Research from our lodge

At the Jaguar's Jungle, we contribute research to a country wide animal monitoring project managed by the Costa Rican government. With the use of camera traps, we monitor the population densities of all wildlife species on the reserve. We also conduct behavioral studies with the wild cats that roam the reserve: jaguars, pumas, ocelots, margay, and jaguarundi.

Our research has given us an inside look at the elusive lives of wild cats on the Osa Peninsula and shed light on the theory that Jaguars rub against designer perfume scents.

We conducted an experiment founded by Washington & Jefferson College wherein designer perfumes Chanel No. 5, Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men, and L'Aire du Temps were dispersed onto scent stations in front of camera traps to record Jaguar responses. While conducting this research we have discovered a new male jaguar individual who had never been identified while also monitoring those who have been identified. By tracking these animals, we learn how large their territory is and how old they live to be. This data contributes to environmental policy making.