2/10/17
Sam and Malik here, and we are reporting on Group Gryphon’s first two days at ITEC (Institute for Tropical Ecology, and Conservation). Following an early
Starfish beach
morning flight on Wednesday that gave us beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, our group arrived in Bocas del Toro, a province near Costa Rica well known for its lovely archipelago of islands. After a hearty breakfast and group exploration, we set off on a pleasant boat ride to Isla Colon, armed with our luggage, groceries, and Steve’s suspicious looking supply of Diet Coke.
Dr. Peter Lahanas is the head of ITEC, and an expert in almost all things tropical (ecology, anthropology, botany, etc.). Enrique is the field station manager, and Rosa is the cook she and daughters Julieta and Rosita help to prepare the delicious meals we get to enjoy. While at the Field Station, we have the chance to conduct on site field research, explore local coral reefs and rainforests, and totally immerse ourselves in the beautiful nature that surrounds us, both literally and intellectually. On our first day, we went on a 2-hr hike into the Mature Forest north of the station, where Dr.Pete talked about the incredible biodiversity that can be found in the area. On the hike, we saw Capuchin monkeys, Poison Dart Frogs, Snakes, and swarms of Butterflies- all of which pale in comparison to the gigantic spiders that hang right outside the boys dormitory. Following the group excursion and a delicious dinner of veggies, we headed to the bunk room for some early shut-eye.
Snorkeling at Starfish Beach
We started our second day here at ITEC with a breakfast cooked by Rosa followed by a seminar by Dr. Pete on the climate of Panama and the science of heat convection on the planet. Then we headed out on a motorboat for a snorkeling expedition at Starfish Beach, a reef where we were able to see starfish, coral, sea cucumbers and urchins, and flying fish. We got a look at the tourist economy in Panama; at the beach there were flocks of tourists, and Panamanians who offer food and drinks, trinkets, boat rides, and snorkeling trips. Upon returning (and after several showers) we headed inside and tried to identify some of the sea life we observed with the help of Steve, Pete, Chessie and several books. Tomorrow we hope to begin working on our final projects. Hasta Luego!