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(soft music)

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On the bridge between North and South America,

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lies one of the most diverse ecosystems of its size

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on the planet.

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Its biodiversity is unparalleled

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and its beauty is unmatched.

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Costa Rica is truly a bastion for wildlife

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like no other.

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(dramatic music)

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Hi, I'm Danielle Dufault and you're watching Animalogic.

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(soft music)

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(birds chirping)

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Today, we are in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica.

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This park is in the middle of one of the most

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biologically intense rainforests in the world.

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(soft music)

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Within a space of about 10 meters,

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you might see a crocodile, a bull shark,

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a spider monkey, and a kingfisher.

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Corcovado is one of the most remote rainforests

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in Central America.

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You can only get here by boat or by small plane

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and the only roads are the ones built by leafcutter ants.

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The perkiest residents of the park

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are the coatimundis.

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With their tails pointed directly upwards,

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coatis are easy to spot off in the distance.

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Unlike their cousins the raccoons,

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they are diurnal and spend their days out and about,

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scrounging for food.

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They use their long and flexible nose to poke around

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little rocks in search of fruit, grubs,

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and other insects.

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(animal crying)

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Deeper in the jungle live the largest land mammals

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in Central and South America, the tapir.

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(African music)

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Measuring up to two and a half meters long

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and weighing up to 300 kilograms,

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tapirs are true giants.

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Their nose and upper lip combine into a mini-trunk

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that functions much like an elephant's trunk.

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They have incredibly powerful jaws

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and if they bit you, they might take your arm off.

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If you're thinking that they look like they belong

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in an Ice Age movie, it's because they do.

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Tapirs are one of the most primitive, large mammals

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in the world and have remained

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unchanged for roughly 20 million years.

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If we're not careful,

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they won't make it the next 20 million.

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Endangered, there are less than 6,000

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Baird's tapirs left in the wild.

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(soft music)

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Tapirs can eat up to 35 kilograms of food a day

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and because of this, they are a critical species

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for spreading seeds throughout the jungle.

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Tapirs spend their mornings soaking in mud baths,

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often with several companions like the basilisk lizard

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but life for a tapir isn't always so relaxing.

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While being so large means that they have

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very few predators, their main predators happen to be

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the second largest land mammal in South and Central America.

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The jaguar.

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(dramatic music)

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Hoping to catch the tapir in its morning mud bath,

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the jaguar silently approaches.

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But it's not silent enough.

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The tapir will live to soak another day.

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Up in the trees, the faces of Corcovado

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are entirely different.

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Perhaps the most charismatic of all Corcovado residents

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are the monkeys.

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Capuchin, howler, squirrel monkeys all live here

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in the tree canopy.

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The second largest of these are the spider monkeys.

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Like many New World monkeys,

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they have prehensile tails which are very helpful

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for getting around.

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Especially with a newborn in toe.

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Spider monkeys get their name from their long and lanky

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limbs which may make them look like angrily teenagers

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but they make swinging through the trees a breeze

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even without opposable thumbs.

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(monkey crying)

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The common ancestor to all of these New World monkeys

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came here from Africa millions of years ago

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but nobody knows for sure how.

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The most accepted theory is that they were transported here

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on natural rafts after a massive flooding event in Africa.

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Despite their strong numbers in the Osa Peninsula,

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spider monkeys are endangered and every day

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face increasing threats from deforestation and hunting.

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Spider monkeys spend their days in large groups,

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forging for fruits in the treetops.

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Their numbers help deter their arboreal predators

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like the margay.

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(soft music)

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Margays are incredibly skilled climbers

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and primarily hunt in the tree canopy.

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But for the right meal,

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they will make their way to the jungle floor.

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In this case, a rat.

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(rat squealing)

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(dramatic music)

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She puts up a fight.

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(rat squealing)

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But, in the end, is no match for the margay.

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Monkeys aren't the only ones who find safety

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in the treetops.

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(upbeat funky music)

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Tamanduas are as comfortable in the tree canopy

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as they are on the ground.

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They are a type of anteater and spend their days

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looking for ants above and below.

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They are excellent climbers.

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They have a long prehensile tail which is hairless

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on the bottom, essentially acting like

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an extra hand to grab branches with.

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Though sometimes it's easier to get down

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just by sliding.

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They have a long sticky tongue

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which they use to pick up ants and termites.

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Sometimes over 9,000 in a single day.

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Their coat is thick and coarse

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and it helps keep ants, termites, and other insects at bay.

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There's nothing worse than flies biting you

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while you're trying to nap.

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Insects or no, his nap is about to be interrupted.

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(dramatic music)

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A puma lies in wait at the base of the tree.

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But the tamandua has a trick up his sleeve.

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When threatened, as a last resort, tamandua will omit

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a horrible smell.

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(dramatic music)

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It works and the puma skulks off.

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(dramatic music)

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Closer to the ground, the jungles of Costa Rica

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are ruled by a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles

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but to find them, we'll have to look very closely.

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Crocodiles, caiman, tree frogs, basilisk lizards,

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iguanas, and many others call this jungle home.

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(upbeat music)

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The wildlife found here is denser than any other place

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on the planet and it's a fairly recent mix.

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Four million years ago during the

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Great South American Exchange, the North and South Americas

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bridged which created a great exchange of fauna

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from the North to the South and the South to the North.

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This Great American Biotic Interchange

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saw North American species like cougars, tapirs,

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and deer cross over into South America.

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While South American species like armadillos,

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tamanduas, and poison dart frogs made their way

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into Central and North America.

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The North American species were much better off

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'cause many of the species coming from the South

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were not able to compete with animals in the North

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occupying similar niches and were unable to diversify

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to adapt to this change in territory and climate.

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(soft music)

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The poison dart frog, for example, only made it as far North

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as Central America.

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Unlike many other species of frog,

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poison darts make no effort at all to blend in

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and they exhibit some of the most brilliant colors

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in the animal world.

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This is called aposematism.

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A display of bright colors to warn predators

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that they're poisonous and they're quite poisonous.

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The golden poison frog has enough poison

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to kill 10 adult men.

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But the interesting thing is, they don't make their poison.

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It comes entirely from their diet.

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Likely from eating fire ants and other insects which,

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themselves, ingest plant poisons.

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Poison darts share the jungle with possibly the most

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iconic frog in the world.

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(dramatic music)

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The red-eyed tree frog.

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Unlike poison darts, red-eyed tree frogs aren't poisonous

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despite their bright coloring.

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When targeted by a predator,

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they'll flash their bright red eyes at their attacker.

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This may give the predator some pause,

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allowing the frog to jump away.

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This strategy is called startle coloration.

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Their eyes sit very high up on their heads

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and are quite huge and bulging.

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This gives them near 360 degree vision.

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But they have an extra use.

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They help with swallowing.

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Red-eyed tree frogs snag prey with their quick fire tongues

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and then swallow them whole.

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To help push their prey down their throat,

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their eyes recede, giving their meal an extra push

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into their bellies.

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(soft music)

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(dramatic music)

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Costa Rica is home to a wide variety of frogs

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and one of their local endemic residents

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is the beautiful blue-sided tree frog.

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Endangered, they've seen a population decline

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of 50% since the early 1990s.

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(dramatic music)

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Their biggest threats are coming from competing

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invasive fish, The International Pet Trade, and a fungal

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disease that prevents them from being able to breathe.

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Fortunately, due to conservation efforts in Costa Rica,

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their populations are currently stable.

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(dramatic music)

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Tree frogs find themselves prey

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to a lot of different predators.

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A vine snake spots the tree frog from above.

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The tree frog is yet unaware.

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(wildlife chirping)

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The snake strikes.

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But she's too loud.

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The tree frog hears her coming and jumps.

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Though their jumps don't always go so well.

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Lucky for the vine snake,

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their next meal is always right around the corner.

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(upbeat music)

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Vine snakes aren't the only predators slithering

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through the jungles of Central America.

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Much larger and much deadlier, the boa constrictor

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lies in wait in the dark underbrush for its next meal.

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Something a bit bigger than a tree frog,

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a black spiny-tailed iguana.

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These lizards live in colonies dominated by a large male.

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They spend their days basking in the sunlight,

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always keeping an eye out for hawks on the hunt.

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But it's not a hawk that's eyeing this iguana.

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Sensing the boa, the iguana asserts its dominance

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by showing off its dewlap.

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The boa is unperturbed.

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The iguana tries to lose the boa in the trees

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but isn't quick enough.

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I'll be right here.

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Right on the water, right here?

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But such is life in the jungle.

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(upbeat music)

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Costa Rica is home to an amazing variety of wildlife

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but perhaps none are more beautiful than the birds.

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Central and South America have a disproportionately

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large number of avian species.

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3,500 out of 10,000 avian species live here.

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In Costa Rica alone, you can find

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920 different species of bird.

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That's 10% of the entire world's bird life

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found in a country smaller than West Virginia.

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Here in Corcovado, you can see birds such as toucans,

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macaws, and curassow.

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Toucans are probably the most iconic

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of the country's avian residents.

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Their bills can be four times the size of their head

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and often as long as their bodies.

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(toucan cawing)

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These long colorful bills are not only an effective way

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to attract mates, but they use them to

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intimidate other birds, grab fruit at the end of branches

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too weak to support their body weight,

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and to dig meals out of small crevasses.

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(upbeat playful music)

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They have incredible control over their beaks

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00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,090
and during mating, they will pass fruit

267
00:15:57,090 --> 00:15:59,123
to one another as a form of courtship.

268
00:16:01,790 --> 00:16:04,103
Or they'll tap their long bills together.

269
00:16:06,370 --> 00:16:10,350
Unfortunately, toucans probably don't follow their noses

270
00:16:10,350 --> 00:16:11,810
all that much.

271
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As like most birds, they have a very poor sense of smell.

272
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Yellow throated toucans are the largest of the toucans

273
00:16:19,450 --> 00:16:23,360
found in Costa Rica and are known to be bullies.

274
00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:25,770
These two aracaris are enjoying a meal

275
00:16:25,770 --> 00:16:28,803
when the toucan stops by.

276
00:16:36,365 --> 00:16:39,115
(dramatic music)

277
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Down on the jungle floors, struts the most stylish bird

278
00:16:45,860 --> 00:16:49,053
of Costa Rica, the great curassow.

279
00:16:51,380 --> 00:16:54,260
Standing up to 91 centimeters tall,

280
00:16:54,260 --> 00:16:58,160
these dapper crosses rock a Mohawk of curled feathers.

281
00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:01,310
They also have bright yellow bills and long tails

282
00:17:01,310 --> 00:17:03,810
to attract potential mates.

283
00:17:03,810 --> 00:17:07,180
Vulnerable, great curassows face increasing threats

284
00:17:07,180 --> 00:17:12,021
every day from deforestation and from being hunted for food.

285
00:17:12,021 --> 00:17:14,673
Their relatives, the crested guans,

286
00:17:14,673 --> 00:17:17,400
are usually found in the trees

287
00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,400
but this one stalks the jungle floor

288
00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,863
in search of fallen fruit and insects.

289
00:17:24,110 --> 00:17:26,620
Pale-billed woodpeckers are the largest of the eight

290
00:17:26,620 --> 00:17:29,170
woodpeckers found in the Osa Peninsula.

291
00:17:29,170 --> 00:17:31,170
And they can be found knocking into trees

292
00:17:31,170 --> 00:17:33,923
in search of the larvae of woodboring beetles.

293
00:17:34,776 --> 00:17:37,776
(crickets chirping)

294
00:17:38,790 --> 00:17:41,540
(dramatic music)

295
00:17:44,630 --> 00:17:48,390
Down by the shore, herons have to share their territory

296
00:17:48,390 --> 00:17:51,793
not only with kingfishers but with crocodiles.

297
00:17:53,242 --> 00:17:55,992
(dramatic music)

298
00:18:05,571 --> 00:18:08,160
The little blue heron spends its days stalking small fish

299
00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:10,173
and amphibians in the shallows.

300
00:18:13,550 --> 00:18:14,963
His patience pays off.

301
00:18:24,641 --> 00:18:27,300
(dramatic music)

302
00:18:27,300 --> 00:18:29,570
Kingfishers employ a similar strategy

303
00:18:29,570 --> 00:18:31,650
but instead of standing in the water,

304
00:18:31,650 --> 00:18:33,593
they have mastered the dive.

305
00:18:35,269 --> 00:18:37,840
This Amazon Kingfisher perches and waits.

306
00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,423
He sees a fish and dives.

307
00:18:41,660 --> 00:18:43,500
He takes into account the refraction

308
00:18:44,626 --> 00:18:47,513
of the light in the water and is successful.

309
00:18:49,910 --> 00:18:54,910
The fish struggles but a few smacks take care of that.

310
00:19:03,379 --> 00:19:06,129
(birds chirping)

311
00:19:09,333 --> 00:19:11,916
(upbeat music)

312
00:19:13,060 --> 00:19:16,102
(birds chirping)

313
00:19:16,102 --> 00:19:19,220
The jungles of Costa Rica are home to a variety of parrots.

314
00:19:19,220 --> 00:19:23,813
And perhaps the most talkative are the yellow-naped parrots.

315
00:19:24,974 --> 00:19:28,141
(wildlife chattering)

316
00:19:29,910 --> 00:19:32,040
These parrots are particularly famous

317
00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,360
for their amazing ability to talk

318
00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:36,083
and are often kept as pets.

319
00:19:36,966 --> 00:19:39,099
(parrot chirping)

320
00:19:39,099 --> 00:19:41,300
(speaking foreign language)

321
00:19:41,300 --> 00:19:45,089
As a result, they can make some pretty creepy sounds.

322
00:19:45,089 --> 00:19:47,756
(parrot cawing)

323
00:19:51,340 --> 00:19:55,097
Possibly the most beautiful bird in all of Central America

324
00:19:55,097 --> 00:19:58,330
is also one of its most elusive.

325
00:19:58,330 --> 00:20:00,980
The resplendent quetzal.

326
00:20:00,980 --> 00:20:04,950
These beautiful birds go to extremes during courtship.

327
00:20:04,950 --> 00:20:07,560
The male will grow gorgeous twin tail feathers

328
00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,159
that can be up to a meter long.

329
00:20:10,159 --> 00:20:13,686
Then he will hollow out a den in a rotten tree,

330
00:20:13,686 --> 00:20:17,420
keeping it as clean as possible for the hopes of attracting

331
00:20:17,420 --> 00:20:18,413
his chosen mate.

332
00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,263
Only time will tell if she agrees to his offer.

333
00:20:26,310 --> 00:20:29,060
(dramatic music)

334
00:20:32,335 --> 00:20:33,980
Rivaling the quetzal for its beauty

335
00:20:33,980 --> 00:20:35,973
are Costa Rica's hummingbirds.

336
00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,360
There are dozens of species of hummingbird

337
00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:45,210
found in Costa Rica and they come in a wide variety of sizes

338
00:20:45,210 --> 00:20:46,650
and colors.

339
00:20:46,650 --> 00:20:48,443
Many are even iridescent.

340
00:20:51,844 --> 00:20:53,760
(dramatic music)

341
00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:57,630
Hummingbirds can beat their wings up to 200 times a second

342
00:20:57,630 --> 00:21:00,180
and because of this, they can hover in place

343
00:21:00,180 --> 00:21:02,963
and they're the only bird that can fly backwards.

344
00:21:04,088 --> 00:21:05,230
(dramatic music)

345
00:21:05,230 --> 00:21:07,770
They are known as nectarivores as their diet

346
00:21:07,770 --> 00:21:10,990
is made up almost entirely of plant nectar.

347
00:21:10,990 --> 00:21:14,250
Their hovering allows them to easily collect this nectar,

348
00:21:14,250 --> 00:21:18,086
especially from flowers that are too small to support

349
00:21:18,086 --> 00:21:18,919
their body weight.

350
00:21:18,919 --> 00:21:21,280
Their extreme control of their body movement

351
00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:24,370
is also very helpful when avoiding other hummingbirds

352
00:21:24,370 --> 00:21:26,083
gathered at a single flower.

353
00:21:28,330 --> 00:21:32,093
It's estimated that hummingbirds visit 20 flowers a minute.

354
00:21:33,270 --> 00:21:36,770
In order to eat all of this nectar, they have super long

355
00:21:36,770 --> 00:21:38,620
split tongues which are about double

356
00:21:38,620 --> 00:21:39,993
the length of their bills.

357
00:21:43,190 --> 00:21:46,030
Hummingbirds feed every 10 to 15 minutes

358
00:21:46,030 --> 00:21:47,870
and in a day, they will consume

359
00:21:47,870 --> 00:21:49,743
half their body weight in sugar.

360
00:21:50,980 --> 00:21:54,350
Their hearts beat around 1,000 times per minute

361
00:21:54,350 --> 00:21:57,250
and due to their high metabolism, if a hummingbird

362
00:21:57,250 --> 00:22:00,713
went without food for a few hours, they would die.

363
00:22:02,310 --> 00:22:03,710
To make it through the night,

364
00:22:03,710 --> 00:22:07,390
they enter a hibernation-like state called torpor

365
00:22:07,390 --> 00:22:10,740
during which their metabolism is lowered significantly

366
00:22:10,740 --> 00:22:13,190
and they don't need as much energy to keep going.

367
00:22:16,410 --> 00:22:19,920
Further north, along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica,

368
00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,700
lies a park filled with a whole host of wildlife.

369
00:22:23,700 --> 00:22:28,700
Sloths, monkeys, caiman, land crabs, and tourists.

370
00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,373
Manuel Antonio National Park.

371
00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:43,200
Home to 109 species of mammals, 184 species of birds,

372
00:22:44,130 --> 00:22:47,900
and some of the most pristine beaches in Central America,

373
00:22:47,900 --> 00:22:50,560
this National Park sees a lot of activity

374
00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:53,179
from both animals and tourists.

375
00:22:53,179 --> 00:22:55,929
(dramatic music)

376
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,940
The stars of the park are the sloths.

377
00:22:59,940 --> 00:23:03,390
The three-toed sloth is the slow, grinning species

378
00:23:03,390 --> 00:23:07,128
that relies solely on vegetation to survive.

379
00:23:07,128 --> 00:23:09,878
Aha, there you are.

380
00:23:10,886 --> 00:23:11,719
(soft music)

381
00:23:11,719 --> 00:23:15,253
The three-toed sloth is the slowest mammal in the world.

382
00:23:21,060 --> 00:23:23,790
They spend so much of their lives not moving

383
00:23:23,790 --> 00:23:26,930
that algae grows on their coats.

384
00:23:26,930 --> 00:23:30,160
This tints their coat green, providing them with camouflage

385
00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:33,203
against the green tree canopy that they call home.

386
00:23:34,570 --> 00:23:37,606
There are many differences between two and three-toed sloths

387
00:23:37,606 --> 00:23:41,810
but as their name suggests, two-toed sloths have two claws

388
00:23:41,810 --> 00:23:45,123
on their forelimbs and three toes on their hind limbs.

389
00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,360
The two-toed sloth can be surprisingly agile

390
00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:51,880
and can zip around quickly if necessary,

391
00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:53,860
though they still spend most of their time

392
00:23:53,860 --> 00:23:55,463
just slothing around.

393
00:23:57,323 --> 00:23:58,336
(upbeat music)

394
00:23:58,336 --> 00:23:59,730
Though the three-toed sloth may smile more,

395
00:23:59,730 --> 00:24:01,720
they're both famous for constantly looking

396
00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:02,983
as high as a kite.

397
00:24:06,177 --> 00:24:09,099
♪ Chill out, stay cool, relax ♪

398
00:24:09,099 --> 00:24:11,054
♪ Let go ♪

399
00:24:11,054 --> 00:24:12,798
♪ Oh, let go, let go ♪

400
00:24:12,798 --> 00:24:15,425
♪ Chill out, stay cool, relax ♪

401
00:24:15,425 --> 00:24:17,508
♪ Let go ♪

402
00:24:19,421 --> 00:24:21,493
(soft music)

403
00:24:21,493 --> 00:24:24,410
Sloths have very long limbs, allowing them to easily

404
00:24:24,410 --> 00:24:26,993
grab tree trunks and branches while climbing.

405
00:24:28,275 --> 00:24:31,030
They use their incredibly long claws

406
00:24:31,030 --> 00:24:32,930
to dig into the bark while they climb.

407
00:24:37,830 --> 00:24:40,460
They are so good at hanging onto branches,

408
00:24:40,460 --> 00:24:42,540
often times when they die,

409
00:24:42,540 --> 00:24:44,763
they'll remain hanging from the trees.

410
00:24:46,060 --> 00:24:47,980
But it's not just their claws,

411
00:24:47,980 --> 00:24:51,510
sloths have highly specialized retractor muscles

412
00:24:51,510 --> 00:24:53,340
which allow them to hang onto trees

413
00:24:53,340 --> 00:24:56,393
at increasingly difficult positions with ease.

414
00:24:57,790 --> 00:25:00,500
Though they have very little muscle mass.

415
00:25:00,500 --> 00:25:03,923
About 30% less than what most mammals have.

416
00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,490
Sloths spend the majority of their lives in the trees

417
00:25:08,490 --> 00:25:12,400
and only really climb down when they need to poop

418
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,853
which they strangely only have to do about once a week.

419
00:25:16,790 --> 00:25:19,700
On the ground, sloths lose any agility

420
00:25:19,700 --> 00:25:21,373
they had in the trees.

421
00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,770
In order to get around, they must pull themselves forward

422
00:25:25,770 --> 00:25:28,350
with their fore and hind limbs.

423
00:25:28,350 --> 00:25:30,810
None of their limbs can support their body weight

424
00:25:30,810 --> 00:25:34,200
and because of this they are classified as four armed

425
00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,293
rather than four-legged animals.

426
00:25:37,150 --> 00:25:39,470
Though in water, where they don't need to support

427
00:25:39,470 --> 00:25:42,373
their own weight, they are quite adept swimmers.

428
00:25:43,220 --> 00:25:45,863
It's just getting out that proves difficult.

429
00:25:47,990 --> 00:25:51,670
Sloths share the jungle with a whole host of other wildlife.

430
00:25:51,670 --> 00:25:53,920
Three species of monkey live here.

431
00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:56,470
The howler monkey occupies the upper canopy

432
00:25:56,470 --> 00:25:58,410
while the capuchin and squirrel monkeys

433
00:25:58,410 --> 00:26:00,054
live a little lower down.

434
00:26:00,054 --> 00:26:02,804
(dramatic music)

435
00:26:04,427 --> 00:26:05,676
Howler monkeys...

436
00:26:05,676 --> 00:26:08,426
(monkey howling)

437
00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:12,553
Howler...

438
00:26:12,553 --> 00:26:15,303
(monkey howling)

439
00:26:17,457 --> 00:26:18,969
Howl, howl, howler.

440
00:26:18,969 --> 00:26:20,591
(monkey howling)

441
00:26:20,591 --> 00:26:22,293
(groaning)

442
00:26:22,293 --> 00:26:23,871
(monkey howling)

443
00:26:23,871 --> 00:26:26,230
Howler monkeys sound like they're the ultimate terror

444
00:26:26,230 --> 00:26:29,003
in the jungle and that's the idea.

445
00:26:29,917 --> 00:26:33,180
(monkey howling)

446
00:26:33,180 --> 00:26:36,580
Yet, in reality, this is far from the case.

447
00:26:36,580 --> 00:26:39,410
While howler monkeys are the largest and surliest

448
00:26:39,410 --> 00:26:40,810
of the New World monkeys,

449
00:26:40,810 --> 00:26:44,310
they aren't particularly confrontational and their loud,

450
00:26:44,310 --> 00:26:46,340
scary call is meant as a warning

451
00:26:46,340 --> 00:26:48,839
to other monkeys to stay out.

452
00:26:48,839 --> 00:26:52,110
(monkey howling)

453
00:26:52,110 --> 00:26:56,170
Males are the loudest and have large specialized throats

454
00:26:56,170 --> 00:26:58,800
which contain a large hyoid bone.

455
00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,706
This helps boost their bark-like call.

456
00:27:01,706 --> 00:27:05,030
(monkey howling)

457
00:27:05,030 --> 00:27:07,510
Being constantly observed by tourists,

458
00:27:07,510 --> 00:27:09,980
howlers have developed an interesting strategy

459
00:27:09,980 --> 00:27:12,980
for keeping unwanted humans at bay.

460
00:27:12,980 --> 00:27:14,463
They pee on them.

461
00:27:15,570 --> 00:27:17,340
If you're near a howler monkey,

462
00:27:17,340 --> 00:27:20,216
it's probably best not to stand directly under them

463
00:27:20,216 --> 00:27:22,483
unless you don't mind getting wet.

464
00:27:25,390 --> 00:27:26,690
Oh, this one's got a baby.

465
00:27:30,290 --> 00:27:33,350
Capuchins have developed a special relationship with humans

466
00:27:33,350 --> 00:27:35,850
and have learned that tourists can be an excellent

467
00:27:36,753 --> 00:27:37,752
source of food.

468
00:27:37,752 --> 00:27:38,620
They have lost their fear of people

469
00:27:38,620 --> 00:27:40,740
and are often found raiding unsuspecting

470
00:27:40,740 --> 00:27:42,790
beach goers bags for food.

471
00:27:42,790 --> 00:27:45,770
This can be harmful for monkeys because processed foods

472
00:27:45,770 --> 00:27:49,284
can be either toxic or indigestible for them.

473
00:27:49,284 --> 00:27:50,400
(funky music)

474
00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:53,080
When there aren't any tourists around to feed them,

475
00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:55,543
capuchins are excellent foragers.

476
00:27:57,310 --> 00:27:59,590
Unlike many other New World monkeys,

477
00:27:59,590 --> 00:28:02,100
capuchins spend a lot of time on the ground

478
00:28:02,100 --> 00:28:05,740
looking for food and they're quite resourceful.

479
00:28:05,740 --> 00:28:08,560
They'll strip bark, they'll use sticks as tools,

480
00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:12,470
and they'll even use rocks to break open hard fruit.

481
00:28:12,470 --> 00:28:14,580
They even have a few tricks up their sleeves

482
00:28:14,580 --> 00:28:15,823
for finding water.

483
00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:21,880
Capuchins are considered to be one of the smartest

484
00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,160
New World monkeys and they've learned to rub

485
00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,210
different plants on themselves to keep ticks at bay

486
00:28:27,210 --> 00:28:30,143
and possibly even to treat inflammation.

487
00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,810
White-headed capuchins live in large troops.

488
00:28:34,810 --> 00:28:38,330
A big part of coming-of-age for juvenilis is playing,

489
00:28:38,330 --> 00:28:43,168
chasing, and wrestling and oh do they play.

490
00:28:43,168 --> 00:28:46,418
(upbeat playful music)

491
00:29:29,875 --> 00:29:32,840
At Manuel Antonio National Park, a lot of that play

492
00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:35,320
involves stealing things from tourists

493
00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:38,033
and then chasing each other for the stolen goods.

494
00:29:44,030 --> 00:29:47,603
Of course they tell us not to bring chips in for a reason.

495
00:29:48,751 --> 00:29:51,501
(dramatic music)

496
00:29:55,900 --> 00:29:58,150
Other animals have learned to do the same.

497
00:29:58,150 --> 00:30:00,970
coatis and raccoons have become very bold

498
00:30:00,970 --> 00:30:04,713
and can be seen patrolling the beaches in search of snacks.

499
00:30:04,713 --> 00:30:07,463
(dramatic music)

500
00:30:10,505 --> 00:30:12,922
(chattering)

501
00:30:20,898 --> 00:30:23,648
(dramatic music)

502
00:30:33,161 --> 00:30:36,210
These raids really show the limits of our bonds

503
00:30:36,210 --> 00:30:38,780
with our fellow man 'cause instead of stopping

504
00:30:38,780 --> 00:30:41,270
any of these animals, people tend to prefer

505
00:30:41,270 --> 00:30:43,950
getting cute pictures for Instagram.

506
00:30:43,950 --> 00:30:45,833
I mean, it makes sense.

507
00:30:47,252 --> 00:30:48,085
(soft music)

508
00:30:48,085 --> 00:30:51,520
Costa Rica is home to thousands of different species,

509
00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:54,660
many of which are endangered.

510
00:30:54,660 --> 00:30:58,360
Despite the surge of deforestation in Central America,

511
00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,560
over the past 20 years, Costa Rica has actually seen

512
00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,393
an increase in forest cover across the country.

513
00:31:05,550 --> 00:31:08,650
The country has set aside 25% of their land

514
00:31:08,650 --> 00:31:11,950
as Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks.

515
00:31:11,950 --> 00:31:15,030
Costa Ricans are very proud of their wildlife

516
00:31:15,030 --> 00:31:17,770
and go to great efforts to conserve it.

517
00:31:17,770 --> 00:31:21,330
Conservation centers like Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary

518
00:31:21,330 --> 00:31:24,094
and La Paz Waterfall Gardens take in injured wildlife

519
00:31:24,094 --> 00:31:27,593
and animals rescued from the Exotic Pet Trade.

520
00:31:29,221 --> 00:31:30,221
Hi, sweetie.

521
00:31:32,372 --> 00:31:33,640
(chuckling)

522
00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:35,403
This is maximum sloth effort.

523
00:31:36,260 --> 00:31:38,340
Their goal is to eventually release them

524
00:31:38,340 --> 00:31:41,670
back into the wild but some animals are too injured

525
00:31:41,670 --> 00:31:44,628
or too use to humans to ever return.

526
00:31:44,628 --> 00:31:45,860
(soft music)

527
00:31:45,860 --> 00:31:48,729
Costa Rica remains a bastion for wildlife,

528
00:31:48,729 --> 00:31:52,620
providing hope for the future of these endangered species

529
00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:55,280
and an inspiration to the rest of us

530
00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:58,901
showing that coexisting with nature is possible.

531
00:31:58,901 --> 00:32:02,068
(inspirational music)