Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge

Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge
Location	Costa Rica
Coordinates	10°46′18″N 83°35′56″W
Area	200,600 acres (812 km²)
Established	1984
Governing body	National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC)

Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge is a Wildlife refuge, part of the Tortuguero Conservation Area, in Limón Province in the northeastern part of Costa Rica. It is the second largest rain forest preserve in the country and protects areas that contain hot humid forests, mangroves, canals and marine areas, bounded in part by the San Juan and Colorado rivers, and to the south the Tortuguero National Park.

The area protected has a hot and humid climate with no dry season, and is the habitat of the endangered West Indian Manatee as well as many caymans, crocodiles, and fish. It is also home to a variety of tapirs, jaguars, cougars, monkeys, ocelots, and other mammals. Birds found includes osprey, toucans, cormorants, herons, hawks, and many more.

The village of Tortuguero from which the neighbouring Tortuguero National Park got its name is located on the southern border the refuge, and contains two research stations.

External links

• Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Área de Conservación Tortuguero
• Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge at Costa Rica National Parks