Costa Rica & Nicaragua Expedition 13G&H September 2013 | Page 29

A former prison island, San Lucas is now a beautiful wildlife
refuge. It is home to troops of howler monkeys, crocodiles,
giant blue dragonflies, butterflies of every colour and sunbathing lizards. The surrounding water is alive with turtles,
stingrays and all sorts of sea-life, and at night is transformed
by the bioluminescent plankton which shimmers bright blue
when disturbed.
Only a limited number of people are allowed to visit San
Lucas as part of a guided tour. The Raleigh groups were
privileged to be able to join the rangers on the island and
worked primarily on a trail-building project. The trail allows
rangers easy-access to one of the more remote beaches
and will also open up this part of the island for tourists.
Visitors will be able to learn about the history of the island
and the efforts being made to conserve and protect the
natural flora and fauna.
In addition to this back-breaking work, the groups also
cleared the beaches of the rubbish which washes up on
the shores of this beautiful island. They also worked to
remove unnatural materials like barbed wire and metal,
left over from the outlying prison buildings, restoring the
island to its natural state.

Environmental / Ambiental

San Lucas Wildlife Refuge

La antigua prisión de la Isla San Lucas es ahora una bella
reserva natural que alberga monos Congos, cocodrilos que
viven en manglares, libélulas azules gigantes, mariposas
de todos los colores, iguanas y lagartijas. Las aguas que
rodean la isla están vivas con tortugas, mantarayas y todo
tipo de vida marina, y en la noche el agua se convierte
fluorescente con el plantum luminoso que brilla cuando
se mueve. Como Refugio Silvestre hay un número limitado
de visitantes.
Los grupos de Raleigh tuvieron el privilegio de unirse a los
de Guarda Parques en la isla y trabajaron principalmente
en un proyecto para construir senderos que le permiten a
los Guarda Parques acceso a las playas más remotas. Una
vez terminado este sendero va abrir esta parte de la isla a
los turistas quienes podrán aprender sobre la historia de
la isla y sobre los esfuerzos que se están haciendo para
conservar la flora y la fauna. )?????????????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????????????)??????????Q????????????????????????????????)?????????????(??((