New Kerala.com - London, May 5 : Fist sized bats emit much louder sounds than the noisiest rock concerts anywhere, according to a new study. Using microphone arrays and photographic methods, researchers found that bats emit ear shattering sounds exceeding 140 deciBels (dB) at 10 cm from the source, far louder than the 115-120 dB produced by a rock concert, reports Sciencedaily. This is the first comparative field study of bat echo-location sounds, illustrating the value of an interdisciplinary approach combining bat biology, ecology, behavioural biology and acoustics. Annemarie Surlykke of Institute of Biology, SDU, Denmark, and her colleague Elisabeth Kalko from the University of Ulm, Germany, studied the echolocation behaviour in 11 species of insect-eating tropical bats in Panama. The findings have been reported in PLoS ONE.

The Associated Press - EL VALLE DE ANTON, Panama: The golden frog is a symbol of Panama — revered by indigenous cultures in the past and the lucky emblem on lottery tickets today. Now threatened by a lethal fungus that has killed other species, the national treasure may be facing life in captivity. A pair of biologists have decided that plucking the frogs from the cloud forests and putting them in quarantine is the only way to save them. Their goal is to eventually return the frogs to the wild, but these scientists cannot predict if or when the fungus will disappear. "It's sad to seem them in tanks," said Heidi Ross, 31, of Park Falls, Wisconsin. "They're so perfect. They're like our children." (more)

mongabay.com - Rare and previously undiscovered species are under threat by loggers, ranchers, and poachers in an isolated patch of cloud forest in Panama, a prominent group of scientists has warned. The group, the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), has called on the Panamanian government to immediately provide protected-area status to the region. In a resolution passed earlier this month, the ATBC urged Panamanian policymakers to support conservation efforts set in place by Mr. Guido Berguido, the operator of a small ecotourism business. It was Berguido who first identified the biological significance of Cerro Chucantí, a 1440-meter-high massif located 120 kilometers east of Panama City, and then raised funds to protect tracts of forest from developers. (more)

By Rafael E. Berrocal R.Flor Mizrachi for La Prensa - Three African lions have been in a cage for more than ten years in Panama, very far from their natural habitat and under adverse conditions. The rusted bars of their small cage in La Feria de La Chorrera: (The Fair in La Chorrera) are witness to their suffering. Most of the groups and associations dedicated to protecting animals and the Panamanian National Environmental Authority (ANAM) said they were unaware of the situation, and the Mayor of La Chorrera Luis Guerra said this problem falls to the responsibility of the patronage of the fair at La Chorrera. Ligia Castro, the Director of ANAM, reacted by announcing that they will inspect the place where the three lions and other big predatory cats - one puma and two ocelots - which will be conducted along with an administrative proceeding. The Fundación Humanitas, the Fundación San Francisco de Asís, and the "Asociación Amigos de los Animales y la Naturaleza" said the captivity of these animals at the fair breaks national and international laws and agreements. "These animals should be seized and taken to a place where they really can be taken care of. The fair of La Chorrera is keeping the animals in 'horrendous' conditions," said Olga Gaitán, the President of the Friends of Animals and Nature Association.

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This morning a tractor trailer hit and killed six cows that had gotten loose and wandered onto the Inter American highway near David. Not wanting to let good road-kill go to waste, the residents in the area reduced the carcases to skin and bones with machetes and hatchets in less than 30 minutes, hauling away the meat for their dinner tables. "Cholo" Guerra, the owner of the cows, arrived on the scene (late) and was ticked off to find that the cows had already been butchered and the meat was gone. "Not like this - they should have asked," he said.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By Rogelio Adonican for El Estrella - It started as just another normal day of work. Twenty five inmates from La Joya were scheduled to clear an empty lot next to the installations of Panama's National Air Service (SAN) near the Tocumen International Airport. Suddenly the day took a fatal turn. Carlos Antonio Goldburn Lewis was attacked and killed by a swarm of Africanized bees when his machete accidentally struck their hive hidden among the weeds. Goldburn Lewis was stung hundreds or thousands of times and died at the scene. Considered to be a low risk or "trusted" inmate he was participating in a work release program to earn credit for early release. They work every day under the supervision of the prison system. He was imprisioned for robbery and was due to be released in 2009. Eynar Cruz, the Director of the Emergency Room at the Santo Tomas hospital said a total of nine inmates were stung by bees, that five were released and four were hospitalized for observation.

By Elena Valdez for La Critica - Three fishermen captured a huge crocodile measuring almost five meters long (more than 16') while fishing in the Rio Grande in Puerto Gago, Coclé province. The crocodile was captured and killed by the fishermen on Sunday afternoon. They said the crocodile had become the "terror of Puerto Gago" for fishermen in the area, and that it had already eaten at least three dogs. Children and youngsters were afraid to go into the river. They said they used sticks and rope to capture the animal, but it was big and strong and a very powerful animal, so they used a machete to kill it. The fishermen reported that his animal had another crocodile measuring two meters long in its stomach, as well as a catfish and even some fish netting. While the ANAM protects these animals, the fishermen said these enormous lizards must be transferred to places where they do not represent a danger for the population.

Wildlife Extra.com - The first live endemic anoles ever discovered in this region were found in a single day during a biological research expedition at 6000 feet in the Serranía de Tabasara of the Panamian Highlands. As recently described in Herpetologia by Dr. Gunther Köhler and his research colleagues, all of the anoles found in the cloud forest of the Serrania de Tabasara mountain chain top at 6000 feet above sea level are almost certainly endemic to this area, considering their isolated geographical habitat. This makes them the first endemic reptiles ever discovered in the Serrania de Tabasara, which is a very poorly explored region, biologically speaking. (more)

By Rafael Pérez G. for La Prensa - Auditors from Panama's General Comptroller's Office have opened an investigation into the handling of the funding of the Panama - United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm in Cattle (COPEG) according to official sources. The COPEG program started in February 1994 through a cooperation agreement between the United States and Panama. Five years later in 1999 the program acquired the category of "International Mission" through a law passed in Panama in May that year. The mission of COPEG is to plan, design, construct, equip, and operate a plant to produce sterile screwworm flies, to eradicate and to prevent the re-infestation of Screwworms in Panama, without causing damage to the environment. (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - For a long time I've been noticing that a dumb little article I wrote about having some Beagle puppies for sale has become the top article on the website, by a long shot. Today I started looking into why, and if you do a Google search for "beagle puppies" and click on "images" the photo of one of the puppies I had for sale is the #1 image on Google. That's why some 54,000 people have been to see that article. Go figure...

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) for the Province of Colon held their annual fair today. Farm animals, little kids in costumes, and proud farmers showing off their wares is all great stuff for the camera. The event was a one-day thing (today) and we just happened to run into it unplanned. Anyway, I was going to spend more time on this article, but a building collapsed in Casco Viejo so I have to get that out. Please click this link to see a slide show of photos from this event. Salud.

October 15, 2007—Panama's golden frog is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Now researchers are fighting to save the rare amphibian from a naturally occurring—and deadly—fungus. © Video by Public Television's Wild Chronicles, from National Geographic Mission Programs

News from Nature: Harpy eagles are one of the largest and most powerful eagles on Earth, but being a top predator does not mean survival is easy. Despite their formidable presence, harpy eagle numbers are in decline and are considered an "at risk" species. In Panama, a group of researchers go to extremes to track the progress of eagles released into the wild through a captive breeding program.

By Rafael E. Berrocal R. for La Prensa - The Panamanian cattle immediately rejected Panama's decision to lift restrictions on imports of live cattle from the United States. Imports had been blocked since a December 2003 decree, a reaction to the confirmation of the presence of Mad Cow disease in US territory. Euclides Diaz, Executive Director of the National Association of Cattle Dealers (ANAGAN), said the decision puts the European Union classification at risk, a market with great export potential. "How they are going to see us in Europe. In 2005 they lowered Panama's rating to risk level three after the importation of dog food containing beef flour from the United States," he said. ANAGAN says the decision to reopen the borders to these imports of of live cattle will only benefit the the interests of the Association of Brahman Cattle Producers of the United States. The Agriculture Department of the United States said yesterday that "Panama's decision demonstrates confidence in the capacity of the American government to protect animal health and food safety."

Science Daily — A Smithsonian scientist and colleague report that a potentially harmful, invasive crab species that has spread to several countries is now established and reproducing in Panama. The researchers report that Harris mud crabs are reproducing in the small, man-made lake designated to become the third set of locks in Panama's new $5 billion canal expansion project. Harris mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) is an invasive species in Panama. Mark Torchin, a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, and Dominique Roche, a McGill University pre-doctoral student, report their research in the September issue of Aquatic Invasions. (more)

mongabay.com - Scientists have discovered two new species of salamanders from the mountainous Costa Rica-Panama border region. The findings, published by David B. Wake, Jay M. Savage, and James Hanken in the journal Copeia, push the number of salamanders known in the region to 24, making it a hotspot in terms of salamander biodiversity. Both species are small, slender salamanders that belong to the Bolitoglossa genus and apparently live in tropical montane forest habitat. The salamanders have prehensile tails and appear to be good climbers. The first species, Gomez’s Web-footed Salamander (Bolitoglossa gomezi), was named in honor of Dr. Luis Diego Gomez, a Costa Rican botanist who was formerly Director of the La Selva Biological Station of the Organization of Tropical Studies. The second species, Brame’s Web-footed Salamander (Bolitoglossa bramei) was named in honor of the late Arden H. Brame, Jr., II, in "recognition of his many contributions to the study of Neotropical salamanders." (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Using the Internet I keep in touch with hundreds of the people I served with while in the US military - in Korea, Latin America, and the Middle East. As you would expect many are exceptionally patriotic and all of us have lost good friends in the service, either in combat or accidents. I don't normally put this kind of stuff up on Panama-Guide because it's not specifically related in living in the Republic of Panama in any way, but I had never seen this particular video before and I liked it. Budweiser made this commercial as a tribute to the victims of 9/11 and aired it exactly once. The video is available on youtube and you can see it below. Touching...

(La Prensa) This is a familiar scene during this time of year in the warm waters of the Pacific ocean, specifically between Panama City and Contadora Island where hundreds of whales gather to mate in the Bay of Panama. Whale watchers, in this case aboard the boat "Bikini" approach to observe this majestic spectacle, which is without a doubt a valuable tourist attraction for Panama.

By Eric Montenegro for La Critica - Adrián Alvarado shows part of the injuries to his right shoulder caused by a crocodile attack. You can still see the teeth marks on his skin left behind by the crocodile that wanted to eat him. The sharp teeth of the huge reptile raked his skin as he was returning from a swim near the beach of Puerto Caimito in the Republic of Panama. He said the attack occurred at approximately 2:00 am, after he had returned from an evening of fishing in the ocean and he was returning to his house. He tied his "panga" (fiberglass fishing boat) to a branch and dove into the water for a swim. He suddenly felt something grabbing him by the right shoulder that hauled him down toward the bottom. He continued swimming down and managed to get away from the crocodile. Eventually he was able to get away and went to the shore once he was sure the crocodile was not following him. Once out of the water he was able to see the blood flowing from the wounds left behind by the attack, in addition to the many puncture wounds in his skin. He added that he was sure it was a crocodile that attacked him. According to Adrián he decided to just go home to rest, but the next day the pain in his shoulder was practically unbearable and he could not move it. It was then when relatives decided to take him to the Hospital Nicolás A. Solano, where they dressed his wounds, gave him antibiotic injections, as well as pills for pain and fever. Some of the wounds are still open and bleeding and must be constantly dressed. Adrián says he is not afraid of going back into the water or to return to fishing, although he is aware that the site of the attack is infested with crocodiles and it is necessary to take some precautions. For now, says Adrián, he will not go back to work until he has recovered from the attack. His friends have changed his nickname to the "Crocodile Hunter." (Photo Credit: La Critica)

By Melquíades Vásquez for the Panama America - National Police units caught a 2-meter long crocodile in Santiago, Veraguas, after it tried to attack a dog that was tied up outside of a house. The dog's owners were away at the time of the attack. The crocodile was found in the neighborhood of La Luz and residents of the area said this same crocodile has eaten other dogs and chickens in the area. Resident Beatriz Villar said the crocodile came as far as the door of her house trying to eat a dog. When she heard the dog barking she looked outside and saw the crocodile that had it's mouth open and was about to eat the dog. She immediately called the police whose units managed to control the animal. They then waited for ANAM officials to arrive to return the animal to its natural habitat. RECOMMENDATIONS: Authorities would like to inform the community that if they see one of these animals near their houses they should not attempt to catch them. They should just close their doors and windows and the animal will move away from the house. Keep animals and children away, and call the police, ANAM, firemen or SINAPROC. (Photo Credit: Melquíades Vásquez / EPASA)

By Chris Kraul for the Los Angeles Times - SAN CARLOS, PANAMA - A marine mammal theme park proposed by a group of ex-Sea World executives for this isolated stretch of Western Panama has been stalled by animal rights activists who claim "swim with the dolphins" attractions are cruel and anti-environmental. Business and local government boosters say the project could help transform this impoverished region into a tourist mecca by creating jobs and fueling foreign investment. The area "could become the next Orlando," said Mark Simmons, formerly a senior dolphin trainer at the Sea World parks and now executive vice president of Wildlife International Network, the Orlando, Fla., company proposing the project. They see a huge regional market primed by Central and South Americans who, because of tighter restrictions, have been unable to get tourist visas to the United States. But a coalition of 65 environmental and animal rights groups and activists, including Greenpeace, Humane Society International and Jacques Cousteau's granddaughter Alexandra, sees the proposal as a crucial test in protecting dolphins from exploitation. (more)

BY CHRIS KRAUL for the Los Angeles Times SAN CARLOS, Panama -- A marine mammal theme park proposed by a group of ex-Sea World executives for this isolated stretch of western Panama has been stalled by animal rights activists who claim ''swim with the dolphins'' attractions are cruel and anti-environmental. Business and local government boosters say the project could help transform this impoverished region into a tourist Mecca by creating jobs and fueling foreign investment. The area ''could become the next Orlando,'' said Mark Simmons, formerly a senior dolphin trainer at Sea World parks and now executive vice president of Wildlife International Network, the Orlando-based company proposing the project. They see a huge regional market primed by Central and South Americans who, because of tighter restrictions, have been unable to get tourist visas to the United States. But a coalition of 65 environmental and animal rights groups, including Greenpeace, Humane Society International and Jacques Cousteau's granddaughter Alexandra, sees the proposal as a crucial test in protecting dolphins from exploitation. (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Having a skunk in your garbage can turn into a vexing proposition. There's almost no way to deal with the problem without coming away smelling like both skunk and garbage. If you ignore the problem until the morning you'll find your garbage has been spread all over the backyard, that it all smells like skunk, and you're out there cleaning it up. Back in the summer of 1975 we had a regular visitor, a huge striped skunk, "Stinky", who became a regular at the backyard buffet. Dad first called the police station, who laughingly suggested "stop feeding him so well." Taking that advice to heart, and being a mechanically oriented problem solver, he devised an array of physical defenses to include a metal garbage can rack to keep the cans upright, bungee cords over the top to keep the lids on, and motion sensor lights to deprive "Stinky" the cover of darkness. While these perfectly humanitarian (or is it skunkatarian) methods proved successful, "Stinky" just moved 120 feet south, and our problem got pushed off on the neighbors. (more)

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(