This post summarizes key mammal records (six species) from five nights (13-18 Feb 2022) in Boquete, Panama; staying at Los Naranjos Cottage; part of a two-week trip with Chi Phan. The record of Alston’s Woolly Mouse Opossum (Marmosa alstoni), currently listed as endemic to Costa Rica, is seemingly the first confirmed record for Panama. The Los Naranjos cottage is recommended as a place to stay if wanting to see Cacomistle; I don’t know of it being reported at any other accommodation in Boquete. These records are mostly from the two dry nights of our visit. Contents below: 1) Sites; 2) Mammal List; 3) Images.
I visited Panama over 6-20 February 2022; with Chi Phan. Of the +38 mammals recorded the highlights were Margay and Ocelot on the Pipeline Trail; Panama Mouse Opossum at Gamboa; and Cacomistle and Alston’s Woolly Mouse Opossum at Boquete. Contents below: 1) Locations; 2) Mammal List; 3) Photos; 4) Travel Tips. Links to regional reports and species reports are shown below.
1. LOCATIONS VISITED Mammal-watching was focused on the following three areas: 1) Gamboa (36 mammals; 4n at Summit Rainforest and Golf Resort; 2n at Gamboa Rainforest Lodge). Site post HERE. 2) El Valle de Anton (3n at El Valle de Anton La Chachalaca). 3) Boquete (6 mammals; 5n at Los Naranjos cottage). Site post HERE.
2. MAMMAL LIST – as 26 March 2022 Bat records below marked as “EMT” were made using an Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro (link), but only where there were visuals on the bat and repeated recordings that made sense (habitat, range etc); the EMT is not up to date on taxonomic changes so this was also taken into account on IDs.
Alston’s Woolly Mouse Opossum (Marmosa alstoni) @ Boquete (first photographic record for Panama? Detailed post HERE and Zenodo article HERE).
Panama Mouse Opossum (Marmosa isthmica / Marmosa robinsoni isthmica) @ Gamboa.
Common Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) @ Gamboa area and Boquete.
3. PHOTOS Alston’s Woolly Mouse Opossum shown below; other mammal photos shown in site/regional posts.
4. PANAMA TRAVEL TIPS (2022)
Covid protocols: We were vaccinated and no covid test was needed before arrival, but we had to fill in an online health form with submission of certificate/card showing full covid vaccination, and your passport ID page. See COVID-19 Guidelines (tourismpanama.com). ALL travelers were required to present their completed Electronic Health Affidavit (in physical or digital form) to their airline or carrier BEFORE boarding to Panama. COPA state that fully vaccinated passengers must present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
Rental Car: we used Avis (in Tocumen airport), renting a Hyundai Tucson 2WD; no issues. Avis charged $22 for a toll-booth drive-through system but we did not drive through many booths. See this post for driving in Panama.
Navigation: we used the Waze app; it shows the speed limits (mostly correctly) and reported traffic police (many on the highway). The AllTrails app was also useful for hiking trails
Phone cards: at the phone card booth opposite the Avis rental counter in Tocumen airport we bought Digicel sim cards and a one-week package with unlimited data and texts for about $25. We later bought 7-day plans for about $6 using Recharge.com (which seemed easier than using Digicell itself for extending a plan).
Antigen tests: we needed these for return to the US. We flew at 7 PM and got the tests at 2 PM with a 30-minute wait for our results. The test center was at the rental-car section in Tocumen Airport.
I visited Way Kambas NP, South Sumatra, in August 2014 and used Hari, an excellent local guide, for much of my time there. The 31 mammal species seen included great views of Pen-tailed Treeshrew, Black-eared Pygmy Squirrel, Indomalayan Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse, six bats; and a brief view of Marbled Cat. Birds included Large Frogmouth, Reddish Scops Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Crested Fireback and White-winged Duck.
On a 23-day trip around Sabah (Borneo), with Jo Dale in March-April 2014, we saw 56 mammals (including 8 primates, 15 squirrels and 10 bats).
Jo joined me on Day 5 after I had visited Crocker Range and Poring Hot Springs. Other key sites included Kinabalu NP, Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. My trip report (pdf with photos) is here.