|
|
|
|
|
Pillars of Hope offers a unique environment and ecology program of courses to students who wish to study animal care and behavior in the largest private wildlife program known among college preparatory schools of its kind. Our outdoor labs offer ideal opportunities to study animal and wildlife behavior of the Costa Rican white-tailed deer, crocodiles indigenous to the area, birds of many species
|
|
common to the area--wild ducks, parrots, parakeets, macaws, and toucans among them. Other visitors and inhabitants on the campus grounds include the sloth, anteaters, and Pancha, the local school mascot-a playful pisote (raccoon type creature with a long nose ideal for foresting in the trees and grassy areas). Nocturnal animals observed in their natural habitat include armadillos, bats, and raccoons, tepezcuintles-local rodent type creatures that have the appearance of 15-pound hamsters or guinea pigs with
|
|
|
stripes. Also found adjacent to the cafeteria is perhaps the largest aviary of its kind in Costa Rica. Every effort was made to provide a comfortable and spatial environment for the scarlet, blue and yellow macaws, known as lapas in Costa Rica, who nest in the treetops. Insect life abounds in the area.
|
|
Students observe daily the specialized leaf-cutting ants carrying their burdens along the paved walkways and in the wild throughout the campus. The careful observer can find occasional scorpions, colorful metallic blue and turquoise bees, butterflies, and moths of various shapes and sizes. Local iguanas and the Costa Rican red squirrels are plentiful and fascinating to watch climb in the trees across the campus. The interested student of herpetology can also find species
|
|
of snakes of varying types including the Boa Constrictor and the terciopelo, or Costa Rican Velvet snake.
Plant life on the campus grounds includes an abundance of fruit trees-banana, lemon, grapefruit, mango; mam�n chino-a soft red spiny fruit tasting somewhat like a peeled grape.
Guan�bana, papaya, coconut and other palms, cashew, and almond trees are but a few growing throughout several areas of the campus. Flowers grow year round and serve to provide beauty and variety to the plentiful green jungle plants and purple Saprissas that border the walkways and paths throughout the grounds.
|
|
|
