The Melanocephala Project
is a CRWILD and B.C.P. in situ Conservation program
in order to generate knowledge with a final end:
Conservation of The Black-Headed Bushmaster.
What we do ?
The Black Headed Bushmaster Conservation Project is a program held by
CRWILD and the Bushmaster Conservation Project.
This effort constitutes an important step towards
understanding and protecting this rare and enigmatic species in its natural habitat,
the Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica.
Only a group of passionate naturalists could develop such a project, devoted to protect and study their favorite snake genus: Lachesis.
This project is based in the middle of the primary rainforests
of the Península de Osa, Costa Rica.
HOW TO SAVE THE RAREST VIPER OF THE NEOTROPICS:
THE BLACK HEADED BUSHMASTER
(Lachesis melanocephala).
(watch video).
Meet the team
Cesar Barrio Amorós
Scientific director and photographer
Spanish herpetologist who dedicated his life to the understanding and conservation of nature.
Cristian Porras Ramírez
Cristian is the founder of CRWild and local coordinator of the Melanocephala project.
Laura Ruysseveldt
Belgian herpetologist, specialized in snake ecomorphology, ethology and public education.
Bryan Minne
Herpetologist specialized in lizard ecomorphology, snake ecology and captive management of herpetofauna.
Greivin Corrales Chavez
Bushmaster experts in Costa Rica. He works as a herpetologist/toxinologist in the Instituto Clodomiro Picado and has been keeping and breeding Lachesis sp.
Aarón Gómez Argüello
Aarón is the curator of the Serpentarium within the Instituto Clodomiro Picado. He is responsible for a major part of the research conducted towards the production of antivenom within the institute.
Randall Arguedas Porras
ICP, UCR. His extensive experience as Veterinarian of wild animals, including venomous snakes
is of great value to the project.
He will check the health of the animals, perform the surgeries and
follow their health along the project.
Victor Merella Merella
Rancho Quemado local activist/guardian and technic support for the Project
Jovel Cerdas
Rancho Quemado local activist/guardian and technic support for the Project
Study area
The area chosen for the study is located around the small community of
Rancho Quemado, Península de Osa, Costa Rica.
This area is situated at one of the last virgin primary rainforests in Central America, covered in natural beauty, attracting adventurous naturalists and wildlife tourists of all over the world.
Thus, our project aims to cover the area around Rancho Quemado, without leaving behind the option of being able to work in the rest of the Osa Peninsula, seeking to understand the distribution habits, range of home and territory of the Plato Negro.
Goals and Research
Ecology
Tracking the Black Headed bushmasters and study their spatial ecology
Behavior
The reproductive behavior of wild bushmasters is relatively unknown. We're trying to observe mating and nesting behavior and report on other specific interactions.
Conservation
Large snakes are keystone species to their environment. Since bushmasters are still subjected to poaching and habitat loss, protecting them and their environment is of the utmost importance.
Ethology
Due to the rarity of sightings in the wild, bushmaster behavior is scarcely understood. Following wild specimens and studying their behavior can help us shed some light on the ethology of these snakes.
Visit the project
Tracking
Black Headed Bushmaster
Tracking a black headed bushmaster is now possible
thanks to telemetry and the conservation project.
It is now possible to offer visits to tourists who wish to see the rarest snake in the world.
Price for a herp tour/person:
Foreign visitor: $60*
Domestic visitor: $60*
Herping
Night Tour
The Osa Peninsula is home of some of the most noticeable
amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica, aside the star of our project.
Embrace the Night: Unveiling the Fascinating World of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, a Haven for Distinctive Amphibians, Reptiles and Our Project's Remarkable Feature Creature.
Price for a herp tour/person:
Foreign visitor: $60*
Domestic visitor: $60*
Staying over!
The Osa Peninsula is one of the most biodiverse regions of the country and the world, an area that every naturalist will enjoy! Anyone can visit the village and even stay the night. Traditional meals can be prepared for you on the spot by local families or staying at lodges or cabins in the woods. Wild hiking trails are plenty and local and professional naturalist guides are at your disposal to show you the forests.
Price per night/person:
Foreign and Domestic visitor: $60
(including 3 meals + drinks).
Students & Volunteers
Are you a student at any natural sciences discipline and are you interested in studying the Black-headed bushmaster? In our project it is possible! You can follow internships or conduct your own studies saying with local families.
If you wish to volunteer in the project, follow an internship and/or conduct your own study, send us a motivational letter or an abstract of what you wish to achieve and we'll help you get over here!
Price per night/person:
Student/Volunteer: $55
(including 3 meals + drinks + activities)
Guidelines and Regulations
Tracking bushmasters is not an attraction.
It is part of our scientific program.
It is a privilege and it comes with a certain set of rules and regulations.
These rules have been established to keep the animals as stress free as possible, as well as to keep our data collection unaffected.
It is of the utmost importance that the animals in the program do not suffer any negative effects from being visited!
Before any tracking activity, the guests will get an elaborate explanation on what is to come.
If you are planning a visit to our project with the intentions to track wild bushmasters, please read through the rules and regulations below.
- Tracking bushmasters is NOT guarantee for success!
The tracked individual can be hiding underground or in a hiding space, making it impossible to see. It may also be out of reach of the responder, making locating the target difficult or even impossible. Tracking in an area with very dense vegetation and a lot of differences in elevation might also hinder the tracking process.
- Tracking bushmasters is NOT tourist attraction!
It is a scientific study and our data is priceless to us. This means that tracking can only be done on data collection days, which will be executed only once or twice a week. It is also highly dependent on the weather and availability of our researchers.
- Tracking bushmasters is a HANDS-OFF experience!
All of our registered bushmasters are studied on their natural behavior. Handling or approaching them too closely can cause stress, often resulting in a change in behavior. This all can lead to the contamination of our data. If you're going out tracking, follow the guidelines of the researcher completely to avoid any unnecessary stress.
- Tracking bushmasters is NOT a photography tour!
If you want to take lots of time snapping beautiful shots of a wild bushmaster, tracking one might not be the best idea for you. We don't allow the use of flash equipment and the distance to the animal will be dependent on the behavior of the animal and will be determined on the spot by the researcher in charge. Of course, in-situ shots can be taken.
- Tracking bushmasters is NO walk in the park!
Bushmasters can be virtually anywhere! Getting to these locations might require some serious bushwhacking. Prepare to cross rivers, crawl over/under fallen trees, stand knee-deep in mud, crawl up steep hills and hike through the middle of the jungle for several hours.
- Tracking is NOT free!
Of course, tracking these beasts comes with a lot of costs and work. Not only for the equipment, but also for our staff and guides. It is for this reason that we imply a cost of $60 per person to join on a tracking activity.
READ MORE ABOUT BUSHMASTERS IN OUR ARTICLES ON THIS FASCINATING GENUS
Article in english
The Bushmasters (Lachesis spp.):
Queens of the Rainforest.
An Overview of the Taxonomy, Distribution, Natural History, Lore, and Conservation of the Largest Vipers in the World.
Artículo en español
Lachesis, la reina de la selva tropical.
Una descripción general de la taxonomía, distribución, historia natural, tradición y conservación de la víboras más grandes del mundo.
DONATE TO THE BLACK-HEADED BUSHMASTER CONSERVATION PROJECT
"Melanocephala project".
This rare and enigmatic species is facing extinction along its habitat,
the virgin rainforest at the Osa Peninsula.
Our project needs constant funds for equipment, travel expenses,
veterinary care and research costs.
Organizing workshops with local people and kids will change their minds to respect and preserve this magnificent serpent.
Please consider a donation, even a small contribution can make the difference.
Our Conservation Partners
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