Veragua Rainforest Research Foundation: More Than Just a Theme Park
The Veragua Foundation for Rainforest Research, located within the scenic and biologically diverse Veragua Rainforest, is where a pioneering team of research scientists is collaborating on everything from studying the social habits of poisonous frogs, to discovering and cataloging new bird species. We wanted to know more about the important work they are doing, so we took a closer look, and we fell in love with the Veragua Rainforest all over again! Beauty AND brains? Yes, please.
The Veragua Rainforest Foundation is supported entirely by generous donations from park visitors, individual and institutional benefactors from Costa Rica and the US, and chiefly by Inversiones Veragua Global IVG S.A. Thanks to the generosity continually bestowed upon the foundation, they are able to retain a full time staff of biologists and assistants, and two laboratories, which have already discovered 11 new animal species in Veragua. The work they are doing is really making a difference in our understanding of the world, and so in that way the generous gifts bestowed upon the Foundation become generous gifts bestowed upon each one of us.
The Veragua Foundation has strong ties with the University of Costa Rica; sharing their findings and learning together, the University publishes the researchers work on behalf of the Foundation and disperses it to the worldwide community. One of the leading research biologists, José Andrés Salazar Zúñiga, is closely associated with the University, and all specimens from the park are deposited and catalogued at the Museum of Zoology, located at the University. This symbiotic relationship between the scientists and the University means a strong and steady flow of resources and information, again something we all benefit from.
Currently the Foundation is involved in researching amphibian behaviors such as voice communication, territoriality, and reproductive biology. They also take part in the annual Christmas Bird Count in Costa Rica (CBC), which participants from all over the world participate, which provides critical data regarding the health and strength of the bird community within the Veragua Rainforest.
The Foundation compound is home to multiple exhibits and of course the famous Veragua Aerial Tram that takes you from high in the canopy deep down to the canyon floor. The Frog Habitat, where unprecedented research into diurnal and nocturnal frog species is available for public consumption has a unique environ so that we are able to study their habits both day and night without staying out all night. Then there is the Butterfly Garden, where these beautiful winged beings flit about freely within the protection of their habitat. They also have an extensive catalog of insects that was originally collected and put together by one of the ground keepers of the Veragua facilities. Needless to say the love of the research that the scientist there are doing is infectious to all levels of employees and they are all equally excited to show the world the pride they take in their work. If you are interested in staying on the research grounds like the scientists do, there are even accommodations available!
We think that one of the most upstanding intentions the Veragua Foundation has, is to make their research as widely available as possible. And we think one of the greatest ways they are honoring that intention, is that they really do make it available and accessible to everyone. The entire facility is totally wheelchair accessible, all tour guides are naturalists who really care about the research and love to share what they know, and the facility itself is as open and available is it could possibly be. Even cruise passengers with very limited time on land can partake in the fun! The port of Limon is a 45 minute drive from Veragua, and roughly $40-$45 per person (round trip) in a taxi. There are day trips available from San Jose and Puerto Viejo as well including meals and transportation.
Next time you are in Costa Rica, don’t miss out on the chance to visit the Veragua Foundation for Rainforest Research. Is there anything more wonderful than highly trained, curious and committed scientists changing the world one species at a time? No, the Veragua Rainforest Foundation is truly as wonderful as it gets.