By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - On Sunday I took my daughter Sarah, who is now five years old, to the Summit Zoo. The Zoo has been getting better over the years, and it's in better shape now than it has been in a long time. It's a good thing, because I went there once about ten years ago and the animals were being kept in very bad conditions. It seems like Summit now has more funding and resources and it's clearly improving. If you go wear comfortable shoes - the park is very big and you will be doing a lot of walking. Bring a backpack to carry bottles of water, Gatorade, or other drinks to keep yourself hydrated. This is a great family outing - there are parks and playground areas for the kids to burn off excess energy. There's some food available from vendors at the park, and you can bring your own food, coolers, or what have you. Many people go there just to hang out, spend the day, do picnics or whatever. Please don't feed the animals while at the Zoo, but you can have a pack of cookies in your hand. Rattle that and many of the animals will come running to the front of the cage, making them more cooperative subjects for photography. The Summit Zoo is located on the road to Gamboa. If you click on this link a Google Earth placemark will download to your computer. Open that file and Google Earth will "fly" you right to the Summit Zoo. One weird note about the park - it only costs $1.00 to get in, kids are free, and retirees are 50 cents - but for some strange reason they only give the "jubilado" discounts to Panamanian citizens. I know, that's wrong and illegal, but I wasn't about to get into a pissing contest with the entrenched woman who was selling tickets over a mere 50 cents. Whatever, just so you know going in. Here's a video taken at the park.

Question Received Via Email: "Good morning, Do you know the cost of a taxi to and from the zoo from downtown Panama City? Lets say the Torres de Alba. It would would be nice for visitors to know so they do not get miss information from a taxi driver. (Gringo'ed) Especially getting back to their hotel. Thanks, Jim." I don't know - maybe ten or fifteen bucks? It might be a better deal to just rent a car for a day and drive yourself. It's a pretty long haul out there, and then you have to catch a ride back. If you're doing it on a budget I know there are buses you can catch at the bus terminal in Albrook to go to Gamboa. So, bus to Albrook then bus to Summit - about a buck or two total or less than five round-trip.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - There's a great new documentary video available about the Spay Panama organization. The mission of this charity organization is to spay and neuter as many stray animals as possible, to reduce the number of unwanted animals wandering the streets in the Republic of Panama. Spay Panama has trained more than 50 volunteer veterinarians who perform the surgeries on the animals. They've spayed tens of thousands of animals since they started in 2001. This is a wonderful volunteer organization, and I encourage you to help their efforts in any way possible. About the video, from their website: "Recently, Kim Best of North Carolina, a documenter and videographer, visited our clinic in Panama City, Panama. In this fantastic video, she captures "The Good, The Best, and The Better" of Spay Panama. Included, is narrating by founder and president of Spay Panama, Pat Chan."

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The Ministry of Health in Los Santos confirmed the death yesterday of an 84 year old woman who died in the Valle de Tonosí as a result of a killer bee attack. It was concluded she had been stung more than 500 times. The information was confirmed by the Regional Director of the Ministry of Health in the province, Kenya Zambrano, who said the woman was attacked in her home located in the community of Buenos Aires, area of El Bebedero, in the district of Tonosí. Zambrano said the woman was taken to the rural hospital in Tonosí and from there she was taken to the Joaquín Pablo Franco Sayas hospital in Las Tablas, where she died as the result of the hundreds of bee stings to her body. In recent days in the area, according to locals, there have been many swarms of bees that have been moving from one place to another and are located near residences. It is the third case in the past five years in which a death has been reported, caused by the attack of Africanized bees in Los Santos. The first two were in 2007 in the community of Purio of Pedasi. The second was recorded in 2009 in the community of Las Cruces Los Santos, when a swarm of bees attacked a 90 year old man, causing a painful death. (Mi Diario)

Editor's Comment: The dry season is just starting to kick in, so possibly the movements and activities of these swarms of Africanized bees might be related in some way to the weather? That's just a hunch on my part. In any case, heads up and be aware for the potential for swarms.   

(UPI) -- Small monkey groups may win territorial disputes with larger groups because some members of the larger groups avoid aggressive encounters, U.S. researchers say. Scientists working at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute say individual monkeys in large groups who will participate in defending their home territory often choose not to participate in conflicts in which the larger group is the invader, giving smaller groups a "home field" advantage.

Researchers used recorded vocalizations to simulate territorial invasions into the ranges of wild white-faced capuchin monkey groups at the Smithsonian research station on Barro Colorado Island in Panama.

Monkeys responded more vigorously to territorial challenges near the center of their territories and were more likely to flee in encounters near the borders, they found, and defection by members of larger groups was more common than defection by members of smaller groups.

These behavior patterns even the balance of power among groups and may explain how large and small groups are able to coexist, the researchers said.   

Dolphins keep getting stranded on the beach along the coast of El Puerto de Guararé, as was the case two days ago when residents of this beach were able to save one female and one male. José Dimas Sanchez, a merchant at the port, managed, along with other residents, to lead two dolphins that were still alive offshore so they could survive. These two dolphins had some injuries and the residents assume they came as a result of changes in ocean currents or by strong waves. It should be noted you can see dolphins in the area of Pedasi, specifically when traveling to Isla Iguana. (Dia a Dia)

   

#Panama - A mutt named "Pele police" that has been living for years in the police substation in Brisas del Golf was killed this morning when he was shot four times by a resident in the area. According to reports, the dog tried to mate with a bitch, and when he was caught by the owner, the resident became infuriated and decided to shoot the dog. The man was arrested and now faces charges of animal cruelty and for carrying a weapon with the expired permit. The officers at the police headquarters in Brisas del Golf were saddened by the fact, that "Pele Police," as they affectionately called him, was always with them. (TVN)

Editor's Comment: Apparently the dog that was living at the police station was a mutt, and the female (bitch) owned by the resident was a pure breed of some kind. The guy shot four times, but apparently only one of the bullets struck the dog, killing it. Obviously this animal was not a working police dog but rather more of a mascot. And how dumb do you have to be to blow away the police dog mascot using a handgun with an expired license? He should have just kept his bitch in heat inside of the house. Maybe he could give one of the pups to the cops?    

Farmers in the province of Bocas del Toro are concerned because ten head of cattle have died mysteriously. The cattlemen believe the cause might be a virus. The cause of death is unknown, which is why many veterinarians will travel to the province to examine the cattle and the surroundings. The ten cattle that died had been properly vaccinated. The lungs and trachea (of the cattle) were the most affected with a possible virus. (Dia a Dia)

   

A hive of Africanized bees has frightened some families in the area of ​​Maria Eugenia, in Chilibre. Yesterday, Iris Rodriguez, 19, was sting on several parts of the body, forcing her family members to bring her to the Santo Tomas hospital in Panama City. Residents of the area near the spot where the hive is located complain they have asked for support from the authorities to have it removed, however their requests have gone unanswered. They said they contacted the fire department, who recommended they should spray the hive with soapy water. (Siglo)

   

By Phil Gast (CNN) -- Having spent their 14 years undernourished and overcrowded, Elena, Kaitlyn and Alyssa heard the roar of other rescued African lions Wednesday and got an introduction to their new surroundings in Colorado. The siblings arrived at the Wild Animal Sanctuary, about 30 miles northeast of Denver, officials said. The lionesses had spent their entire lives in a fairgrounds zoo in La Chorrera, outside Panama City. The sanctuary helped rescue the lionesses at the behest of the Panamanian government and its National Environmental Authority, said Pat Craig, executive director of the sanctuary in Keenesburg. At between 200 and 225 pounds, the lionesses weigh about half of what they should. "Nobody really took care of them," Craig said. "They got no medical attention." Non-governmental organizations ran the fairgrounds for years as a way to raise money, Craig said.

The lionesses usually were housed in a 6-foot-by-8-foot concrete and steel cage in a zoo at the fairgrounds. "These three girls didn't have a family structure," Craig said. "It was more or less that they were isolated for (nearly) 15 years." Wednesday afternoon, they were in a 1,500-square-foot temporary area at the sanctuary. "They are in their enclosure, and they are resting comfortably," according to Craig. "They are enjoying the space."

He expects that the lionesses will eventually join a pride of lions that were rescued in Bolivia. "African lions are the only cats that have a strong instinct to live together," Craig said. In February, 25 lions rescued from harrowing conditions at circuses in Bolivia were flown to the sanctuary, where they live uncaged. The flight, part of an Animal Defenders International operation, followed the passage of a Bolivia 2009 law that bans the use of any animals in circuses. The sanctuary built an 80-acre fenced site for the lions, which are split into four prides, Craig said. "They all have practically doubled their weight" in the past seven months. The 720-acre sanctuary of rolling grasslands, split into habitats, houses about 300 large carnivores, including bears, tigers and other big cats.

Most of the lions have a lifespan of about 21 to 23 years, double their expected longevity in the wild. That's largely because they have no predators or competition from within their population. Lionesses receive estrogen implants so they won't go into heat. That also reduces the competition and fighting among males. FedEx carried the felines from Panama to Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday and then to Denver early Wednesday.   

#Panama - A better life. Yesterday the three lionesses that were born and lived for 16 years at the zoo in the fair of La Chorrera, departed Panama bound for the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Denver, Colorado, USA. Pat Craig, of the Wild Animal Sanctuary, said the lionesses are underweight, their coats are in poor condition, and they have health problems. He said the lions should weigh 500 pounds and not 250. It costs about $8,000 per year to properly feed each lion. The transfer of the lions began at 7:00 am. They were were put to sleep and quickly driven to the cargo terminal of the Tocumen International Airport. It was necessary to use a police escort, because of the traffic jams.

Concerned about them - This relocation was made possible thanks to the chiricano Emilio Knox, who has been living in the United States for more than 30 years, and who promotes the creation of new laws to protect abused animals. Another who helped was the Englishman Nigel Cosans. The wildlife expert, who works for Fox television and National Geographic, made a video of the transfer and the arrival of the lionesses at the sanctuary. He said in one year might this documentary might be shown by the National Geographic Channel.

In better condition - The lionesses will be living in a pen five times larger than where they were in La Chorrera, and they will be with other lions. Edgar Chacón, National Director of Protected Areas and Wildlife of the ANAM, said the rest of the animals at the zoo were removed and taken to other zoos in the country. (Dia a Dia)   

The National Environmental Authority (ANAM) and the Association of Friends of Animals and Nature, came on Tuesday, 27 September 2011, to transfer three African lions that were in captivity at the zoo on the grounds of the fair of La Chorrera. The lionesses - who delighted the audience for 20 years as one of the major attractions - will be transferred to the Denver Zoo in the United States. This conclusion was reached after the Association of Friends of Animals and Nature undertook legal proceedings for the transfer, because the animals were in bad shape here in Panama. However, other animals (lizards, wild ducks and others) in the place also will be transferred to the Summit Park in Panama, because the authorities consider that the place became a prison for animals, rather than a sanctuary, because they did not receive the necessary care or adequate food for their survival. The President of the Fair of La Chorrera, Yuzaida Marin, who was in the place, cried when the lionesses were put to sleep to be introduced into boxes for easy portability. She strongly opposed the action. (Estrella)

Editor's Comment: In my humble opinion, if you're going to keep a wild animal in captivity, then you assume the responsibility of adequately caring for said animal. The Zoos in the United States are normally world class, and without a doubt these three lions will receive much better care than what they were receiving here in Panama. Panama does not have a First World zoo. They have Third World zoos. At one point, many years ago, I left the Summit zoo after chewing out the manager due to the atrocious conditions in which the animals were being kept. I think zoos are great things, especially for young children, so they can see and learn about animals. However, this simply has to be done in a responsible manner. I would like to see the government of Panama step up and make a commitment to having a World Class zoo. I also think Panama would be a great place for a World Class aquarium. Imagine the best and largest and most interesting aquarium located in Panama City, right at the end of the Causeway. With fish and creatures from both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as freshwater animals from Lake Gatun. Panama needs an attraction such as this. But if you're going to do a zoo they either do it right, or don't do it at all.   

The motorists, pedestrians, and residents of the area surrounding Via España witnessed a macabre scene this morning, when they saw dozens of dead birds falling from trees and electrical poles. It is believed they could have been poisoned, because several grains of corn were found scattered in an area where a group of neighbors and workers usually feed them bread, who are delighted in the company of birds. It is presumed that whoever left the poisoned food for the birds did so in the early morning hours, because the birds started to fall to the ground starting at 5:00 am. They fell to the sidewalks and on the road, and some were crushed by vehicles. Cleanup workers from nearby businesses began removing the bodies of the birds, while residents of nearby neighborhoods reported the bodies of dead pigeons on balconies and in yards. (Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: One man's "cute little bird" is another man's "flying shit machine". Some people like to feed the pigeons, but it looks like someone got tired of cleaning bird crap off of their Lexus. Personally speaking, while I don't particularly like pigeons, putting out poisoned food for them is simply evil. There are other ways to go about address issues of pests without killing dozens of birds. Stop feeding them and they'll go away. Who knows, maybe the person who killed them got tired of asking nicely? And if there are dozens of birds crapping all over your stuff all day long, you can bet that whoever was feeding them never had to clean up one square inch of bird shit. Whatever. When I see a pigeon, I think "flying rat."   

The presence of a giant boa constrictor in the waters of Gatun Lake near the village of Escobal in the province of Colon has caused much fear among the fishermen and locals who bathe in these waters. Luis Montero, 22, who hunts lizards and crocodiles, was the first to see the reptile, and he said he has seen all sorts of marine animals, but the boa has left him paralyzed (with fear). (Critica)

Editor's Comment: Anacondas can grow to as much as 25 feet in length, but when explorers first started going into the jungles of South America, there were reports of snakes reaching 50' or more, although none of those have been scientifically verified. An article appeared in the Panama America newspaper back in March 2011, saying that an Anaconda had reportedly escaped from an American in Arenosa, and it now lives in Lake Gatun.

   

Five cows were killed in the community of Penonomé in Coclé when they were struck by lightening, a situation that worries the residents. The rancher lost $1,500 per head with the deaths of these animals. They said this was not the first time this has happened, so they ask the Ministry of Agricultural Development and other entities to protect the animals. The owners of the cows used a backhoe to bury them, to prevent disease. (TVN)

Editor's Comment:What? Your cows get struck by lightening so you ask the government to protect them? This is a perfect example of what happens when people get it in their heads that the government will do everything for them. Ridiculous. Whatever. Anyway, watch out for lightening. Or die.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hi! I read the article about looking for blood donations for Sean Jordan. I am also looking for blood donations of O- only at the Instituto Onocologicol Nacional (ION) or as older expats know it as Gorgas Hospital in Ancon. I am having surgery on August 9 and this being PANAMA they have royally screwed up my name on all the paperwork (LOL). The information required to be given to the blood bank there is: Mary Dyce Jhonson Passport number 157156810. They would also need to get a receipt for the donation in my name and email it to me. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! THANKS!! Mary & Matt." *Notice* - The name is spelled wrong at the hospital, so you will have to give it to them "wrong" to make sure that it gets credited to the correct account. Best of luck.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

A swarm of Africanized bees spread terror in the neighborhood of "El Gringo" in Arraiján, where thousands of them attacked dogs, cats and rabbits, killing some of them. Several people were also stung by the angry insects. Aixa Jiron, a resident of El Gringo said when she realized the situation she called the firemen in Arraiján for help, but the request was not granted. "A firefighter who answered the call told me they do not have the required equipment and they were not going to risk their lives," she said. The woman criticized the lack of attention on the part of the firemen, who she blames for the death of her four dogs, which were attacked by the Africanized bees. "The swarm was between sheets of zinc and it pounced on them, covering them completely," recalled Mrs. Jiron, noting that even she was bitten when he tried to save their animals. The firemen arrived the next day to burn part of the swarm and spray it with soapy water. The woman has one of her dogs at the vets, trying to save its life, however she has already buried two others that died in the garage of the house. Secundina Cruz, also a resident of the area, said her animals were attacked. One rabbit died and a dog is in serious condition. "My husband's hands are swollen from bites," said Cruz.

About what happened, a source of the Arraiján Fire Department said in fact they actually do not have the equipment required to handle calls about swarms of bees, but that once they could, they moved to the site to provide the aid. He said that aid is not denied to any person who calls and requests help, and he said they respond to about eight calls each month for Africanized bees. Ricardo Jaramillo, Fire Department spokesman, confirmed that the fire department has not received the equipment required to deal with these kinds of emergencies in more than 20 years, and they are waiting for new orders which have already been processed. (El Siglo)

Editor's Comment: Africanized bees are a fact of life in Panama. Practically every honey bee you see belongs to a larger colony that could kill you if it decides to. When you see a bee, any bee, simply leave him alone. If you find yourself in a swarm get the hell out of there. You should also review this document - What To Do If Attacked By Africanized Honey Bees.   

More than 20 cattle in the northern sectors of Penonomé and Anton have been attacked by vampire bats, a situation which has alarmed farmers who fear an outbreak of rabies in cattle. Loma Grande in Chiguirí Arriba and El Valle de Anton are some of the most affected. Alexis Tenorio, a resident of El Valle, who looks after cattle in Loma Grande, said the situation is very alarming in the sense that the vampires are attacking every night. He indicated that on the estate of Carlos Grimaldo, 20 cattle have been bitten. The farmers are afraid of these attacks. Domingo Ruiz, a resident of Chiguirí, said the community fears being the victim of vampires, because they are only seeking a meal of blood. Joseph Lizardo Pacheco, director of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), Cocle, announced they will inspect the area and provide assistance as necessary to control these mammals, but clarified that these animals can only be caught when the moon is full. 'We will make a strong campaign to capture vampires on the 20th and 21st of this month," he said. The MIDA veterinarian Romel Rosas said farmers have invaded tropical wildlife areas susceptible to the bites of vampires, and this has influenced the registration of these cases. Rosas said that the bite of an infected bat may carry rabies, a disease that is fatal in cattle. (El Siglo)

   

By BRYSON VOIRIN - Bryson Voirin, a doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany and a fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, writes from Panama, where he is studying sleep in wild frigate birds.

Saturday, May 14 - We are still unable to download the sleep data recorded from our first flying frigate bird because seawater penetrated the sleep logger. Our research project, which is to try to discover whether frigate birds can sleep while flying, is dependent on these miniaturized computers to record the birds’ brain waves. Our first attempt to create a breathable and waterproof housing for the loggers worked well in the laboratory, but failed under field conditions.

The zinc air batteries we’re using to power the neurologgers require a small but steady flow of oxygen in their chemical reaction to provide electrical current. It’d be easy to simply use some anaerobic lithium batteries and vacuum-pack the loggers airtight like a frozen turkey. But the even smallest lithium batteries are huge compared with the tiny zinc air ones. On a flying bird, even one extra gram can have a significant effect, so we’re making every effort to keep the mass at an absolute minimum. This weight issue is an ongoing battle for any field scientist tagging and tracking wildlife. (more)



   Click Here To Read The Full Article (762 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Maple bacon, steak, chicken covered in cheese, what's not to like?

You Know What's Coming: The best part about this video, is as soon as you see these jerks in action, you pretty much know how it's going to end ... hilarious.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The transfer of a fund of $4.8 million dollars to provide continuity to an elite program for exchanging information between Panama and the United States was approved by the Budget Committee of the National Assembly, to the Ministry of the Presidency. This move was questioned by opposition PRD lawmaker Benicio Robinson, who did not hide his concern that this program will be used to monitor telephone calls or to intercept text messages sent on BlackBerry telephones. "They have tapped the phones of lawmakers, of politicians, but I hope this is to strengthen security and not to be approving intelligence services from the Israelis that the country does not know about," he warned. The $4.8 million dollars was segregated from the budget allocated to the project of Metro Line 1 for fiscal 2010. Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of the Presidency, Maria Fabrega, denied that the strengthening of security looks to intercept telephone calls, nor did she respond to statements made by the former U.S. ambassador to Panama in Wikileaks, but said it was to to bring better security control to prevent drug trafficking and weapons. (La Critica)

Editor's Comment: Panama is going to spend $4.8 million dollars on a system to improve information sharing with the United States? And according to the Ministry of the Presidency (who is getting the money) it's a system to combat drug trafficking and weapons smuggling. Hmmm. Well, it could be that Panama is getting tied into a regional intelligence network that's being built, with most of the money coming from the US, but each local country has to put up a part to participate.    

A huge crocodile was captured in the Colon Free Zone by security agents who were guarding the warehouses in the area of France Field. The reptile was captured near a site where thousands of workers pass daily. According to reports from security agents in this sector there are many reptiles in the area that endanger workers. (TVN Noticias)

   

The Owl who was kicked by the player Panamanian Luis Moreno, a member of Deportivo Pereira, died today despite efforts by the veterinary staff that dealt with the case. The Country Veterinary Clinic in Barranquilla confirmed the death of the bird at 2:57 am on Tuesday. The report issued by the veterinarian Camilo Tapia said stress and perhaps muscle problems were the likely causes of death, reported the webpage rcnradio.com. "The owl had respiratory complications in the afternoon yesterday and this involved the transfer to a veterinary clinic with better equipment," said the vet. After its death the situation for the Panamanian player, rejected by thousands of Colombians, worsens. Moreno could face up to 45 days in jail, because a legal process has been opened against him for animal abuse. Animal advocates who protested outside the offices of the Division Mayor del Futbol Profesional Colombiano (Dimayor) in Bogotá require that the Panamanian Luis "Lucho" Moreno be withdrawn from the Deportivo Pereira and Colombia's professional soccer. (La Estrella)

Editor's Comment: What a friggin' moron. That was a real bone-headed thing to do. The only way for Luis Moreno to deal with this is to face up to it, apologize a thousand times, admit the fact that he screwed up royally, accept responsibility, beg for forgiveness, and wait for the media frenzy to die down. While he's waiting he should read Michael Vick's book about dog ownership, the humane treatment of animals, and sports professionals.    

Deportivo Periera defender Luis Moreno made thousands of enemies when he ran up and kicked an owl during a game against Atletico Junior Barranquilla. The owl was Junior Barranquilla's mascot, and had flown down and landed on the pitch after getting hit by the ball during the game's 28th minute. The video clearly shows Luis Moreno run up and kick the owl, which did not provoke him in any way. The crowd went berserk, and Moreno was escorted off the field so he wouldn't be assaulted by any Junior players or their fans, who were chanting, "¡Asesino! ¡Asesino! ¡Asesino!" ("Murderer! Murderer! Murderer!") The Owl survived the assault, however, and is recuperating at a veterinary clinic. According to El Heraldo, the owl suffered no broken bones, and has its right leg in a splint to deal with a minor fracture. Rojiblancos fans hope that the owl will soon return to his home atop Roberto Melendez Stadium. Luis Moreno made no new friends with his explanation of why he ran up and kicked the owl. "I apologize to the fans, it wasn't my intention, I did it to see if the owl could fly," said Moreno after the game, which he left amid a heavy police guard. The Pereira player explained he did it to rid the field of the bird as quickly as possible. Source: colombiareports.com

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

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Editor's Comment: - That's the headline as it appeared in La Critica) A bill that sets new fines of between $50 to $5,000 dollars for disposing of waste in any public place, or waste which should be placed in plastic bags, tanks, baskets or other containers for refuse collection purposes was proposed by National Assembly Deputy from the People's Party (PP), Irene Gallego. The fines would be applied to any person who scratches walls of and public or private buildings, as well as those who deposit human or animal feces in public places. In all cases, the offender would not only be required to pay the fine, but would also be made to clean the affected area. If the offender is a minor, the parents or guardians would be responsible for the fine. In the case of pets, both the owner and the person responsible for the custody of the animal are collectively responsible. (La Critica)

Editor's Comment: The original title of this article in La Critica is "Hasta B/ 5 mil por cagar en la calle"   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "The 3rd Grand Bazaar by Animal Angels (Angeles de los Animales, Panama) This fund-raising Bazaar is being held to raise funds needed to be able to continue the work of helping animals in need. This year's activity will have greater reach and impact, with an estimated attendance of 1000 to 1500 people. The craft pavilion will have 40 to 50 participating craftswomen and men displaying their creations. This is a fund-raising event, and the idea is to increase the awareness of the general public about the needs and suffering of stray animals, and also to let people know about the associations, foundations and groups that are working on behalf of animal welfare here in Panama. Place: The Totumas, ATLAPA Date: Sunday November 21, 2010, Time: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Admission: $ 2.00 for adults and $ 1.00 for seniors, pensioners and children under 12yrs. Please come and enjoy seeing some beautiful hand-made arts and crafts, and feel good knowing that you will be helping to bring an end to the daily misery endured by homeless cats and dogs!"

Copyright 2010 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By TIM ROGERS for Time - When supermarket tycoon Ricardo Martinelli was running for president of Panama in 2009, he cleverly embraced the nickname his critics had given him — el loco (the crazy man) — and spun it into a campaign slogan: "We crazies are the majority!" By claiming ownership, Martinelli disarmed some of the less than flattering stories about his temperament and was swept into office with a convincing 60% of the vote. But a year-and-a-half after Martinelli took office with promises to make Panama a first-world country, critics claim el loco is living up to his billing. Opponents claim the grocer-turned-president is becoming increasingly authoritarian and arbitrary. His alleged abuse of the separation of powers, disregard for labor rights and the environment, and intolerance toward protest have some analysts wondering if Panama's young democracy is sliding back toward its strongman past.

The president's management style was evident with the passage of a controversial reform to the labor code that included a slew of other legislative odds and ends — an over-stuffed document that was appropriately dubbed "The Sausage Law." At Martinelli's direction, the bill, which was packaged as a measure to develop commercial aviation, was rammed through the congressional sausage grinder without any serious debate during an extraordinary weekend session held last June while the rest of the country was distracted by the World Cup. Confusion and labor unrest followed the ratification, leading to a 10-day labor strike by banana workers in the western border region of Changiunola who feared it would limit their right to organize in unions, bargain collectively and protest. Police clashed violently with the mostly indigenous banana workers, leaving at least two dead and more than 100 injured.

"After the elections, Martinelli started to show his claws," says Mitchell Doens, secretary-general of the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). "He thinks he can run the country like he runs a supermarket. But it's one thing to govern a country, and it's another thing to order people around in a supermarket." The criticism is ironic because the PRD produced anti-democratic military leaders Gen. Omar Torrijos and Gen. Manuel Noriega. But, says Doens, Martinelli is like Noriega because he "doesn't respect constitutional guarantees and doesn't respect the rules of democracy.

According to political analyst Arturo Cruz, a professor of politics at Latin America's INCAE Business School, the Panamanian president's "authoritarian tendencies" in politics are consistent with his behavior in the private sector. "This is a man of great wealth who was ruthless in business and then created his own successful political party. He has an incredible sense of self and believes he can get away with anything he wants." Heather Berkman, a political risk analyst for the Washington, D.C.-based Eurasia Group, says Martinelli's supermarket-style of "mercurial micromanagement " has made him a wildcard in government. "The strong influence that Martinelli's personality has on policymaking contributes to a level of uncertainty regarding decisionmaking."

A Panamanian of Italian descent, the U.S.-educated Martinelli is the owner of Panama's Super 99 supermarket chain and several other successful businesses. Though he held two government posts under previous administrations, he was viewed as a political outsider when he ran for president in 2009 on the ticket of the Democratic Change party, which he organized in 1998 to run for the presidency. Critics say he has used his office and a campaign to curb corruption to go after his political enemies. They accuse his government of tapping phone lines and detaining activists without due cause. Press freedom watchdogs have criticized Martinelli's government for cracking down on freedom of expression by threatening and attacking reporters, both verbally and physically.

Critics say that Martinelli's strong-arm policies have deep roots in history. Despite Panama's robust economy (which has a bit of a first-world glimmer), the political system is still stuck with third world habits. "This government is very tropical," says leftist activist and university economics professor Juan Jovane. "And you can't become a first world country without democracy."

Yet Martinelli seems to respond to pressure — both internal and external. Harsh international criticism led the president to suspend the labor reform law and negotiate with union leaders and other sectors. As a result of those talks, Martinelli announced Oct. 11 that his government will scrap the "Sausage Law" and replace it with six less objectionable bills. Meanwhile, after news that his approval rating had dropped 40 points over the last year, he is apparently trying out a kinder and gentler approach to having his way. For example, on Oct. 6, he pardoned two TV journalists who were sentenced to a year in jail for defaming an ex-government official.

Congressman Hugo Moreno, a leader of the Panamenista Party allied with the president's ruling coalition, says that Martinelli has on "various occasions" invited other politicians to a working breakfast to exchange ideas and consult on various projects. Moreno says Martinelli's decisions don't always seem to reflect those breakfast consultations, but says "That's why we pay him to be president." The business sector also defends Martinelli — even if in relative terms. Armel Gonzalez, a Nicaraguan land developer who left his native country in 2007 after Sandinista officials allegedly tried to extort $4 million from one of his projects, says doing business in Panama is easy by comparison. "The problem in Latin American countries is there is a lot of disorder and abuse. So when a leader comes along and imposes order, the criticism begins automatically. But he's doing an excellent job," says Gonzalez.

Doing an excellent job by Nicaraguan standards, however, may not be the threshhold Panamanians expected Martinelli to aim for. Since voting el loco into office, most of Panama now has a lower tolerance for political craziness.

Editor's Comment: Excuse me? Please cite the poll that showed Martinelli's approval rating dropping by 40 percent. As far as I know, it didn't happen. He hit a high of like 85% right after the election, dropped during the whole Law 30 thing, and has since recovered to almost 70% approval rating. This article is HIGHLY biased against the right-leaning businessman Ricardo Martinelli, not even slightly surprising considering that it comes from the "left of Stalin" Time Magazine. Innocent readers won't know that the PRD Secretary General Mitchell Doens is Martinelli's hated political nemesis - who would say or do anything if it would harm Martinelli's political position. At least they did identify Juan Jovane as a "leftist activist" - but they failed to say that he's practically a communist who is the de-facto head of the Hugo Chavez loving left-wing student groups at the University of Panama - all rabidly anti-American by the way. The article also failed to point out that it was PRD controlled judges in the JUDICIAL SYSTEM that sentenced the journalists in a political move to hurt Martinelli, who responded by issuing pardons (and for his trouble other politicians are even challenging those.) The reality on the ground in Panama is that for the most part Martinelli still enjoys an approval rating in the high 60's% range. The economy is flat-out kicking ass compared to the rest of Latin America and most of the rest of the world, for that matter. And, his plans and policies are just now getting started (with the Metro system, cleaning up the Bay of Panama, new buses, Panama Canal expansion ongoing, etc.) The real bulk of the good news has yet to hit. While there's no doubt that Martinelli has "strong man" tendencies - for the most part he's doing exactly what the public is demanding of him. This article focuses too much, in my opinion, on Martinelli's political critics and not enough on the vast majority who really like what he's doing. And, the author either didn't know or ignored the fact that the labor unions went to war over Law 30 because it threatened their ability to automatically collect union dues from everyone - even people who were not part of the union. Hello? Truth and fairness in reporting at Time magazine? I think not.   

By Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury - A PIGEON called Houdini lived up to the name after vanishing on a cross-Channel race and turning up in Central America – 5,200 miles from her Midland home. Owner Darren Cubberley, of Dudley, released the bird five weeks ago. But he was stunned after receiving a phone call from Panama City telling him Houdini was alive and well.   

It took officials from the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) and the Red Cross more than three hours to capture an enormous crocodile what as spotted in a water drainage ditch located in front of the passenger terminal of the Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport at Albrook. Spectators were left with their mouths hanging open when they saw the size of the animal. They first tried to capture it using a small nylon rope, but that proved to be insufficient for the task, and it broke under the weight of the animal. Eventually they were able to haul the crocodile onto dry land and load it into the back of a pickup truck. Officials said another crocodile was captured in the same area about three years ago. (Telemetro)

Please visit thislink to see video of the capture. This animal was probably more than three meters long, weighing in at about 800 pounds or so. Here, kitty, kitty...

   

Jeremy Hance (mongabay.com) With advanced genetic techniques, researchers have drawn a picture of just how devastating the currently extinction crisis for the world's amphibians has become in a new study published in the Proceedings of the Nation Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Studying frog populations using DNA barcoding in Panama's Omar Torrijos National Park located in El Copé researchers found that 25 known species and 5 unknown species have vanished since 1998. None have returned. Amphibians are threatened in many parts of the world by pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, over-exploitation, pesticides, and climate change, yet the big killer of the world's amphibians is disease: chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease, is wiping out frogs even in the world's most untouched habitats. To determine just how devastating chytridiomycosis has become, researchers with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) looked at the well-surveyed Omar Torrijos National Park in Panama. Surveys had discovered 63 species of frogs in the park prior to the disease's arrival. Using DNA barcoding, however, researchers were able to identify 11 species that had been unknown to science, bringing the total to 74 species. Five of the unknown species had also vanished due to the disease. The Panamanian marsupial frog, Hemiphractus fasciatus, is being tested for the amphibian-killer, chytridiomycosis. Image courtesy of Andrew J. Crawford. "It's sadly ironic that we are discovering new species nearly as fast as we are losing them," said Andrew Crawford, former postdoctoral fellow at STRI and member of the Círculo Herpetológico de Panamá, in a press release. "Our DNA barcode data reveal new species even at this relatively well-studied site, yet the field sampling shows that many of these species new to science are already gone here."

According to the paper, since arriving the disease has wiped out over 40 percent of the park's total amphibian species, and one-third of the amphibians' evolutionary history. "It's like the extinction of the dinosaurs. The areas where the disease has passed through are like graveyards; there's a void to be filled and we don't know what will happen as a result," says Karen Lips, associate professor at the University of Maryland and co-author. Lips established the first amphibian monitoring programs in the area after the crisis was discovered.

While DNA barcoding, which uses short genetic markers to quickly identify species, is not without its critics who call it unreliable in certain circumstances, it has become an increasingly popular tool for biological studies and conservation work. "This is the first time that we've used genetic barcodes—DNA sequences unique to a given species—to characterize an entire amphibian community," says Eldredge Bermingham, STRI director and co-author. "STRI has also done barcoding on this scale for tropical trees on in our forest dynamics-monitoring plot in Panama. The before-and-after approach we took with the frogs tells us exactly what was lost to this deadly disease—33 percent of their evolutionary history."

According to the IUCN Red List, 30 percent of the world' amphibians are threatened with extinction. Researchers say that in the very least 120 species of amphibians have vanished in the last three decades.

CITATION: Andrew J. Crawford, Karen R. Lips, and Eldredge Bermingham. Epidemic disease decimates amphibian abundance, species diversity, and evolutionary history in the highlands of central Panama. PNAS.   

The Office of the Kentucky State Veterinarian reports that during the second week in June, government officials in Panama reported two confirmed equine cases of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE). The report cited two deceased horses to be part of a group of 21 "village horses." Control measures include vaccination and movement restrictions. This preliminary information provides no evidence or suggestion that horses importing into Kentucky or the United States are at an elevated risk. The Office of the Kentucky State Veterinarian will continue to monitor the progression of the outbreak and associated investigation. VEE is a non-contagious viral infection of horses and other equids that can cause a severe and typically fatal encephalitis/encephalomyelitis, which is defined as an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. (thehorse.com)