  He hung around for an hour or so and then went about his way searching for food elsewhere. 

This may be one reason for the garbage containers they have here, to keep the dogs out.  On the street for each house there is a metal container that is raised from the ground about 5 feet where you put your garbage bags. 

Cat Patterns

I am back at the house in Costa Rica after traveling for the holidays.  I believe my cat Buddie is doing ok in his temporary US home, living with four other cats.  I think he enjoys the feline company.  Two weeks before leaving CR, one of the two neighbor cats disappeared in the forest.  I noticed he seemed to have a slight fever the night before he disappeared, and the last night we all saw him he was aggressive toward the other cat which was not his normal temperment.  The neighbors daughter was very upset about the loss, and explained that they have lost 14 cats in her short 15 years here.  I have suggested that allowing them to roam the forest isn't the best idea if they want to keep their cats, but they make that choice.  For my first two days back in Costa Rica I was without cat company and it was very quiet.  However the black cat has discovered I am back and comes to visit each night at dusk.  He used to be very territorial when the black and white cat was around, but now he is more distant and just passes by to eat. 

Heard But Not Seen

I am still hopeful that I will get to see monkeys and the flock of red scarlet macaws from my back porch.  I hear the monkeys at night but am not able to see them.  Similarly, I hear the flock of macaws flying overhead often in the mornings before I awaken.  Some of my friends have seen both of these creatures in and about town but I haven't been fortunate yet. 

I did manage to see my first full sized scorpian in my bathroom this week, but it was gone by the time I grabbed my camera.  At school, there was also a large black tarantula, but I didn't have my camera that day either. 

This week one of the cats on the property is missing.  Maya the owners daughter says she has lost about 15-20 cats while living in Costa Rica.  That is the harsh reality of allowing the pets to roam free in the forest.  Unfortunately she doesn't know the reality of having a pet cat for 15-20 years, because they are kept safe inside the home. 

Preparing the Cats for Flying

Today I took the cats to the vet to get their travel paperwork, so we can fly on Friday.  After already being stressed out about moving boxes and an empty house the past day, the drive to the vet was quite noisy. 

Emilie (grey cat) was on her worst behavior when she met the vet.  She dug a claw into the vet so hard that it got stuck in her skin and she had to call in two of the veterinarian assistants to help her get it out.  The cat was biting kicking and screaming for a good 5-10 minutes when it came time for her to get shots.  This got Buddie so upset that I finally had to take him out of the room.  By the time I came back in Emilie was panting, hissing and growling back in her travel carrier.  The vet said she was the worst cat she has ever dealt with that wasn't feral.  Emilie is 16 years old and doesn't particularly like other people besides me and doesn't like other cats much either.  I do worry about how she will do living at my mom's for a year and feel real bad that she won't be able to come with me. 

On the otherhand, Buddie is very social with people and other cats, so I think he will adjust ok.  Leaving them both at my mom's this weekend will be tough for me.