Fuel theft has become a significant challenge for Costa Rican authorities, with criminal organizations siphoning fuel illegally from the Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE) pipeline More than 600 agents from the Judicial Investigation Organism (OIJ) are conducting extensive operations to dismantle two criminal networks dedicated to fuel theft These efforts include 55 coordinated raids across Limón led by the Theft and Money Laundering divisions of the Judicial Police involves collaboration with the Assistant Prosecutors Against Drug Trafficking and Related Crimes and the Limón Prosecutor’s Office This effort includes 38 interventions targeting 18 individuals allegedly involved in fuel theft The investigation began in March 2023 after RECOPE filed a complaint alleging the theft of significant fuel quantities through tanker trucks entering its Moín de Limón plant irregularly Authorities also uncovered illegal tapping along a farm owned by RECOPE where pipelines connecting the refinery’s maritime line to oil tankers were siphoned the Turrialba Subdelegation of the Judicial Investigation Agency executed operations at 15 other sites in Peralta Preliminary findings indicate that this investigation exposed a criminal network involved in stealing The group reportedly tapped pipelines between Limón and Puntarenas to steal gasoline including tools and equipment used to extract and store fuel Authorities pointed out that this is an extremely lucrative activity which is why criminal organizations are increasingly involved in fuel theft Fuel theft has caused estimated losses of 5.7 billion colones (approximately $10.3 million) this activity endangers public safety and the environment compelling authorities to take decisive action against these criminal organizations The spider Gelanor siquirres (shown) has a seemingly unique way of hunting other arachnids tricking them into walking right into a trap By Elizabeth Anne Brown A Costa Rican pirate spider lives up to the family name: It tricks closely related orb weaver spiders into “walking the plank,” right to their doom.  The world’s many pirate spiders exploit a very particular food source — other spiders. But while most pirate spiders invade the webs of other arachnids, Gelanor siquirres dupes potential prey into building a web right into a trap researchers report in an upcoming Animal Behaviour pirate spiders have an extensive bag of tricks Some species delicately strum the threads of other spiders’ webs to convince the arachnids they’ve caught an insect only to strike when the web owner comes to collect its prey Others mimic on a web the signature rhythms of a different spider’s courtship dance luring would-be suitors to their deaths.   We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.  You must be 13 or older to sign up For full digital access, consider a $2.99 per month subscription On a trip several years ago to a biological reserve in Costa Rica researchers were the first to witness a hunt by a little-known species called G It cleverly exploits the way other spiders make their webs to get a meal At nightfall in the steamy lowland rainforests of Costa Rica orb weavers let loose “floating lines” — single strands of silk that blow in the breeze until the free end sticks on another surface The orb weaver then scurries across to secure the second anchor point and this first moored line serves as the foundation for the web the orb weaver does not scuttle across this bridge line to some welcoming vegetation siquirres has already cast its own silk lines arachnologist Laura Segura-Hernández and colleagues came upon a perplexing scene: An unusual configuration of multiple strands of silk converged at a single leaf The group also noticed another spider’s floating line caught on one of those strands as the floating line’s owner — a juvenile orb weaver — scuttled across a pirate spider emerged from behind its leaf hideout and crept down toward the intersection Probably feeling vibrations from the approaching pirate spider the orb weaver attached a dragline — the arachnid’s version of a bungee cord — and flung itself off its bridge line like two swashbuckling pirates exchanging blows while swinging from the rigging The encounter ended with a surprisingly swift attack from the pirate that instantly immobilized its prey The hunting strategy comes as a total surprise a biologist at George Washington University in Washington Exploiting how other spiders build their webs is “actually pretty sophisticated,” he says “I don’t know of anything like that in any [other] spider group.” the spider was known to science through only a dead specimen collected in 1994 The finding also underscores the need for old-school natural historians the kind of scientists who wander out at night with a head lamp to see what there is to find this is really what brought us into science,” he says Questions or comments on this article? E-mail us at feedback@sciencenews.org | Reprints FAQ A version of this article appears in the October 7, 2023 issue of Science News G. Barrantes, L. Segura-Hernández and D. Solano-Brenes.A novel prey capture strategy in pirate spiders (Araneae: Mimetidae) Thread-legged assassin bugs (Stenolemus bituberus shown) use stealthy movements and antennae taps to hunt dangerous spiders on their own webs A brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus) inspects a common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) trapped in its web It was all over for this banded sugar ant as soon as it was lassoed by an Australian ant-slayer spider The Yangtze finless porpoise (shown) is critically endangered Ancient Chinese poems can help researchers trace its decline over time A pair of blue bulges puffs outward as a male Indian bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) calls Side puffs are just one of 20 patterns that male vocal sacs evolved for amplifying the calls of frogs and toads To build immunity to bites from venomous snakes like this water cobra Tim Friede injected himself with doses of venom over time Marine ecologist Alyssa Gehman surveys sunflower sea stars in Burke Channel on the Central Coast of British Columbia These sea stars seem to be more resilient to a deadly wasting disease than their counterparts in warmer waters Axolotls are common pets and used in research Vials of milk await testing for avian influenza at Cornell University in Ithaca Infecting dairy cattle hasn’t yet given H5N1 bird flu an evolutionary boost toward easy person-to-person spread A newly discovered caterpillar weaves the remains of insect prey onto a protective case (several shown) worn for camouflage Scientists have linked certain cognitive abilities in puppies with desirable adult dog behaviors Awareness of those links could help pet owners determine the best training for their puppies Science News was founded in 1921 as an independent nonprofit source of accurate information on the latest news of science our mission remains the same: to empower people to evaluate the news and the world around them It is published by the Society for Science a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education (EIN 53-0196483) enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions ‘It’s working as a spider web for catching spiders’ Headlamps alone illuminated the trail bisecting the Costa Rican rainforest Having waded the black of the Tirimbina reserve so often before Laura Segura Hernández and Diego Solano Brenes knew the routine floating lines of silk that might latch onto leaf fortifying the first beams of the food-snaring webs to come the team would encounter a hunting scene unfamiliar not just to these arachnologists “It was completely serendipitous,” said Segura Hernández who earned her doctorate from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in August What the trio stumbled on was a trap: lines floated not for framing but for fishing part of a gambit that gives other forest-dwelling spiders just enough silk to hang themselves were running horizontally and diagonally from the underside of the same leaf the end of another thread had drifted in and caught on one of those leaf-dangling lines That thread was the product of a spiderling now skittering along it to inspect the joint and commence the construction of a full-fledged web “we just saw this other spider shoot in out of nowhere.” a species from the family known as pirate spiders — named for their willingness to invade already-built spider webs strategically pluck threads to draw out their eight-legged inhabitants siquirres emerged from its hiding spot beneath the leaf then retreated to the leaf with the spiderling clutched in its ultra-long jaws A close look at that leaf would reveal the swashbuckler’s identity. A close look at the research literature would reveal that no one had ever reported the devious hunting technique, which the team has since witnessed multiple times. With a recent paper in the journal Animal Behaviour the Tirimbina-trekking team would become the first “It’s working as a spider web for catching spiders,” Segura Hernández said of the lines floated by G “That’s one of the cool things about it.” deliberate killers: While venturing onto another spider’s web some pirates might advance no more than a few centimeters in an hour lest they risk triggering any unwanted vibrations The stealth makes sense when considering that the prey are also accomplished predators with venom of their own Yet when another spider approaches one of its floating lines siquirres darts forward with an alacrity that initially stunned Segura Hernández and her colleagues — the equivalent of a sloth turning cheetah “So it’s not just a modification of web-building behavior,” she said “It’s a modification of the spider’s locomotion siquirres seems to have adapted its schedule getting an early start to ensure that its floating lines are in place by the time its potential prey is releasing its own “It’s not like spiders make webs all night,” Segura Hernández said “There’s clearly a peak period of activity where you see all of these floating lines on the trail They are targeting this specific time period.” which was officially described and named in 2016 but had not been the subject of any peer-reviewed research siquirres behavior ever documented happens to double as a behavior never seen in any spider speaks to how much remains unknown about the eight-legged wonders as a whole especially those residing in prey-rich rainforests it also underscores the value of not overlooking observation itself questions and answers not just in pages but the wild She hasn’t forgotten the words of Bill Eberhard who mentored her as an undergrad at the University of Costa Rica and was commemorated in the same journal issue that features the G “One of my favorite things about this paper is that it highlights how important it is — what Bill Eberhard taught us — to observe and just pay attention to detail,” she said “Sometimes people are so focused on hypotheses and questions that they kind of forget about the organisms But I think both things are equally important “Can we even envision how many more incredible hunting strategies there are just waiting to be observed?” that encouraged her to spend so much time wandering in Tirimbina she can’t recall any specific reason that she and the others were out that fateful night The rainforest itself — the trill of insects and pattering of lizards because you’re restricted to what your headlamp can show Some parts of this site work best with JavaScript enabled COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER According to data from the Red Cross and the Fire Department 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes due to flooding caused by heavy rains over the past few days in collaboration with the Sarapiquí Municipal Emergency Committee is working to assist at least 45 communities affected by the deluge The National Emergency Commission (CNE) reported that 152 incidents of flooding were recorded on Tuesday with the most affected cantons being Sarapiquí rainfall has accumulated between 90 and 144 mm in parts of the Northern Zone and North Caribbean precipitation levels of 50 to 165 mm have been recorded in San Carlos with Turrialba and Juan Viñas seeing 20 to 50 mm.The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) issued a warning on Wednesday about strong gusts and rains influenced by cold front No conditions across the country are expected to improve as the day progresses “The effects of the cold front persist,” stated the IMN “The high-pressure system accompanying this front increases the intensity of trade winds in Central America and parts of the Caribbean basin.”Very strong gusts of up to 105 km/h are expected in the North Pacific near the Guanacaste mountain range with winds of 80–90 km/h anticipated in mountains Lower elevations will experience strong gusts ranging from 55 to 75 km/h.Authorities anticipate that rain and wind conditions will gradually subside The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) announced that the route will not reopen on Wednesday It will be reevaluated on Thursday to determine whether it can be reopened or if the closure should continue Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center (CRARC) outside of Siquirres in Limón Province, Costa Rica. I’ll be doing a feature story on CRARC soon, but I want to share a few pictures from the trip. Briefly, CRARC aims to conserve some of the world’s most endangered amphibian species by enhancing and rehabilitating habitats and breeding sites, captive-breeding, and protecting habitat. CRARC is also actively involved in amphibian research. CRARC is working in an area of incredible amphibian biodiversity. In my first 12 hours at the site I spotted nearly 40 species of frogs. Here are a few examples. Many more pictures to come. The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa, as protected areas become battlegrounds over history, human rights, and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss. Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins, and trying to forge a path forward […] Two fatalities have been reported and a further 2 people remain missing Heavy rain has affected the country since 22 July 2021 Authorities said the overflowing La Estrella river severely damaged a bridge on Route 36 in Talamanca Canton The country’s emergency management department reported more than 2,700 rain-related incidents including floods landslides and road collapses in 36 of the country’s 82 cantons in a period 22 to 26 July 3,268 people had evacuated their homes in the cantons of Talamanca Matina and Siquirres in Limón province; Sarapiquí in Heredia Province; Turrialba Jiménez and Paraíso in Cartago Province; and Upala Río Cuarto and Los Chiles in Alajuela Province One person died in floods in Siquirres Canton and another in Talamanca canton Authorities are still searching for one missing person in Tucurrique and another in Siquirres Two other people reported missing were found safe Flooding also affected parts of neighbouring Panama over the last few days. Almost 30,000 people were affected and 5,435 homes damaged by floods in Bocas del Toro province Authorities reported 196.5 mm of rain fell in 24 hours to 22 July in Bocas del Toro town INUNDACIONES // Las autoridades de Costa Rica informaron este sábado que tres personas están desaparecidas y 1,564 se encuentran en albergues a causa de las inundaciones que desde el jueves afectan el Caribe y la zona norte del país. https://t.co/cxLWCNdadG pic.twitter.com/KxbMAMYfDT — La Estrella | Panamá (@EstrellaOnline) July 25, 2021 En Costa Rica tenemos verdaderos héroes que arriesgan sus vidas para rescatar a nuestros compatriotas en las inundaciones de Turrialba, Zona Norte y Limón. pic.twitter.com/JuIqeOsNqR — Revolución Liberal ® (@RevLiberal) July 24, 2021 Costa Rica: 🇨🇷 | Severas afectaciones viven con desesperación pobladores tras inundaciones. Declaran alerta roja en cinco cantones por impacto de las lluvias.📽️ Cortesía #24Jul #VenprensaInforma pic.twitter.com/OOcJFYy1eu — Venezolana de Prensa (@VENPRENSA) July 24, 2021 Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList Approximately 1,500 former banana workers in Costa Rica say a US-made pesticide has left them sterile Though banned in the United States in the 1970s the chemical DBCP was still used by US fruit companies in countries with lax regulations those affected are still fighting for justice This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolome with Phillip Lanos Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube A species of pirate spider in Costa Rica has a hunting strategy that has never been documented before in any spider By Corryn Wetzel A pirate spider resting upside down on a leaf in Costa Rica A species of pirate spider in Costa Rica has a unique hunting strategy: It attacks other spiders that use its silk lines as scaffolding for their own webs Many spiders build webs to snare prey, but their web design and purpose can vary widely depending on where they live and what they hunt. Some webs are flat sheets, while others form tube-like funnels or spiralling orbs Other species forgo web-building altogether own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment University of Technology Sydney provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU View all partners The past 40 years have seen massive expansion of the dominance of large corporations in the global economy A wave of neoliberal reforms spread internationally from the 1980s with the promise that deregulated markets would unleash the animal spirits of private enterprise bringing a new era of growth and prosperity Corporations were touted as the heroes of the neoliberal dream casting off the shackles of staid state bureaucracy as they leapt forward into a future where there was no alternative to unfettered global capitalism Review: Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy – Claire Provost and Matt Kennard (Bloomsbury) In the late 1970s, Margaret Thatcher championed “popular capitalism” as a means to deliver “renewed material prosperity Ronald Reagan promised that cutting the taxes of corporations and the wealthy would create a new era of economic prosperity for all. This was dubbed “trickle-down economics” As leaders in the 1980s of the United Kingdom and United States, respectively, Thatcher and Reagan were harbingers of major changes to the global economic order. By 1989, what came to be known as the Washington Consensus was firmly established as the dominant policy position of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) This prompted a wave of structural reforms to economies across the developing world was that privatisation of state enterprises reduced taxation and the general withdrawal of government from economic affairs were the only ways to secure global economic growth Journalists Claire Provost and Matt Kennard’s Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy charts what has become of the corporate-led global prosperity that was promised in the 1980s Instead of shared progress arriving on the wings of an ever-empowered capitalism what we got was a massive grab for power and money by the corporations that were supposed to save the world The book asserts that corporations have staged nothing less than a political coup d’état: a deliberate and successful attempt to usurp the power of nation states and establish themselves as rulers of the world guide to the rise of supranational corporate empires that now dictate how resources are allocated Provost and Kennard chart four ways this corporate political revolution has been achieved These involve the international legal system the international aid and development system and the growth of private corporate armies It all amounts to an undermining of democracy by ever-growing corporate empires The first part of Silent Coup, “Corporate Justice”, examines the international treaties that have been established across the world by countries wishing to increase corporate foreign investment. These treaties give corporations legal authority to sue nation states in international tribunals if their investments are jeopardised Provost and Kennard portray the system as being “out of control” Investor trade arbitrations have turned the tables of power The popular sovereignty of democratic nations has been ceded to the private economic interest of the world’s corporations Silent Coup then delves into the domination of international aid by large corporations. By way of example, Provost and Kennard report on the G8 initiative called New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition designed to reduce poverty and grow agriculture in Africa this was implemented through changes to tax and agriculture laws designed to boost the profits of private agribusiness is no longer positioned as reparation or generosity; wealthy countries now want a return on their investment Projects that create trade and wealth opportunities for corporations are prioritised that aid is increasingly used to benefit big business as much as it ostensibly claims to be funding economic development A section on “Corporate Utopias” takes aim at Special Economic Zones established within countries to give corporations preferential tax rates and more relaxed regulations Some of these zones are even exempt from labour laws and protections There are 3,500 such zones across the globe, from Myanmar and Shenzhen to Ireland and the UK, employing 66 million generally low-paid workers. Unfettered, union-free, government-backed worker exploitation, the authors argue runs rampant amid this epidemic of “sweatshop globalisation” reports how corporations are engaging in military and police-like activities to protect their premises transportation and logistics in places such as occupied Palestine In today’s world, corporations control armed forces at a level hitherto the exclusive realm of nation-states. Silent Coup paints a horrifying picture of a new world order in which power has been ripped from the hands of sovereign governments and placed in the hands of private corporations. The investigative journalism that underpins the book is harrowing reading, even for people well versed in the exploitative machinations of corporations and the deleterious effect they can have on people, politics and planet. Amid the intrigue and suspense that characterises the writing of this book, there is an unnerving and unspoken undercurrent. The book quivers with a feeling that there is no hope. The air of hopelessness starts with the subtitle: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy. It is over, the authors aver; democracy has been defeated. Democracy is under attack, to be sure. But reports of its death are greatly exaggerated, if not irresponsible. That is not to say democracy is not wounded – Silent Coup provides meticulously researched and detailed case studies of just how out of control the political clout of corporations has become. But does that mean we give up hope in the promise of democracy under the guise of a dramatic clickbait headline? The drama of Silent Coup is, in many parts, unwarranted and misleading. This is not helped by the use of a first-person narrative that, throughout the book, characterises the authors as the protagonists. They are the ones who can reveal the secrets of the corporate revolution that has happened behind all of our backs. They are the fearless and intrepid journalists who have ventured into the big bad corporate world, returning with tales of their amazing adventures. The rhetorical flair distracts from the real issues. What Provost and Kennard report is important, and reflects some of the most pressing political challenges of our time. But while their discoveries may have been revelations to them, these matters were hardly secrets and their journalistic exploits are not what is important. The problem is not that nobody knows about the growing global corporatocracy; it is that nobody seems to have the will or ability to stop it. It is only in the book’s epilogue that a glimmer of hope shines through. Provost and Kennard gesture to a few examples of people resisting corporate power in the name of democracy, but little detail is provided. Perhaps this will be a sequel. Democracy still means something. It means a promise of equality, liberty and solidarity among citizens. It means retaining the primacy of popular sovereignty – the rule of the people – instead of political power residing with a minority class of plutocrats. It means believing in the possibility of shared prosperity. It is only with hope that we can retain the political will to continue the democratic promise, and to retain and strengthen the practices, institutions and ways of life that enable that promise. Political change does not come from resigning ourselves to a fate beyond our control, but from daring to dream of a better future. This is where the book fails. Heavy rain and floods that hit the nation’s Caribbean and Northern regions on 21 June 2015 had left 25 communities isolated and forced over 500 people to evacuate their homes An improvement in the flood situation by 25 June 2015 allowed Costa Rica’s National Emergency Commission (Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias – CNE) to announce that most of those displaced were able to return home Repairs to damaged roads and bridges had also been carried out By 27 June the country was faced with further torrential rain which has caused damage to roads and affected over 200 communities across 3 provinces of Limón the flooding and heavy rain has damaged 1,585 houses There are currently 19 communities isolated as a result of the flooding causing damage to transport infrastructure The canton of Sarapiqui in Heredia province is one of the worst affected areas Twelve communites located along the banks of the swollen Sarapiquí and Sucio rivers have been cut off there CNE have set up 12 shelters for those displaced by the floods Currently there are 745 people housed in the shelters Costa Rica’s Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) have issued red alert weather warnings for: A yellow level warning is in place for Alajuela province There are also green level warnings (lowest level) for the provinces of San José and Puntarenas Pocho the crocodile died of natural causes in Siquirres Pocho was famous because of his relationship with Chito first drawing local attention and then drawing the eyes of the world: a 2011 Tico Times story about Pocho and Chito: The final time Chito and Pocho took center stage seemed no less stirring hard-to-believe and ridiculous than the act’s original premise – a crocodile and a human as best friends Pocho the “domesticated” crocodile died of natural causes in his manmade swamp at Finca Las Tilapias better known as “Chito,” said his partner was nearing 60 years old On Sunday – the day Pocho and Chito normally frolicked in the water for visitors – the village held a grand funeral for the huge reptile 450-kilo dead crocodile in a wagon and hitched it to a car that drove the duo around the town At least 50 mourners kept pace with the procession while onlookers sprinted up to the cart to snap photos “Our act was something very special,” Chito “Always people who didn’t know Pocho took something extraordinary from it.” Chito found Pocho wounded and near death on the shore of the Parismina River The crocodile had been shot in the left eye an employee at the finca saw Chito swimming with Pocho The unusual pair became stars after their first show in the summer of 2000 The ranch kept a veterinarian and a biologist to check on the crocodile’s health Pocho fed on 30 kilograms of fish and chicken a week Large crowds gathered weekly around the artificial lake to watch Pocho and Chito with the crocodile performing tricks such as winking rolling over and allowing Chito to put his head inside the giant’s fang-lined mouth The memorial at Finca Las Tilapias recognized the croc’s importance to the community Onlookers watched Chito give a passionate goodbye to Pocho the reptilian half of an act that became the biggest tourist attraction in the small muggy pueblo and picked up coverage from around the world The funeral certainly seemed like the biggest event Siquirres had seen in some time Chito’s friends quoted Bible passages to the audience about loving animals and played videos of past performances and interviews with Chito “It was beautiful,” Siquirres native Xinia Mejía Visitors from across the country came to observe the ceremony but became interested after seeing a report on the news Arias said he was stunned by the outpouring of support for the crocodile and the “beautiful” ceremony dressed in the leopard-print loincloth and bandana he wore during his shows with Pocho Many congregants wore T-shirts dedicated to Pocho’s memory The shirts sold for $4 at Finca Las Tilapias alongside mugs dedicated to Chito and Pocho and a selection of small wooden crocodiles Skeptics may say the funeral was just a money-making charade but Chito’s copious tears did not appear to be of the crocodile variety He seemed to need the attention and support of the crowd to stay composed While other guests took the microphone to speak about Pocho Chito could be seen bawling in the arms of his wife or leaning over the crocodile with tears on his cheeks he seemed determined to keep the last show with his “brother” Pocho as momentous as past ones The most peculiar highlight – one that seemed to condense Chito’s affection for Pocho and also his love for the limelight – came when he sang The Platters’ classic “The Great Pretender.”  Chito wailed each lyric of the 1950s hit about denial to the fallen crocodile:“Oh yes I’m the great pretender / Pretending I’m doing well / My need is such I pretend too much / I’m lonely but no one can tell.” there were those who suspected the croc would one day make “Chito finito” out of Shedden remembered how fearful everyone was that the crocodile would turn on his trainer said over time they saw a genuine connection develop Other crocodiles later joined Pocho in Chito’s swamp The question circulated throughout the afternoon of whether Chito would soon begin training the next Pocho The speculation reached Chito midway through the ceremony “Much of the public and all the people of Siquirres responded to him He will be the only Pocho there ever was.” A magnitude-4.4 earthquake shook the Caribbean slope city of Siquirres on Thursday at 12:43 p.m. The quake’s epicenter was 8.2 kilometers southeast of the city of Siquirres at a depth of 9 km The temblor could be felt across Limón, Cartago, northern Heredia and the southern end of San José province, according to intensity reports from the Seismic Engineering Laboratory There were no reports of damage or injuries Tropical wave number 23 entered Costa Rica on Tuesday it has generated at least 48 incidents in approximately 13 cantons throughout Costa Rica Heavy rains and flooding problems have been reported The National Emergency Commission (CNE) explained that the most significant impact occurred in the province of Limón where 12 of the accidents were recorded in Siquirres and another 20 in Pocococí “We will maintain the green alert throughout the national territory except in the southern Caribbean,” said Jorge Rovira a child and a woman required medical attention and were both taken to a local clinic “Remember that it will continue to rain and soils are saturated especially in vulnerable sectors that presented incidents in the last hours,” added Jorge Rovira the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) indicated that rainy conditions would continue due to the proximity of the intertropical convergence zone there will be downpours and thunderstorms in the Pacific,” said the National Meteorological Institute The institution also mentioned that these weather conditions would likely be experienced in the Central Valley In Reserva El Ceibo in La Virgen de Sarapiqui the heaviest rains were experienced on Tuesday The road hazard occurred one kilometer from the bridge over the Pacuare river Local authorities also warned about various problems in the Siquirres area “There are several sectors of Siquirres where rains are causing serious flooding in homes and creeks places prone to landslides or near trees” indicated the Municipality of Siquirres Authorities ask the population to be vigilant of weather conditions and to report any emergency to 911 Residents of Limón now have access to four newly inaugurated Safe Spaces where they can nurture their talents in the domains of arts These are spaces where individuals will be able to to expand their horizons These new hubs of learning and recreation were officially unveiled by U.S The funding for these centers was generously provided by the U.S Embassy’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) These state-of-the-art facilities are strategically located in Matina ensuring a broad reach within the community In a symbolic gesture to celebrate the vibrant culture of the region and to pay homage to an iconic figure Embassy commissioned a mural in honor of Walter Ferguson holds a special place in the hearts of many as an honorary Costa Rican citizen “Limón is a province with a lot to offer, especially the essence of its people, the diversity of its cultures, and its beautiful nature,” said Ambassador Telles during her first visit to Limón where she announced a series of donations and the commitment of the U.S The Cieneguita Boxing Club received a significant boost with the delivery of a new boxing ring furthering its commitment to training and mentorship a generous donation of 200 surfboards was made under the collaborative efforts of the Municipality of Limón and the NGO Smiles and Waves will be instrumental in teaching surf to the local community Ambassador Telles also announced that extension of the Police Athletic Leagues This initiative aims to bridge the gap between the youth and the police young individuals will have the chance to build positive relationships with law enforcement officers Ambassador to Costa Rica highlighted the success of the Embassy’s Employability Program 200 Limón residents have been trained in various trades equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to confidently step into the workforce these combined efforts reflect a comprehensive approach towards community development and fostering positive relationships within Limón everything you see that’s green is pineapple,” Xinia Briceño said which runs from Costa Rica’s capital San José to the Caribbean port of Limón there’s a wide entrance flanked by extensive pineapple plantations that leads to Milano you start to see small plots of land with homes and a few cattle Briceño lives with her husband and daughter on one of those little plots of land Nearly 12 years after Milano’s water was found to be tainted with the herbicide bromacil — used on nearby pineapple plantations — its inhabitants continue to use the contaminated water for bathing and household chores Many locals believe the water has caused health problems The government of Costa Rica has dealt with the problem by trucking in drinking water to Milano and other affected communities in the canton of Siquirres — more than 6,000 people according to University of Costa Rica law professor Nicolás Boeglin This Friday, March 20, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights a division of the Organization of American States will hold a hearing on the case of contaminated water in Siquirres Residents of Siquirres and their supporters allege that the government of Costa Rica is violating the communities’ right to access clean water by not properly handling the contamination problem and not forcing pineapple growers to accept their share of responsibility Environmental Protection Agency considers it safe to drink water containing up to 0.70 micrograms per Liter (ugL) of bromacil The most recent water analysis from five springs and Milano’s water tank detected up to 3.47 ugL of bromacil — nearly five times the EPA guidance The water tests were carried out last September by the University of Costa Rica’s Center for Investigation in Environmental Contamination at the request of the Center for Environmental and Natural Resource Rights who is president of Milano’s Aqueduct Administrative Association said everyone in town uses that water to bathe The water that the government trucks in every two or three days is only enough for cooking and drinking Briceño said residents of Milano have experienced skin problems They’ve also suffered spontaneous abortions and congenital malformations “But we have nothing that proves definitively that [those problems] are caused by the water,” she said “Those of us who have been able to see a doctor have realized that when we say the water is contaminated in our community [the doctor] says it could be the cause But no one will give us a medical diagnosis that confirms it,” she said The first warning about possible contamination of Milano’s water came from an engineer in 1996 environmental consultant with the Center for Environmental and Natural Resource Rights In 2003, the National University’s Regional Institute for Studies in Toxic Substances tested the water and found contamination from three agrochemicals: diuron The aqueduct that supplies Milano connects with the Milano aquifer and five springs in the Finca Babilonia sector where the company Frutex once grew pineapples the multinational fruit company Del Monte bought the plantation Scientists believe pesticides used on the plantation seeped directly into the water table hydrogeological studies done by Costa Rica’s National Water and Sewer Institute showed that the town’s water could be contaminated authorities didn’t take any action at the time Then-Health Minister María Luisa Ávila said the water was not safe to drink and ordered Water and Sewer to deliver potable water by truck to the town’s residents The first water truck rolled into town on August 22 pineapple was planted 20 meters from the water sources under orders from the Environment Ministry pineapples must be planted 100 meters away from water sources The government also ordered Del Monte to reforest the area in order to protect the springs The company planted eucalyptus instead of native species The water contamination in Siquirres is far from the only conflict registered between pineapple growers and local communities in Costa Rica pineapple companies have been accused of contaminating ground and surface water sources destroying protected areas around springs and gullies the University of Costa Rica law professor said pineapple growers have gotten off the hook the government hasn’t taken any legal action against those responsible for contaminating the aquifers,” he said For their part, pineapple growers say because they produce mostly for export, they must comply with strict guidelines on pesticide use from the European Union and United States Del Monte hasn’t violated any rules regulating agricultural runoff because it doesn’t have any permits for runoff The company reuses treated water from its plantations from the Center for Environmental and Natural Resource Rights said it’s been difficult to get companies to pay for the contamination A court would need to find them responsible Costa Rican courts have recognized pineapple growers’ role in water contamination the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court ordered the Environment Ministry Health Ministry and Water and Sewer to develop an action plan to address water contamination in the area The court also ruled that the Health Ministry had the right to prohibit pineapple growers in the area from using toxic chemicals on their plantations and could even order the plantations immediately closed if they didn’t comply with government orders the Health Ministry has never acted on this According to the Water and Sewer authority two hydrogeological studies have concluded that bromacil isn’t the only problem in Siquirres any type of agrochemical could show up in the water The water authority noted that plans are moving along for an aquifer that would carry water from Heredia province to El Cairo But that aquifer wouldn’t provide water for Milano the residents of Milano began negotiating with the government and a nearby landowner to establish a new water source for the community whose terrain houses the only viable spring for supplying the town refused to sell the land for the price it was valued at Milano’s Aqueduct Administrative Association asked the government to expropriate the land the community and private donors have contributed nearly ₡16 million ($30,000) toward the plan including the purchase of land for a storage tank and payment for right of way Del Monte contributed ₡400,000 ($750) and a piece of land for the right of way by raising the cost to households of water delivery from Milano’s contaminated aqueduct “The community has always said that they’re not responsible and shouldn’t have to pay for contaminated water where the companies who should be held responsible aren’t being held responsible Faced with inaction in Costa Rica, the Center for Environmental and Natural Resource Rights brought the case to the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of California the organizations persuaded the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights residents of Siquirres and representatives from the Milano aqueduct association will present their complaints and the Costa Rican government will explain what it’s doing to guarantee delivery of potable water to the area “The idea is to set a precedent to stop this from happening elsewhere,” she said She said the government and the pineapple growers should take responsibility for the contamination “They know they’re killing the community day by day with the agrochemicals that arrive at our homes What’s going to happen to this community in the future?” she asked The 1-hour hearing at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will be broadcast live on the organization’s website at 2:30 p.m. Four years ago today Gilberto Shedden lost his best friend. or Chito as he is better known in his hometown of Siquirres first met his friend Pocho in 1989 when the latter was stranded on a river bank with a fresh bullet wound in his left eye Chito brought Pocho home and nursed him back to health mostly because Pocho was a 5-meter-long crocodile Chito and Pocho swam together in a lake near Chito’s house Chito would ride through the water on Pocho’s back and he frequently bestowed the massive reptilian with hugs and kisses Eventually the 450-kilo beast even permitted his mammalian friend to stick his head into his mouth News of Chito and Pocho’s bizarre relationship soon got out Chito enjoyed the attention and he turned his and Pocho’s lakeshore romps into a weekly show Pocho quickly became the world’s most beloved crocodile, and his death in 2011 reverberated beyond the small pueblo of Siquirres. The crocodile is now mounted in a museum near Chito’s house Pocho is still very much a part of his everyday life “I feel the same as I did before,” Chito told The Tico Times people are still always asking me about Pocho telling me how much they loved the show.” Chito is still fascinated by crocodiles and he often goes to the Parisminia River near his house to fish and watch the crocodiles bask in the sun another crocodile he’s seen lounging on the river’s banks Stricter wildlife laws passed in recent years would make holding shows and feedings with a new crocodile illegal but Chito says he hopes one day maybe he can have a show again “Everything has its time and I’m always waiting for an opportunity,” he said “but I don’t do this for a show or for the money I do it because to me these animals are so special I do it because they are my friends and I want to share that.” The Costa Rica Electric Institution (ICE) announced they had discovered a second crack in the Reventazon Hydroelectric Dam The damage was discovered in one of the tunnels that connects to it’s huge reservoir Officials fear that the crack could cause a partial or total collapse to the tunnel This could affect the ability of the dam to function while any repairs are made This is the second crack found in structure in the past six years. The first was discovered in a separate location on the reservoir side, just months before the 1.5-billion-dollar project was officially opened back in 2016 At the time ICE boasted that the Reventazon project was the second largest in Central America after the Panama Canal Although the dam has never met the power generation projections that ICE had touted it is still a critical source of clean power generation for Costa Rica officials plan to install monitoring equipment to watch the affected area to follow any further progression of the crack The last time a crack was discovered in the dam the plant had to be shut down for three months for repairs Officials had discovered a fissure that created the loss of almost 200 liters of water a second ICE expressed concern about the discovery but assure that structural integrity of the structure is secure They also stated that they were concerned about what the revelation of the issue may do to ICE’s institutional reputation Please note: This page has been archived and its content may no longer be up-to-date This version of the page will remain live for reference purposes as we work to update the content across our website The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices.. Working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and nature WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience A man died this Monday and five other people were injured in a shooting in front of a school in Costa Rica in an apparent settling of accounts Two individuals on a motorcycle fired at a 25-year-old man who was in front of the school at the end of classes after noon according to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ The man was hit by six bullets and died instantly in this shooting that took place outside the Silvestre Grant school in the city of Siquirres the capital of an agricultural canton in the Caribbean province of Limón Two women were injured by stray bullets at the school entrance was taken to a medical center after receiving a shot in the head Another 23-year-old woman was hit by projectiles in an arm and a leg and 4 were also injured by gunfire in their limbs who were also taken to health centers by members of the Red Cross Authorities are investigating whether it was a new settling of scores These acts have been repeated in Costa Rica for months with the increase in violence from drug trafficking gangs and organized crime This year, Costa Rica has recorded 126 violent homicides Limón is the province most affected by drug trafficking and organized crime in the country 2023 was the most violent year in the history of the Central American country since records began This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Esquire Middle East – The Region’s Best Men’s Magazine Home | Culture | Pocho the crocodile and his best friend Chito: The incredible How a fisherman saved a croc from the brink of death The unbelievable true story of Pocho the crocodile and his best friend went viral on Twitter today as it’s one of the greatest stories of man’s bond with nature that we’ve seen in modern times On the banks of the Reventazón-Parismina River in Siquirres a crocodile lay dying before being rescued by Gilberto “Chito” Shedden A local fisherman who nursed him back to health and returned him to the wild only to find the crocodile on his veranda the next morning Marking the beginning of a beautiful friendship The crocodile later named Pocho had been shot through his left eye by a local cattle farmer who feared that he was preying on his livestock “I just wanted him to feel that someone loved him that not all humans are bad” Chito said speaking to The Tico Times going to the extent of simulating the chewing of food in order to encourage him to eat conversed and slept with his new reptilian friend The crocodile needed my love to regain the will to live.” Explained Chito Clearly only cold-blooded biologically but not in his nature Pocho reciprocated the affection by rushing towards Chito with his mouth open when the fisherman would enter the water but would close his mouth before getting too close so that he could be kissed on his snout The fisherman was living with his wife who had decided to leave him because he spent too much time with the crocodile He was right as he later remarried and had a daughter Fearing that the Costa Rican authorities would take away his new friend Chito hid Pocho in a secret pond within a nearby forest Eventually someone saw Chito swimming with the crocodile and reported it Costa Rica’s Channel 7 then filmed the dynamic duo in July 2000 which shot them to stardom in the Chile The United States and even the United Kingdom The Environment and Telecommunications Ministry let the new celebrities live together as long as they could monitor Pocho A veterinarian and a Biologist then began to feed Pocho 30KG of chicken and fish on a weekly basis The next ten years would see the two performing a weekly act every Sunday in his hometown of Siquirres where they would show off their friendship in the water for tourists A documentary titled ‘The Man Who Swims With Crocodiles’ was directed by South African Roger Horrocks to chronicle their unique bond The filmmaker had suggested that the trauma to Pocho’s head from the gunshot may have damaged his brain altering the reptile’s natural behavior which enabled him to feel human emotions after being rescued by Chito that fateful day Sadly every story has an ending as Pocho would pass away from natural causes on October 12 2011 He was expected to be roughly 60 years old A public ‘human style’ funeral was held for the departed crocodile where Chito sang to him while holding his ‘hand’ and his taxidermied remains are now on display at the Siquirres town museum As we near the 10th anniversary of his death Chito is currently training a new crocodile called Pocho II who he frequently encountered at the same river near his house but how their friendship will pan out in the long run is uncertain as his encounter with the original Pocho was truly special to him Esquire now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox Subscribe to our newsletter now and you will be we’ll give you Esquire’s A-to-Z of Men’s Fashion for FREE Maybe later, thanks Get our news on your inbox! Suscribe x MercoPress, en Español Montevideo, May 6th 2025 - 00:52 UTC The recently concluded visit of the Falkland Islands cricket team to Costa Rica marked a historic occasion as the team returned after a 14-year absence to participate in a tournament It was also an opportunity for the Islanders to meet British Ambassador to Costa Rica a good friend of the Falklands which he visited while a previous appointment as British ambassador in Uruguay organized by the Costa Rica Cricket Federation was not only an exciting sporting event but also a chance for the British Embassy in San Jose to highlight the important role of sport in creating lasting social and cultural connections The Embassy hosted a reception for both teams which was a unique opportunity for the Falkland Islands team and their Costa Rican counterparts to bond over their shared passion for cricket and deepen their understanding of each other’s cultures This occasion also provided an ideal platform to highlight the growing role of women in cricket particularly as the Embassy welcomed the winners of the 2024 women’s cricket tournament The Embassy’s involvement in this event reinforced the significance of cricket a sport with deep roots in British history as a powerful tool for social change and international connection spoke about the importance of inclusion in sport: Sports belongs to everyone they are helping to build a future where opportunities in sport are equal but its future will be even brighter with greater inclusion The Ambassador also took the opportunity to highlight the games intrinsic values: Cricket and resilience – values that go far beyond the pitch The growing popularity of cricket in Costa Rica was on full display during the reception as the Siquirres Tigres—winners of last year’s women’s cricket tournament—shared their journey and passion for the sport Their success stands as a powerful example of how women in Costa Rica are finding their place in cricket and shaping the future of the game in the region which was part of the Costa Rican national cricket calendar saw spirited matches and valuable exchanges between the teams leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved The event not only rekindled a long-standing sporting connection between the Falkland Islands and Costa Rica but also underscored the importance of inclusivity in sport especially in empowering women and young people to pursue their athletic dreams Commenting for this story is now closed.If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mississippi Press StaffSister Mary Alexis Fisher OSP.JPG Sister Mary Alexis Fisher has ties to the Pascagoula area OSP is the daughter of the late Peter William Fisher Sr Peter the Apostle Catholic Elementary School and Our Lady of Victories Central High School Peter the Apostle School was staffed by the Josephite Fathers and Brothers and the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate Peter the Apostle Church continues to be staffed by the Josephites Sister later graduated from Mount Providence Junior College in Baltimore in Liberal Arts; from Towson State University in Towson in Business and Management and from The University of Maryland at College Park with an MBA Degree (Masters of Business Administration) Sister's teaching assignments include schools in St She also served as Secretary at Mount Providence Reading Center in Baltimore MD; The Oblate Sisters of Providence Community Development Office; Private Secretary to The Superior General of the Oblate Sisters of Providence; Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd Elementary School in Trenton Frances-Charles Hall High School now the St Sister Alexis served as Secretary General and Third Councilor of the Oblate Sisters of Providence Administration and later as Assistant Superior General and First Councilor Sister was missioned in Costa Rica (Alajuela and Siquirres) Central America where she served at the Oblate Sisters of Providence House of Initial Formation working with the Postulants and Novices served as Directress of the Junior Professed Sisters in charge of the Convent in Siquirres and taught English as a second language The Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of Providence the first order of Women Religious of African descent in the world 1829 by Mother Mary Lange who was born in Santiago de Cuba around the year 1794 Mother Lange opened a school in Baltimore in 1828 Mother Lange educated those of African descent Mother Mary Lange served as the first Superior General of the Oblate Sisters of Providence Sister Alexis was first installed as Superior General on June 24 has guided the Congregation in keeping Mother Lange's vision alive It is the vision of responding to the needs of the times The Sisters continue their ministry of service to the poor The Congregation is still faced with numerous challenges as was the case during the time of Mother Mary Lange There were many who thought that the Oblate Sisters of Providence would not survive for the Congregation today is very much alive even after more than 183 years The finger of God was and is indeed present The Sisters continue to meet the daily challenges HEAD ON Mother Mary Lange is a candidate for sainthood and bears the title The Cause for Canonization is now seeing great progress The remains of Mother Mary Lange will be transferred to the Motherhouse of the Oblate Sisters on Monday The presider for this ceremony will be Baltimore Archbishop William E under the direction of the Roman Postulator The Positio must be completed no later than the end of July and will then be submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome Mother Lange will be declared Venerable and then with the acceptance of an alleged miracle God has blessed the Oblate Sisters recently with six new vocations and another two have professed Final Vows Sister Alexis will be reinstalled as the nineteenth Superior General of the Oblate Sisters of Providence on June 24 at the Motherhouse For more information on the Oblate Sisters of Providence, please visit the website at www.oblatesisters.com. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices President Luis Guillermo Solís visited damaged areas in the Caribbean province of Limón on Wednesday and Thursday after heavy rains last weekend caused floods in Costa Rica’s Caribbean and northern regions President Solís inspected Route 32 and visited communities in Guápiles Using a Panamanian helicopter he also conducted flyovers to assess the damage Although weather conditions have improved and rainfall has returned to normal levels, pineapple and banana plantations are left with serious damage and public infrastructure needs to be rebuilt as thousands of people that were evacuated return to their homes Read more of our rainy season coverage here. Costa Rica continues to grapple with severe flooding as Cold Front No The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) reports that a high-pressure system is intensifying trade winds across Central America and the Caribbean exacerbating the already challenging weather conditions the National Emergency Commission (CNE) has recorded 35 flooding emergencies across the nation CNE President Alejandro Picado stated that Siquirres has been particularly hard hit with the Reventazón River and other streams overflowing causing widespread flooding of homes and roads and San Antonio have been affected by overflowing rivers authorities have opened a shelter to accommodate 70 people The Costa Rican Red Cross reported the evacuation of 42 individuals to the Agape Church shelter authorities are investigating reports of a landslide affecting a house Wind gusts of up to 100 km/h have been recorded near the Guanacaste mountain range and up to 70 km/h in higher elevations of the Central Valley The CNE has elevated the alert level from green to yellow for the Northern Zone and the Caribbean while the rest of the country remains under a green alert The IMN has issued warnings for mountainous areas of the Caribbean where river basins are 85% to 95% saturated making them highly susceptible to incidents Meteorologists predict that Tuesday and Wednesday will see the heaviest rainfall in the Caribbean and Northern regions a decrease in wind gusts and more stable atmospheric conditions are expected due to the arrival of dry air Authorities urge residents to exercise caution particularly in flood-prone areas and near rivers and streams with increased flow The public is advised to stay informed about further developments and follow official recommendations for safety