Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary and Retreat
 Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary

Costa Rica Anteater - Tamandua Urgent - Thirsty Anteaters

Mary Lynn Perry
February 2006


We are interrupting our series of articles on Biodynamic Gardening in the tropics in order to send out a call for help from the community to save the thirsty anteaters that will be wandering down from the hills to the beaches in search of water during March and April.

Last year, at least five beautiful anteaters were torn to shreds by people's dogs in the hills and near the beach. The animals were so gravely injured; that our local vets weren't able to save even one. Moreover, who knows how many never even called the vets because the anteaters were already dead from their injuries upon discovery. Help us to save the thirsty anteaters this year! Please, keep your dogs fenced in and controlled at all times. Those of you who live in the hills, if you could dig holes near springs on your properties to create pools of water (far from your dogs' pens) this would help save many animals, not just anteaters. Beach dwellers, if you could dig a shallow hole in the beach you, too, would be helping the anteaters because fresh water floats on top of salt water..

While living in Belize, I discovered that the sweetest, purest water is found a few meters above the high tide line. The trick is not to dig past the fresh water. If you dig down to the salt water level, the salt water mixes with the fresh water and ruins the well. If that happens, dig again at a distance from the ruined attempt .

Our biologists tell us that the anteaters seek the beach during drought in order to dig these shallow, fresh water wells to quench their thirst. Smart little cuties aren't they!?!?!?

Many of you probably don't realize that our dry season "summer", here on the peninsula is not a natural phenomenon; it is caused by the severe deforestation the region suffered due to the mass logging operations after the turn of the 20th century. While many residents and tourists enjoy frolicking in all the summer sunshine, it's an unnatural nightmare for gardeners and wildlife.

Rainsong's location near the Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco allows us to enjoy a few extra rains throughout the summer due to the large area of forest breathing out oxygen, moisture and precipitation. Sprinkles and occasional downpours (usually around new moon phase) refresh and revive all living things in and around the Reserve.

It is part of Rainsong's mission to help people reforest the area so we can heal the damage done long ago to the ecosystem we live in and love. "Think globally, act locally!" (Environmental Resource Project).

If we all exercise a little TLC, our region can become a beautiful and nurturing paradise for all its residents: feathered, furred, scaly or human. Rainsong's Rescue Center is now open in Cabuya. If you find any wild animal, injured or abandoned (babies), please bring them directly to Rainsong anytime. For EMERGENCIES - call Geoff at 844 4726.
Beaches of Cabuya Photo Collage
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