--- title: Wildlife Monitoring in the Las Catalinas tropical Dry Forest description: Explore the wildlife monitoring project at Las Catalinas, revealing a thriving ecosystem with diverse species and insights into forest health. image: https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/Wildlife%20Monitoring%20in%20the%20Las%20Catalinas%20Dry%20Forest%20Reserve-2.png --- [![Las Catalinas](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/logo-white.svg) ](https://www.lascatalinascr.com/) [SUBSCRIBE](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/wildlife-monitoring-phase-1#modalSusc) # Wildlife Monitoring in the Las Catalinas tropical Dry Forest [mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/wildlife-monitoring-phase-1](mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/wildlife-monitoring-phase-1) [Book](https://www.lascatalinascr.com/section/booking) ### November 10, 2019 Las Catalinas has partnered with [Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring](https://www.facebook.com/guanacastewildlifemonitoring/) to place several camera traps  throughout Las Catalinas’ tropical dry forest landscape. These camera traps are motion activated cameras that function in all light levels, which provide an animal-friendly way to track wildlife. Each of these video clips are compiled, and then the animals in each clip are identified and documented, resulting in a survey of the types of wildlife found here as well as some insight into the health of the ecosystem via number of species and types of species. The first round of tracking ran from July to September, and resulted in a total of 1753 clips throughout the duration of the three month tracking period. Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring has compiled some of the best of these clips available to watch on Las Catalinas [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOCnZQ7JEgqO9UUmVa0ngA) channel to offer a glimpse into the thriving ecosystem in Las Catalinas.     ### A Summary of the Data These videos offer a window into the daily life unfolding throughout the surrounding natural landscape. For a broader overview, it’s helpful to look at some of the numbers.   ![](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/Wildlife%20Monitoring%20in%20the%20Las%20Catalinas%20Dry%20Forest%20Reserve-1.png)   First, an overview of total sightings. 1753 wildlife videos from an active base of cameras that ranged from 6 to 8 depending on replacements for maintenance. Almost 5000 false positives, most likely due to the movement of plants in the wind, rainfall, or falling foliage.   ![](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/Wildlife%20Monitoring%20in%20the%20Las%20Catalinas%20Dry%20Forest%20Reserve.png)   However, despite the cameras picking up far more species of bird, the most common sightings by far were mammals. Apart from the white-tipped dove, seven of the top eight most common sightings were mammals. Mammals as a whole comprised a total of 1223 out of the 1753 sightings, comprising almost 70% of total sightings. Birds came in second at 504 total sightings, covering almost 29% of sightings, with reptiles and amphibians comprising the remaining 1% ( comprising 22 reptile sightings and just 3 sightings of the single species of amphibian, the cane toad). Above, you can see the breakdown per-species, which details each of the 52 species found in Las Catalinas and the frequency in which they appear on the ground. Considering the limits of ground-based camera traps in capturing footage insect life as well as animals that primarily live in the trees, this biodiversity is a strong sign towards the [continued rejuvenation of the forest](https://blog.santarenahotel.com/conservation-at-work-las-catalinas-nature-reserve).   ### Looking Ahead The first phase of this project was aimed at providing a baseline look at the biodiversity and ecological conditions of Las Catalinas’ tropical dry forest landscape, and offers a few key insights. First, the area supports niches for at least 52 different species, suggesting plentiful food sources and a variety of habitats throughout the surrounding natural landscape.   ![](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/hubfs/Wildlife%20Monitoring%20in%20the%20Las%20Catalinas%20Dry%20Forest%20Reserve-2.png) A full-grown adult puma (*Puma concolor*) within Las Catalinas’ tropical dry forest landscape Biomass (number of animals) and biodiversity are the two major factors upon which an ecosystem can be measured, and these signs are positive for the continued restoration of the tropical dry forest. Based on the baseline data provided by this first phase, next phases can target different areas within the forest in more depth, focus of the tracking more aerial or tree-based life, adjust to track certain keystone species, and more. Perhaps the most important takeaway is that even as Las Catalinas continues to grow, the forest has grown stronger along with it. One of the visions for Las Catalinas was to show a model for [how development could coexist with a healthy environment](https://blog.santarenahotel.com/las-catalinas-a-town-in-harmony-with-nature).  The trails around town are the best way to step out into nature and explore the surrounding natural landscape. With 42km of [mountain biking trails](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-august-15th-2019/) and [5 hiking trails](https://thedaily.lascatalinascr.com/daily-october-22nd-2019/) that range from coastal cliffs down into the heart of the forest, nature is just a step away no matter where you are in Las Catalinas. [![Visit and Explore the Trails](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4917861/e699ced3-f953-493f-95d8-ff81eb9bed90.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4917861/e699ced3-f953-493f-95d8-ff81eb9bed90) ## See related posts ## [A New Perspective on Sustainable Travel: The Car-Free Movement](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/spring-break-car-free-in-las-catalinas-0) [ Costa Rica is one of the hubs for sustainable travel in the world, the birthplace of ecotourism and of some of the first ecolodges in Tropical America, a world leader in conservation, and a country on the leading edge of sustainable energy, decarbonization, and combating climate change. ](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/spring-break-car-free-in-las-catalinas-0) [Read more](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/spring-break-car-free-in-las-catalinas-0) ## [Best Homes in Las Catalinas to Train and Recover](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/staying-for-the-las-catalinas-triathlon-0) [Read more](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/staying-for-the-las-catalinas-triathlon-0) ## [4 Costa Rican Animals to Spot During Dry Season Around Las Catalinas](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/4-costa-rican-animals-to-spot-during-dry-season1) [ Dry season brings quite a few changes to the behavior of animals in the tropical dry forest of Guanacaste, who must respond to the differences in availability of foliage and water. ](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/4-costa-rican-animals-to-spot-during-dry-season1) [Read more](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/4-costa-rican-animals-to-spot-during-dry-season1) ## [An Identification Guide to Wildlife Around Las Catalinas](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/las-catalinas-animal-id-guide1) [ Las Catalinas and Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring partnered to place and monitor motion-activated cameras throughout Las Catalinas’ tropical dry forest landscape. The primary purpose of this project is to document Costa Rican wildlife in the area and, in doing so, better understand the effects of ... ](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/las-catalinas-animal-id-guide1) [Read more](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/las-catalinas-animal-id-guide1) ## LOCATION Las Catalinas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica ## Directions [ Waze](waze://?ll=10.4837815,-85.7900691&navigate=yes) [ Google Maps ](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Guanacaste+Province,+Las+Catalinas/@10.4837815,-85.7900691,15z) [Waze](https://www.waze.com/es/livemap?zoom=25&lat=10.4837815&lon=-85.7900691) [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Guanacaste+Province,+Las+Catalinas/@10.4837815,-85.7900691,15z) ## Contact [ Call **+506 2654 4600**](tel:+50626544600) [**1-866-357-3872**](tel:+18663573872) Phone: [+506 2654 4600](tel:+50626544600) US Phone: [1-866-357-3872](tel:+18663573872) [Contact us](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/contact) ## SEE MORE - [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LasCatalinasCR/) - [ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOCnZQ7JEgqO9UUmVa0ngA) - [ Visit Our Blog](https://theblog.lascatalinascr.com/) - [ Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/las_catalinas_) #### Connect easily with our services and amenities before and during your stay Download Las Catalinas App [Apple](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/las-catalinas/id1374972195) [Google](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aliceapp.android.whitelabel.lascatalinas.production) #### Subscribe to The Blog, The Daily, The Newsletter, and more Additionally you will receive our occasional newsletter. 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Las Catalinas has partnered with Guanacaste Wildlife Monitoring to place several camera traps  throughout Las Catalinas’ tropical dry forest landscape. These camera traps are motion activated cameras that function in all light levels, which provide an animal-friendly way to track wildlife.

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