Costa Rica's Cocos Island Protects Marine Life (PHOTOS)

A new marine protected area has been created surrounding Costa Rica’s Cocos Island National Park, thanks to new protective measures supported by the country’s president. The area was formed to conserve the unique island’s ecosystem and protect nearby underwater mountains.

According to Conservation International, the area will protect threatened species like the scalloped hammerhead shark and the leatherback turtle -- the leatherback turtle population in Costa Rica has declined by 90% in the past 20 years, due partly to the illegal harvesting of eggs.

Conservation International’s Dr. Bryan Wallace states, “This new protected area gives us a better chance to ensure that these species will thrive for future generations to marvel at for many decades to come.”

All captions and photos courtesy of Conservation International.

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Hammerhead sharks, largely lost from much of their former range, are still found in schools numbering in the hundreds around Cocos Island. © Conservation International/ photo by Sterling Zumbrunn

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Hammerhead sharks, largely lost from much of their former range, are still found in schools numbering in the hundreds around Cocos Island.

© Conservation International/ photo by Sterling Zumbrunn

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Comments

[eyelashviper]

12:08 PM on 03/18/2011

The clouds that bring the daily rain to Cocos Island keep it green and luscious, but also make it one of the places on the planet with the highest number of lightning strikes.

[Cory111]

08:21 PM on 03/10/2011

I highly recommend Costa Rica. I have a friend that has a large ranch in Rio Chiquito, east of Canas. Green as green can be and truly friendly to its visitors. I was there in September and did hit some rain but not enough to spoil the day. Monkeys in the trees, active volcanoes, pristine beaches, good roads and delicious food.
China has poured billions of dollars into this countries infrastructure.

[melton244]

02:01 AM on 03/10/2011

I swam with a pod of about 100 whale sharks off of Cancan last summer, it was one of the highlights of my life! if you get the opportunity, do it!

[Debbie338]

02:18 PM on 03/09/2011

Costa Rica is light years ahead of the rest of Latin America in conservation. Ecotourism is a big part of their economy. Good for them!

[caroline gray]

02:13 PM on 03/09/2011

i love costa rica, stayed in the nicoya peninsula region...
i watched horrible shark fin trade videos from there...i hope they tackle this problem as well

[Paintio]

01:45 PM on 03/09/2011

Yeah, this is a beautiful place. We went there from the Drake Bay Resort which is a great place to stay, and the food was good, and there's monkeys.

[mlaiuppa]

01:44 PM on 03/09/2011

They better monitor the area to prevent poaching.

[robnelsong]

01:16 PM on 03/09/2011

I've been to Cocos Island four times since the 1980s to scuba dive and shoot underwater photography, and each time, there have been fewer sharks. In the 1980s, the hammerhead shark schools were enormous, and now, there are significantly fewer of these magnificent creatures. Thanks to the insatiable Asian appetite for shark fin soup, the formerly environmentally friendly Costa Rican government has sold out. By all means, visit Cocos Island while there are still a few hammerheads left to observe outside of a restaurant or aquarium.

[TricksR4Kids]

12:45 PM on 03/09/2011

Costa Rica used to be an amazing country. Then Americans showed up.

[Readbetweentheelevens]

01:36 PM on 03/09/2011

Any Country that doesn't have an Army will eventually be somebody's puppet.

[eyelashviper]

12:06 PM on 03/18/2011

Costa Rica did away with a standing army in the 1950's, due to the fact that most other nations in Latin America used their armies against the civilian population. Given the quality of life, culture, and habitat, Costa Rica has good reason to be called "The Switzerland of Latin America".
I have traveled throughout Costa Rica, and always felt safe and welcomed by the people; I know many people who have retired or relocated there and could not be happier.

[KarlaElisa]

01:45 PM on 03/09/2011

A theme repeated globally. Of course, prior to us it was the British, Spanish, French and Dutch running wild, colonizing and planting flags, raping and pillaging.

[aaronsgram]

12:26 PM on 03/09/2011

These pictures must look wonderful to the snow tired northerners. Summer is a comin, hopefully.

[JoeMentia]

11:41 AM on 03/09/2011

The waters around Costa Rica are one of the shark-finning capitals of the world. And they have gangs that will chase you with weapons if you dare to step foot near the docks where they are unloading their horrific cargo.

[batray]

11:37 AM on 03/09/2011

Cocos is a great place, but unfortunately fisherman still target sharks just outside the park, and inside as well when they think they won't get caught. You should see it now before it is gone. My pictures from my trip are at diver.net/cocos

[no exit]

11:13 AM on 03/09/2011

Beautiful! Thank you Costa Rica for protecting life in the sea.

[globality]

11:13 AM on 03/09/2011

If you want to swim with whale sharks I recommend Donsol Philippines (50$ 45 min flight from Manila). During March it is guaranteed you will see them.

Also the Eco-tourist project is very well run. 8 people max per shark. All well supervised and the revenues are shared in a fair manner.

[Paintio]

01:42 PM on 03/09/2011

Wow, I like that idea. Do you need scuba gear or does a snorkel do the trick?

[globality]

12:48 PM on 03/10/2011

No scuba allowed The fish swim inches away from you

[KarlaElisa]

01:46 PM on 03/09/2011

God I wish I could go do that. Those Whale Sharks are the most hypnotically beautiful creatures I've ever laid eyes on. (Well, in photos anyhow).

[LaurieAnn]

11:13 AM on 03/09/2011

Cocos Island looks like a lovely place.  For the sake of the wildlife I'll do my part to preserve it by staying away.  Humankind does not need to be everywhere.

[AKFALAR]

05:38 PM on 03/10/2011

We would love it if you also stayed away from Alaska, Hawaii and any place else.

[LaurieAnn]

06:48 PM on 03/10/2011

I try to only visit places that humankind has already ruined over the course of centuries.  So I have never visited either Hawaii or Alaska.