The Costa Rican International Herpetology Symposium and Field Exploration will be held September 2-7, 2013, at Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve in Sarapiquí, located amidst primary forest in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. The symposium will feature presentations, workshops, conservation, herpetological organizations, and new findings and research from all over the Americas.
The symposium aims to open an exchange of knowledge, learning, and enjoyment of Costa Rican herpetology at its best, and outline the importance of herpetofauna in biology and ecotourism in neotropical ecosystems.
The conference will feature two international herpetologists: Dr. Bill Lamar, famous herpetology researcher and documentary expert, and César Barrio-Amoros, taxonomist and herpetology tropical explorer. Also participating are two well-known Costa Rican herpetologists, Alejandro Solórzano, director of the Costa Rican Serpentarium, and Dr. Mahmood Sasa, researcher in the Clodomiro Picado Institute of Universidad de Costa Rica. There will also be space for students and other herpetologists to give lectures on new research and projects.
The symposium includes a tropical safari on the Sarapiquí River searching for crocodiles, turtles, and iguanas, and a visit to the Organization for Tropical Studies-La Selva Biological Station.
Though small in geographic area, Costa Rica has one of the highest densities of herpetofauna in the world with more than 435 species of reptiles and amphibians.
More information: www.selvaverde.com, sergio@selvaverde.com