Cheyenne, the Harpy Eagle on display at the Summit Municipal Park since 2005, died Friday afternoon at the age of 51, after suffering from bone and cartilage wear of old age, said the Mayor of Panama. The city park's emblematic bird has been in the clinic since March 27, where he received all possible attention of the Mayor of Panama, the Board of Trustees Friends of the Eagle and other health professionals advised by predatory specialists from the United States, were watching over Cheyenne's health status, because the average lifespan of these birds is 40 to 50 years. The press release from the Municipal government says that for health reasons, Cheyenne could not appear in the last Festi Harpy in April, an activity in which the Mayor of Panama celebrates the adoption of Law 18 of 10 April 2002, that protects and provides the Harpy Eagle as the national bird of Panama. On 19 June 2012 the Director of Summit Park will travel to the United States to visit the Miami Metro Zoo and formalize the transfer of the Harpy eagle "Panama" to our country. (Estrella)

Residents of the community of the Las Garzas are concerned about the presence of a crocodile, which according to some is some 4 to 5 meters in length, located in a stream in the area. Residents call for support of the National Environment Authority, fearing the lizard may eat pets or attack children. The presence of wildlife near the villages occurs primarily due to the growth of human settlements encroaching on forest areas. (TVN)

Editor's Comment: Four or five meters? That's one big friggin' lizard.

In a note sent to the president of the National Assembly, Deputy Hector Aparicio, the President of the Republic Ricardo Martinelli announced his decision to partially veto Bill 308 of 2012. The note also explains some of the motivations of the presidential veto. Among them, said the President, is that from the title of the bill the aim is to protect domestic animals. However, this is a broad term, because besides dogs, cats, rabbits, parrots etc., there are also other animals such as cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and goats that live in close relationship with man. The difference is the emotional value to man for some of these animals. The President proposed that the title of the Bill should be "For Protection of Pets."

The international organizations for the protection of animals refer to and define pets as "those domestic animals that are not forced to work, nor are they used for food, but is retained for the purpose of providing company or for the enjoyment of their owners."

The President's veto referred to Chapter VI, relating to offenses and penalties, specifically in Article 15, which outlines what constitutes offenses against domestic animals, subject to criminal liability in such event, the following conduct: 1. Cause injury or death to a domestic animal through acts of abuse or cruelty. That failure under Article 16 of the bill establishes a penalty of fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), and community work.

This regulation establishes a dogmatic collision of character, because the same action or conduct is already sanctioned under Article 421 of the Penal Code, which states that "whoever by acts of cruelty, causes death or seriously injures an animal used as a pet shall be punished with a from one hundred to two hundred days/fine, or community work. That is to say, the same behavior is seen as a crime. (Dia a Dia)

Editor's Comment: When I was a kid growing up, both my father and my grandfather had the same rule when it came to using a gun in the woods - "if you kill it, you gotta eat it." The point was simple. If I wanted to blow away some poor little defenseless chipmunk for sport with a .22 just because I could, I had better like to eat chipmunk roasted over an open fire. The same thing went for turtles, frogs, snakes, birds, or anything else that moved in the woods. All domesticated animals should be taken care of responsibly, given adequate food and water, as well as shelter and medical treatment if necessary. If you take care of your animals, then they will take care of you. I personally don't get excited about bull fights or cock fighting and I understand those activities are cultural and probably came to Panama with the Spanish conquistadors 500 years ago. I eat both chicken and beef and I bet if the bull had a choice he would rather go down fighting, rather than taking a bolt-gun to the forehead. In Panama this Bill has become hotly contested and controversial, and apparently Martinelli is trying to do a tight-walk down the middle.

The National Environmental Authority of Panama and the Smithsonian Institute presented yesterday the "Plan of Action for the Conservation of Amphibians in Panama," which is the first step in a series of actions to cope with the decline of these animals in the country. Since the nineties, the amphibian population has been affected by a disease known as chytridiomycosis, caused by the Batrachochytrium Chytridiomycota fungus, which affects the skin by degrading keratin and ultimately perforations. This disease is responsible for 30% of the death of the species in the past 15 years worldwide, while in Panama, of the 197 species, about 50 are endangered. Therefore, this initiative is to join efforts to open a permanent log that allows the study of amphibian species preserve for the future. (Mi Diario)

The National Assembly yesterday approved Law 308 in the third and final debate, which seeks to safeguard and protect animals and domestic pets. This project is an initiative of the President of the Commission on Population, Environment and Development, National Assembly Deputy Victor Juliao III. The purpose of this law is to prevent, eradicate and punish mistreatment, neglect, and acts of cruelty against domestic animals. The document identifies the different types of abuse that these animals receive from their owners, and emphasized the fulfillment of their rights to be the best friends of man. These rights are based on the type or breed of animal, the natural longevity of the animal, as well as required care, attention, and protection; and consequently they should not be subjected to abuse or cruelty.

The principal right animals will have will be to have adequate food and nutrition, including a reasonable limitation of time and intensity of work, rest, and not be forced to work beyond the capabilities of their physical body. Owners who break the law or threaten the lives of animals can be fined from $500 to $1,000 dollars, based on items one and two of the law. Under Article 15, in numerals three, four, five and six, provides that the fines will range from $100 to $ 500. (Siglo)

Since 3 March 2012 Panamanian scientists have been conducting the first ever exploration to depths of 300 at the Hannibal Bank, located in the Special Marine Protection Zone of the Coiba National Park. The scientists, who will finish the expedition on Saturday, 10 March 2012, expect to be able to preliminarily describe the fauna of the depths of the Hannibal Bank seamount, to conduct a bio prospecting analysis, and increase the list of species of soft corals and other invertebrates known so far to science. Hector Guzman, a marine biologist at the Smithsonian in Panama, said the information generated from this examination will serve the country's authorities as support to ensure adequate protection of this habitat. "This first study on the fauna of the Hannibal Bank seeks to fill a void of information that today makes it more difficult to protect and manage," he said. During the exploration they will conduct traversals from depths of 300 meters to the highest point located 45 meters from the surface, recording high-resolution video to study the diversity, abundance and distribution of sessile organisms and macroinvertebrates, and aggregations of fish. (Siglo)

From the STRI Webpage: "Panama’s Coiba National Park, part of a major migration route for marine animals in the Tropical Eastern Pacific--from the Galapagos to Costa Rica’s Cocos Islands-- remains largely unexplored. From Mar. 4-10, Mission Blue, founded by Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, environmental advocate and National Geographic ‘Explorer In Residence,’ will explore Hannibal Bank, the top of an undersea mountain near Coiba Island. Mission Blue aims to use films, expeditions, the web and new submarines to create a campaign that ignites public support for a global network of marine protected areas—Hope Spots--large enough to save the blue heart of the planet. Scientists from the Smithsonian and from Panama’s government research institute, INDICASAT-AIP, as well as representatives of Panama’s Environmental Authority, ANAM and Marine Resources Authority, ARAP join the expedition. Follow our web posts and the links on this page for daily updates from the expedition."

Editor's Comment: Think of the Hannibal Bank as a big, underwater mountain. During this study the researchers will be running up and down the sides of that mountain using HD video to document all of the different species found there. But a word of caution. The Blog about the expedition on the STRI website, specifically - /blogs/biff - is infected with a JS/Iframe.BJ Trojan. So, surf with caution and with your raincoat on, if you must.

Fundacion Amigos de Animales Boquete, http://fadab.org/, was named Shelter of the Week by SPCA International, an organization dedicated to supporting the safety and well-being of animals worldwide. This grant was given in recognition of the outstanding work that our organization is accomplishing and to support our continued efforts in improving the lives of animals in our community. The award included a financial grant to FADAB and recognition of our work on their website: http://www.spcai.org/programs/shelter-of-the-week/item/686-fundacion-amigos-de-animales-boquete-boquete-chiriquie-rep-de-panama.html

Two students and a janitor at the Universidad Latina were attacked by Africanized bees, but suffered no major complications. The swarm was in one of the plants planted near the University building, so many of the administrative personnel, faculty and students left the classroom to get away from the building. A fireman from the Fire Department used a fire extinguisher charged with soapy water and a chemical on the swarm. (TVN)

Editor's Comment: All honey bees in Panama are Africanized, which means they are more aggressive and defensive. It there's a bee in your soda, it's his. Leave him alone and go get another one...

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)

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.