Satellite view of Bocas del Toro, Panama Photograph by USGS   Central America: Northern Panama Mangroves   200 square miles (500 square kilometers) -- about three times the size of Washington DC Vulnerable

· "Mouth of the Bull"
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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"Mouth of the Bull"

The Bocas del Toro-(Spanish for "mouths of the bull") San Bastimentos Island-San Blas mangroves weave along Panama’s Caribbean coast in a tangled braid of roots, branches, and dark green leaves that covers about 23 square miles (59 sq. km). These abundant mangrove forests are drenched with the highest rainfall in the country--as much as 236 inches (6,000 mm) per year.

Special Features

About 155 miles (250 km) of coral reefs border the coastline of this region, creating an underwater tapestry of vivid colors and diverse species. If you were to dive through this maze in your scuba gear, you might not realize how much the reefs depend upon the mangroves for survival. Mangroves trap sediment along the shore and help maintain the clarity of the water so the coral reefs can grow. In turn, the coral reefs protect the mangroves by forming a barrier against strong waves. The seagrasses fluttering in the calm waters between the mangroves and the coral reefs help maintain the mangrove ecosystem by cycling nutrients, keeping sediment intact, and providing habitat for several species. Onshore, the San San-Boca del Drago wetland contains more than 130 bird species, 50 mammal species, and 50 reptile species. Unfortunately, many of these species are threatened.

	Manatees and sea turtles feed on the same sea grasses. However, they target different parts of the grass--manatees dig into sediment to eat the roots while turtles remain near the surface, grazing on the top of the grasses.

Wild Side

A black-bellied whistling duck calls out to the rest of its flock as a spectacled caiman slides its sleek body over the mud and slips beneath the water’s surface. In the canopy, a mangrove warbler takes flight, lighting the shadows with its bright yellow feathers. Nearby, a crab-eating raccoon sits on a branch and cracks open mollusks while a vested anteater pokes its long, sticky tongue into wood fissures in search of insects. Offshore, a highly threatened West Indian manatee grazes on marine plants, earning its nickname "sea cow." Several species of sea turtles also swim through these waters on the way to their nesting beaches nearby, including the leatherback turtle, which can grow up to 6 feet (2 m) in length and weigh over 1,400 pounds (630 kg)!

Cause for Concern

In April 1986, 50,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Bocas del Toro, coating 17 miles (27 km) of coastline and devastating mangroves, sea grasses, and coral reefs. The thick oil suffocated mangrove trees and their epibiota--the many plants and animals clinging to their roots. When mangroves were replanted in the area, they did not produce any leaves, so migratory birds lost their shelter. Humans are responsible for other threats to the region, as well, including the expansion of ranching; hunting pressure on often-endangered small mammals and birds; over-harvesting of fish, lobsters, and sea turtles; extraction of firewood and timber; and the runoff of pollutants from banana plantations into rivers.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.