Benxi
Research
Current Publications
Read more about our research

Our goal is to generate scientific data to support management and conservation actions for wildcats and their habitat in Costa Rica

We make our findings accessible to all to increase knowledge and understanding of these amazing animals!

Scientific papers

Publishing our findings to the scientific community and subjecting them to peer review

Social media

Communicate with people interested in the conservation of wild cats, their prey species and the protection of their remaining habitats

Popular papers

Disseminating our findings to the general public in a easily accessible format

Resolutions

Providing relevant and accurate information to governmental bodies to support their management action plans and the implementation of legislation

Scientific Papers

Feeding habits of the jaguar Panthera onca (Carnivora: Felidae) in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Click here: Although dietary studies are considered an important conservation tool, few studies have assessed jaguar (Panthera onca) diet in Costa Rica. Therefore, this study ...
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First confirmed record of margay in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Click here: Information regarding the margay Leopardus wiedii is very scarce in Costa Rica, with most studies targeting the larger species of wild cats. Through ...
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First record of a marine turtle predated by a jaguar in Pacuare Nature Reserve, Costa Rica

Click here: Along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, jaguar Panthera onca predation on marine turtles had only been documented in Tortuguero National Park. It ...
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First record of consumption of olive ridley sea turtle by a cougar

Click here: Knowledge on the ecological relationship between cougars Puma concolor and sea turtles may contribute to the conservation of cougars, whose bulk of terrestrial ...
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First record of jaguar (Panthera onca) predation on a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Click here: Herein, we present the first documented record of the predation of a loggerhead by a jaguar in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica.
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First record of Puma concolor (Carnivora: Felidae) in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Click here: We documented the photographic evidence of a puma in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica.  
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Habitat features influencing jaguar Panthera onca (Carnivora: Felidae) occupancy in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Click here: Habitat characteristics and human activities are known to play a major role in the occupancy of jaguars Panthera onca across their range, however ...
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Impact of jaguar (Carnivora: Felidae) predation on marine turtle populations in Tortuguero, Caribbean coast of Costa Rica

Click here: Little is known about the effects of jaguars on the population of marine turtles nesting in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. This study ...
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Jaguars (Panthera onca) increase kill utilization rates and share prey in response to seasonal fluctuations in nesting green turtle (Chelonia mydas mydas) abundance in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Click here: Jaguar (Panthera onca) predation of green turtles (Chelonia mydas mydas) is now a common occurrence in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. The abundance ...
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King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) scavenging at green turtle (Chelonia mydas) carcasses in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Click here: Herein, we report two observations in which a King Vulture was seen scavenging from green turtle carcasses in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica.
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New records of jaguar predation on sea turtles, Pacific coast, Costa Rica

Click here: We report here new sites where jaguars Panthera onca prey upon sea turtles in Costa Rica. We conducted carcass counts (n = 228) ...
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Precipitous decline of white-lipped peccary populations in Mesoamerica

Large mammalian herbivores are experiencing population reductions and range declines. However, we lack regional knowledge of population status for many herbivores, particularly in developing countries. ...
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Record of two jaguar cubs suckling from their mother in the wild

Click here: A seven minute camera-trap video of two male jaguar cubs Panthera onca suckling from their mother was captured on 7 December 2013 in ...
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Records of pumas scavenging at jaguar kills in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica

Click here: This study describes records of scavenging behaviour of pumas Puma concolor at jaguar Panthera onca kills in Costa Rica. We set camera traps ...
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Relative abundance and activity patterns of terrestrial mammalian species in Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Click here: Relatively little information has been generated regarding the mammal diversity of Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. This study assessed relative abundance ...
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Relative abundance and activity patterns of terrestrial mammals in Pacuare Nature Reserve, Costa Rica

Click here: Located in Costa Rica, Pacuare Nature Reserve has a long established history of wildlife monitoring programs primarily focused on species of nesting marine ...
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Reporte de Agamia agami (Ciconiiformes: Ardeidae) y Dendrocygna autumnalis (Anseriformes: Anatidae) en el Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Click here: En el 2012, durante la realización de un estudio de felinos silvestres en el Parque Nacional Tortuguero, se realizaron avistamientos esporádicos de Agamia ...
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White-lipped Peccary in Mesoamerica: Status, Threats and Conservation Actions

Click here: In Mesoamerica white­lipped peccaries range has been reduced from 87% of its historical distribution to a few populations that may be stable, whilst ...
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Popular Papers

Machos de jaguar se toleran y comen de la misma tortuga

Click here: National News Paper ‘La Nacion’
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Hambre lleva a jaguares a la playa de Tortuguero

Click here: National News Paper ‘La Nacion’
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Científicos recurren a saliva para conocer genética de jaguares en Tortuguero

Click here: National News Paper ‘La Nacion’
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Tránsito de felinos comprueba conectividad entre Tortuguero y Pacuare

Click here: National News Paper ‘La Nacion’
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This big cat’s seafood snack is an endangered turtle

Click here: New Scientist Magazine 
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Where turtles meet jaguars

Click here: SWOT Report XV
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Trocha project featured in Ameliadeda.com

Read the full story here:
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Social Media

Into de Costa Rican wild: jaguars feast on sea turtles

Click here: Online Journal
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Thanks for 2015 by Sebastian Kennerknecht

Click here: Sebastian Blog
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What to Do If You Meet a Jaguar

Click here: Panthera Blog
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A Little saliva goes a long way

Click here: Saliva Blog
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It is a jungle out there: sea turtles and jaguars interact in Tortuguero National Park

Click here: Sea Turtle Conservancy Blog
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Coastal Jaguars

Click here: National Geographic Blog
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Technical Reports

(Arroyo Arce et al 2020) Informe Final Monitoreo de la ‘Trocha Caño Chiquero’ PNTortuguero Costa Rica

We have recently completed our report looking at the potential impact of continued road construction in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, in the area known ...
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