Coiba

The Coiba National Park, in Spanish Parque Nacional Coiba, is located on the Pacific coast of Panama in the Gulf of Chiriquí and is named after the eponymous island, which is part of the National Park. Administratively, it belongs to the provinces of Veraguas and Chiriquí. Overall, the National Park covers an area of ​​2701 km ² with 38 other smaller islands and a larger area of the Pacific, in which, among other things, a large coral reef is located. He is considered one of the largest marine national parks worldwide. Since 2005, he is guided on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

History

Originally, the park area was inhabited by the Cacique Coiba, an indigenous people. Around the year 1560 was the conquest. 1918 Panama brought the island into his possession and converted it into a penal colony, in his weddings were up to 3,000 prisoners housed. 1992 saw the establishment of the Coiba National Park at the then included the islands Rancheria, Jicaron, Jicarita, Canal de Afuera, Uva, Contreras, Pajaros and Brincanco. In its present size of the national park was declared in 2001 by HL Freidi Torres.

Fauna and Flora

About 12,000-15,000 years ago, the island of Coiba was separated from the mainland, in the aftermath numerous species as endemic species or subspecies could be isolated there develop. On Coiba live 147 species of birds. Endemic among other things, a subspecies of the Rotkappenspechts Melanerpes rubricapillus subfusculus. Of the mammal species such as the Coiba agouti ( Dasyprocta coibae ), the Coiba Howler Monkey ( Alouatta coibensis ) or a subspecies of Südopossums ( Didelphis marsupialis battyi ) and white -tailed deer are (Odocoileus virginianus Rothschildi ) as endemic. The number of plant species is estimated at about 1,450. Also the maritime areas of the National Park are characterized by an extraordinary biodiversity. Among the estimated 760 fish species count 23 whale and dolphin species and 33 species of sharks.