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Tico's Wild Studio

Casa
Costa Rica
Puerto Jiménez
Tico's Wild Studio

I profoundly believe that art has the power to change human beings and their behavior. The jaguar is the most beautiful of ambassadors.

You can support The Golden Shadow project by making a donation that will help in the purchase of the needed equipment to keep following the tracks of Osa Peninsula's last jaguars, and enable the project to continue and grow! You can make a direct donation thanks to PayPal at the following link: paypal.me/tharoutiounian
Your donation makes you part of the Partners & Special thanks list. On the field, even small donations help a lot.

16/03/2026

Walking along a remote beach on the Osa Peninsula with my friend , we were scanning the shoreline the way we always do, hoping to encounter signs of wildlife. In the distance, we noticed the shape of a large animal lying on the sand. As we approached, we realized it was an enormous Longtail stingray (Hypanus longus). 🏝️

At first, we wondered if it had stranded naturally. But when we carefully turned it over, the situation became clearer. This ray had most likely been caught, pulled out of the water, and then abandoned on the beach. Seeing this animal left behind like a piece of trash is always difficult. Creatures like this belong roaming freely through the tropical Pacific, not ending their lives forgotten on the sand. 🎣

When we explore these beaches, we expect to encounter wildlife that reflects the incredible biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula. That day, we did find an animal… just not in the way we hoped. 😕

11/03/2026

• CROCODILE NEST ALERT! 🚨🎥🐊🥚🇨🇷

FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE DECIDED TO USE OUR CAMERA TRAPS TO DOCUMENT SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN BIG CATS: THE NESTING OF AN AMERICAN CROCODILE ALONG A LAGOON IN COSTA RICA! 🤯🐊

Together with , we installed a camera trap at to try to document the nesting behavior of a female American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). The lagoon located on the property seemed to host a potential nesting site, and our goal was to capture the moment when the female would come to lay her eggs.

American crocodiles are large reptiles that nest on land, usually close to lagoons, rivers, or coastal wetlands. Females lay their eggs in nests made of soil and vegetation, where the eggs remain buried for several weeks before hatching. However, these nests are extremely vulnerable to predators.

The results completely surprised us. Instead of witnessing a successful nest, our camera trap revealed something very different. Not only did we detect the female crocodile visiting the site, but we also recorded raccoons discovering the nest and preying on the eggs. In the end, the entire clutch was consumed, leaving no chance for the eggs to become hatchlings. 🦝🥚🦝

This is a reminder of how fragile the early stages of life are in the wild. Many species like crocodiles must lay large numbers of eggs because only a very small percentage will survive to adulthood. Predation, environmental conditions, and many other factors make survival extremely difficult.

27/02/2026

• CLOUDED ONCILLA ALERT! 🎥🐆🇨🇷

WE JUST DETECTED THE SMALLEST WILDCAT OF COSTA RICA! 😍

The clouded oncilla (Leopardus pardinoides) is the smallest of the six wild cat species present in Costa Rica, and one of the most elusive. It occurs only in the country’s mountain ranges, mainly within high elevation cloud forests. ⛰️☁️

Although it may look similar to the ocelot or the margay at first glance, the clouded oncilla is a completely distinct species. Its much smaller size, slender proportions, and very specific way of moving help set it apart. Always alert, reacting to the slightest sound, it moves through the forest with constant vigilance.

Primarily nocturnal, it is extremely difficult to observe in the wild. Clear videos of this species are rare, which makes this detection particularly special for us.

As always, we do not share exact locations. Just know that this detection took place in the Talamanca Mountain Range, Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Huge thanks to .zamzam for sponsoring this camera trap and making this detection possible! 🎥🐆

Follow and help us protect wild cats and the ecosystems they depend on 🌳🐆🇨🇷

12/02/2026

NEW CAMERA TRAPS DEPLOYED! 🎥🐆🇨🇷

Every expedition is so much more than just installing camera traps. It is breathtaking landscapes, unexpected wildlife encounters, long hours under the rain, in the mud, carrying heavy gear through the Costa Rica wilderness. It is the sweat, the detours, the setbacks, and the teamwork it takes to explore all day just to install a single camera. During this expedition, we crossed path with species such as the precious metal scarab (Pelidnota virescens), the marathusa owlet moth (Neopreptos marathusa), the black tailed worm snake (Geophis talamancae), and the cacomistle (Bassariscus sumichrasti). And those oval green fruits with striking pink bracts are nothing other than wild passion fruits growing deep in the forest! 🪲🦝🐛🍈

Our explorations take us across very different regions, and when we work in the Talamanca Mountain Range, the scale is overwhelming. This vast territory stretches across several protected areas and includes the largest national park in the country, La Amistad International Park. High elevation cloud forests unfold into endless ridges wrapped in mist, sheltering unique flora and fauna found nowhere else. It is easy to lose yourself in these landscapes, and no two expeditions are ever the same. ⛰️

Behind every image we capture, there is a full story. Extraordinary people, shared effort, unpredictable challenges, and unforgettable moments that turn demanding days in the forest into true adventures. None of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors who make this monitoring effort a reality.

If you or your company would like to sponsor a camera trap, simply send a private message to and we will explain how it works. Each new camera helps us explore new areas and potentially detect new jaguars! 🎥🐆🙌🏼

Follow and help us protect jaguars and the ecosystems they depend on. 🌳🐆🇨🇷

09/02/2026

NEW CAMERA TRAPS DEPLOYED! 🎥🐆🇨🇷

During a major expedition deep into the heart of the Talamanca Mountain Range in Costa Rica, we were finally able to deploy two new camera traps in a completely new area. 🎥🎥

Camera traps are the only reliable way to detect jaguars, and of course all the other elusive wildlife living in these dense forests, species that are extremely difficult to observe directly. Every new camera allows us to explore unknown zones and better understand how jaguars use these landscapes.

These new camera traps were sponsored by and . We are very grateful for their support, which allows us to continue deploying long-term monitoring equipment in remote areas of the Talamanca Mountain Range. Thanks to this support, we can expand our research, explore new zones, and improve our understanding of jaguars and the wildlife living in these forests. ⛰️🌴

We also sincerely thank for granting us the research permits and for facilitating all the legal processes that made this work possible in this remote part of the country. 💪🏼

This is a truly magical forest, and we are incredibly excited about the results that may come from this new monitoring effort.

If you or your company would like to sponsor a camera trap, simply send a private message to and we will explain how it works. Each new camera helps us explore new areas and potentially detect new jaguars! 🎥🐆🙌🏼

Follow and help us protect jaguars and the ecosystems they depend on. 🌳🐆🇨🇷

04/02/2026

• JAGI MADE IT TO THE NEWS! 🚨😱🎥🐆🖤🇨🇷

The videos of Jagi that we recently shared have gone widely viral. Across all platforms, they have reached millions of views and traveled far beyond the forests where he lives, throughout Costa Rica and even beyond its borders! 🤩🫶🏼

This visibility led me to give several interviews, including this one for , Costa Rica’s main national news channel. 📺🇨🇷

Sharing the images we capture through our camera trap network is not about chasing attention. It is about awareness and education. Social media is an incredible tool because it gives everyone access to these moments and reveals the extraordinary natural richness of Costa Rica’s forests. 🌱🌴

You can only want to protect what you know exists. That is why sharing these videos matters. Whether on social media or on television, the more people we reach, the stronger the impact for the conservation of these endangered animals. 🫶🏼🐆🇨🇷

Follow and help us protect jaguars and the ecosystems they depend on 🌳🐆🇨🇷

26/01/2026

MAYDAY MAYDAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM… 🕷️🌙

Sometimes you find yourself in situations you never saw coming, like the moment an enormous bird tarantula (Crypsidromus carinatus) casually climbed onto my boot. The key was not to panic at all, and that is exactly what I did, and honestly I ended up truly enjoying the moment, because I love tarantulas, and by simply giving her time, she eventually moved on by herself, continuing her path and turning this into a beautiful encounter in the middle of the jungle, deep in the night!

➰

22/01/2026

• BLACK JAGUAAAARRRR ALERRRT! 🚨😱🎥🐆🖤🇨🇷

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, WE HAVE OFFICIALLY DETECTED A SECOND BLACK JAGUAR IN THE TALAMANCA MOUNTAIN RANGE, AND THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR US! 🤯🖤🐆

Jaguars are already extremely rare animals. Black jaguars, also known as melanistic jaguars, are even rarer. Mysterious, elusive, almost legendary, they exist in Costa Rica only within the Talamanca Mountain Range. Despite their black coat, these jaguars still carry rosettes that can sometimes be seen depending on the light and angle, which is how we are able to identify and distinguish individuals.

After Negro, the first black jaguar we have detected in this region, we are incredibly excited to announce the detection of a second melanistic male. We initially referred to him as Macho 17 as a temporary name. Another organization detected him shortly before us and decided to name him Jagi.

He appears to be a strong, healthy, and robust male. Based on territory use and timing, it is very likely that he is the son of Negro, who was until now the only active melanistic male we had detected in this area. While this cannot be confirmed with certainty, the hypothesis makes a lot of sense.

As always, we do not share exact locations. Just know that this detection took place in the Talamanca Mountain Range, Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Huge thanks to for sponsoring these camera traps and making this detection possible! 🎥🐆

Want to support our work even further? You can adopt Jagi or any other jaguar we monitor and directly contribute to jaguar conservation. Just send us a DM and we will explain how it works. You will receive updates every time your jaguar is detected. 🫶🏼🐆🇨🇷

Follow and help us protect jaguars and the ecosystems they depend on 🌳🐆🇨🇷

19/01/2026

The past month has been full of discoveries for the Las Oncas Conservation Reserve. Our fieldwork has revealed a rich diversity of wildlife, with many species recorded as we continue to document and better understand this newly protected area. Each new observation highlights the ecological value of the reserve and confirms the importance of its long term conservation. 🫶🏼🌴🇨🇷

At the same time, we have been creating and developing new trails, allowing access to different parts of the reserve while limiting environmental impact. This work has also led us to explore new zones of the reserve, where we have already made exciting discoveries, including previously unknown waterfalls hidden deep within the forest. As exploration continues, activity within keeps growing on many levels, from scientific monitoring to habitat management.

Again, thanks to everyone involved. The dedication, time, and support of all those contributing on the ground and behind the scenes are what make this conservation project possible. Together, we are giving life and protection to a territory whose full potential is only just beginning to reveal itself.

Species: Black-handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), Rosenberg’s gladiator tree frog (Boana rosenbergi), Spotted coffee snake (Ninia maculata), Scarlet macaws (Ara macao), Brown spotbelly (Coniophanes fissidens), Pacific forest toad (Incilius aucoinae), Central American white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator), Yellow-throated toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus), Northern root teju (Loxopholis southi), Spectacled owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata), Water anole (Anolis aquaticus), Pug-nosed anole (Anolis capito), Wood colored salamander (Bolitoglossa lignicolor), Terciopelo (Bothrops asper), Rainforest rocket frog (Silverstoneia flotator)

16/01/2026

🔥OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, OUR JAGUAR HAS A NAME! 🐆🇨🇷

Big news from the Talamanca Mountain Range, Costa Rica. The new female jaguar we recently detected now officially has a name, and it is all thanks to you! 🙌🏼

We received hundreds of name suggestions across all our social media platforms. Choosing just one was far from easy, as so many of the ideas were meaningful, creative, and inspiring. After carefully reviewing all the proposals, one name clearly stood out. The most suggested name and the one that received the highest number of likes was Nita! 🫶🏼

Nita is a tribute to Nito, and we are truly happy that this young female jaguar now carries a name that already means so much to our community. Giving her a name is a simple but powerful way to strengthen the connection between people and jaguar conservation. 💛🐆

We hope to detect Nita again very soon in one of the areas we actively monitor along the Talamanca mountain range. Every new detection helps us better understand and protect these incredible cats and their habitat.

Want to support our work even further? You can adopt Nita or any other jaguar we monitor and directly contribute to jaguar conservation. Just send us a DM and we will explain how it works. You will receive updates every time your jaguar is detected. 🫶🏼🐆🇨🇷

As always, we do not share exact locations. Just know that this detection took place in the Talamanca Mountain Range, Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Huge thanks to for sponsoring these camera traps and making this detection possible! 🎥🐆

Follow and help us protect jaguars and the ecosystems they depend on 🌳🐆🇨🇷

Dirección

Puerto Jiménez

Página web

http://www.lasoncas.com/

Notificaciones

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