
The Poisonous Granular Frog
AUTHOR: Josue Alberto Vargas Montoya (14 years of age)
The spectacular family of poisonous frogs (Dendrobatidae) surprises with its beautiful and colorful and lethal frogs. In Costa Rica, we have eight species of poisonous frogs. Those of the genus "Silverstoneia" and "Allobates" are not harmful.
The genus "Oophaga" is famous for its "pants," and the only two species of Oophaga of Costa Rica (O. Pumilio and O. Granulifera) are those that present pants.
The Granular Poisonous Frog (Oophaga Granulifera) is endemic to the Central Pacific and southern Costa Rica and part of Panama. It can be located near gorges in the woods.
In Costa Ballena, you can find the Red morpho with its green pants and his back "Granular," hence its name.
After Hacienda Barú towards the Central Pacific, its main red color changes to Orange for the Matapalo sector, yellow in Portalón, and finally an olive green in San Rafael, Quepos always with its green and sometimes light blue pants.
These frogs are in danger due to the loss of their habitat. It is also exploited by smugglers to sell them as Terrarium pets.
Its venom is neurotoxic and very dangerous. It is not recommended to manipulate animals in freedom, especially the beautiful multicolored frogs.
The dangerous thing would be for the poison to reach a wound, or you would suck it.
Indigenous peoples used the poison of these frogs for hunting, smearing the poison on their arrows. That is why some of them are called "arrowhead frogs or dart frogs" in general (phyllobates).
Granular poisonous frogs are well distributed in Costa Ballena. It is a great attraction for tourists and so of interest for tour guides. Costa Ballena is one of the main places to see the Red Morpho, one of the granular venomous frogs.
They are diurnal, and males are heard singing to attract females to reproduce. The female lays her eggs in leaf ponds in the forest. As the hours pass, the eggs become tadpoles waiting for their father to place them in a bromeliad where they will be safe.
The mother feeds them with infertile eggs until they grow and can find food on their own.

Maritime Terrestrial Zone Costa Rica
Every time a client arrives in Costa Rica with the dream of acquiring property near the beach, with beach front and direct access to this, his dream becomes a “nightmare” when he hears words such as Concession, Maritime Terrestrial Zone, and its Law. And it is not for less, since this type of land has different care and treatment from many other properties in the national territory. Various government institutions such as municipalities, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, and others are involved.

The Magic at Scala Restaurant in Dominical
Scala Restaurant & Sibú Café are located at the Escaleras Village. On the Coastal Highway, just a few kilometers South of Dominical or North of Uvita, follow the sign to Escaleras. It offers a gorgeous contour between the jungle and the sea. Village Escaleras is an all-open location with three environments with a cool breeze that blows across the terraces.
It has a hip atmosphere and soothing environment; you feel like relaxing in the midst of the jungle with the ocean showing through the tall trees. The place is so well-liked that most customers come regularly to have an early breakfast or enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner with their family, friends, or business partners.

LECHUGA: THE SAD STORY OF A TURTLE
Lechuga is the story of a turtle that highlight two main issues that the South Pacific of Costa Rica, and the Ocean in general, are facing. Entanglement in ghost fishing nets, or abandoned/lost nets,

Feng Shui
FENG SHUI, the Chinese art of interior design, brings us success, health, and an “even” better life. Feng-Shui, literally translated as “wind-water,” is the art of living in harmony with the environment. Happiness, prosperity, and health increase. Feng-Shui teaches life in harmony with the five natural elements: earth, metal, water, wood, and fire.

The New Human Condition?
A great paradox encloses the new human condition, even though so many essayists have presented us with such eloquent and diverse points of view. It only amplified this dilemma since probably the best we can comprehend is that this great paradox would be logical, and therefore, its comprehension inaccessible.

COVIRENAS – Protecting Biodiversity
Osa is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity. Unfortunately, it has one of the lowest human development indices in the country.
The Osa Peninsula has historically had socioeconomic conflicts that inevitably trigger environmental crimes.
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