Costa Rica’s International Herpetological Symposium IV Sept 6-9, 2018

SELVA VERDE LODGE, COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is home to 5% of the planet's biodiversity. Though small in geographic area, Costa Rica has one of the highest densities of herpetofauna in the world with more than 440 species of reptiles and amphibians within a small surface area of 50,100 km².  From September 6 - 9, 2018, Costa Rica’s IV International Herpetological Symposium will be held in the lowland tropical rainforests of Sarapiquí, at the Selva Verde Lodge and Private Reserve. The Symposium will feature presentations and lectures about herpetology in broad sense (conservation, taxonomy, ecology, biology) by organizations and individuals.  Come and learn about new findings and research from all over the Americas and beyond, or see how you can share your own work with conference participants.  

This is the fourth herpetological symposium at Selva Verde Lodge since they began in 2013.  This event brings together herpetologists from Costa Rica, Central and South America, the United States and Europe.  Through simultaneous translation, Spanish and English speakers and audiences will be able to understand and share their presentations and participate.  

Join us for an exchange of knowledge, learning, herping and enjoyment of herpetology at its best in one of the best locations in the world!  

Speakers

 

Nigel Marven

Meet renowned British wildlife TV presenter, film producer, author, and naturalist Nigel Marven, who has dedicated the last three decades to increasing public awareness of wildlife and conservation through the production of film and media with a special focus on reptiles including dinosaurs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twan Leenders

Know Twan Leenders, author of Amphibians of Costa Rica: A Field Guide.

Twan is the President / Executive Director of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and curatorial affiliate in Vertebrate Zoology at Yale University’s Peabody Museum of Natural History.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mahmood Sasa

Listen to Mahmood Sasa, biologist, herpetologist, member of the Academic division of the Clodomiro Picado Institute and a Professor at the Faculty of Microbiology at the University of Costa Rica, and leading expert on venomous snakes.   

 

 

 

Alejandro Solórzano

Join Alejandro Solórzano, Associate Researcher at the Zoological Museum of the University of Costa Rica, who has been studying the herpetofauna of Costa Rica for the last 40 years. He is the leading expert on snakes of the country.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerardo Chaves

Gerardo Chaves is one of the most knowledgeable herpetologists of Costa Rica, especially in sea turtles and amphibians: let’s learn from him. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ray Morgan

Connect with Ray Morgan, director and producer of The Venom Interviews, a documentary film that tells the stories of the professionals in the world of venomous herpetology, zoology, and venom research and emergency medicine, all over the world.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cesar Barrio Amorós

Join Cesar Barrio Amorós, taxonomist and global herpetological explorer, photographer, and adventurer who has put together the line-up for our Symposium and will serve as our emcee throughout the event.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jaime Culebras

Enjoy the impressive photographs of Jaime Culebras, one of the most famous herpetologist photographers and with more international awards in prestigious competitions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quetzal Dwyer

Learn with Quetzal Dwyer about the poisonous snakes of Central America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Enjoy 4 days and 3 nights of conferences and field visits to observe reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitat.  
• Investigate the impressive natural history of the Sarapiquí River; search for crocodiles, turtles, basilisks, and iguanas.  
• Visit the nearby La Selva Biological Station of the Organization for Tropical Studies for night hike!

 

Costs for the Symposium

Price per Person:

$483.00               Per person in double occupancy

$543.00               Per person in single occupancy

$397.00               Per student with valid ID (can be up to triple & quad occupancy)

Includes:   3 nights / 4 days accommodations at Selva Verde Lodge, presentations and talks with simultaneous translation services, Symposium t-shirt, all included material, all meals throughout the symposiums, field excursions, transportation, entrance fees, participation certification and activities as described.   All corresponding taxes.

Excludes:             Transportation to and from San José to Sarapiqui and return.  Alcoholic beverages, tips, etc.

Transport:           Transfers between Selva Verde Lodge and the airport or San Jose, a two-hour drive, are $40 per person each way or $70 round-trip. This pricing is valid only for those arriving on September 6th and departing on September 9th.   Please be advised that passengers will be grouped together and it may be necessary to wait up to 3 hours from your flight arrival or departure for transportation.  

Payment & Cancellations:  In order to confirm your reservations a 50% deposit is due. Final payment will be due by July 31^st.  Cancellations received prior July 31^st are refundable. Cancellations received between up to August 15^th are refundable less a penalty equal to 50% of the total cost of the symposium per person. If you choose not to participate in any part of the program, refunds are not available for any activities, meals, accommodations, or presentations. We are unable to grant refunds for any missed portions of your reservation because of missed or delayed flights. Additionally, no refund is guaranteed for unused reservations as a result of weather, personal health, or social disturbance.  

We will confirm your reservations upon receipt of your deposit.

Presentations & Posters:

Talks: the topic of these should focus on research results in scientific knowledge or conservation of amphibians and reptiles. English or Spanish. The abstract should be in Arial 12 font and a maximum 300 words.  Talks can be 15, 30 or 45 minutes in length.  Longer talks are approved by special request.

Posters: the posters must have dimensions of 80 cm wide x 1.20 m high. English or Spanish. The funding is the responsibility of the author and may have sponsors.

Deadline:  for us to receive your abstract for your talk or poster is August 1st, 2018. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To enroll & for more information:  

Costa Rican and Spanish speaking participants can enroll directly with the Lodge by contacting Marco Gasparoli, Asst Manager, Selva Verde Lodge, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or +506-2761-1800;

For questions about posters & papers:   Jose Ivan Castillo, Naturalist, Selva Verde Lodge, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 506-2761-1800;

US participants can enroll printing this form and sending to Selva Verde or through Holbrook Travel website if they prefer.

Itinerary

Day 1/ Thursday, Sept 6^th

• 2:00-4:00 pm Check in at Selva Verde Lodge
• 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm Welcome to IV Costa Rica´s International Hepetological Symposium
• 5:00 pm a 5:30 pm Introducción a Lodge Selva Verde y su herpetofauna/ Introduction to Selva Verde Lodge and its Herpetofauna, by Ivan Castillo
• 6:30 to 8:00 pm Dinner
• 8:15 pm to 10:15 pm Night walk in Selva Verde Rainforest Reserve

Day 2/ Friday, Sept 7^th

• 7:00 am to 8:50 am Breakfast
• 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm Opening Conference: Nigel Marven
• 11:00 to 11:30 Herpetofauna conference
• 11:30 to 12:10 Herpetofauna  conference: Mahmood Sasa
• 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm Lunch
• 2:10 to 3:10 pm conference Herpeofauna. Ray Morgan
• 3:15 to 4:15 pm Herpetofauna conference. Cesar Barrio-Amorós
• 4:15-4:30 short break
• 4:30 to 5:00: Herpetofauna  conference: Alejandro Solórzano
• 5:00 to 5:45 pm Herpetofauna conference: Quetzal Dwyer
• 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Dinner
• 7:30 am to 10:30 pm Field Trip: Visit to La Selva Biological Station, Organization for Tropical Studies

Day 3/ Saturday, Sept 8^th

• 7:00 am to 9:00 am Breakfast
• 9:30 am to 12:00 am Sarapiquí River Boat Safari, “Herpetology and Natural History Field Trip”. Cocodrille adventure
• 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Lunch
• 2:10 to 3:10 pm Afternon Herpetofauna conference: Twan Leenders
• 3:15 to 3:45: Herpetofauna conference
• 3:45-4:00: Short break
• 4:00-4:20: Herpetofauna conference: Mahmood Sasa
• 4:20-4:50 Herpetofauna conference: Gerardo Chaves
• 4:55 to 5:55 Herpetofauna conference: Cesar Barrio-Amorós
• 6:00 to 7:00 Dinner
• 7.30 to 8.30 Night conference:

Day 4/ Sunday, Sept 9^th

• 7:00 am to 8:30 am Breakfast
• 9:00 am to 10:00 Conference Herping: Nigel Marven
• 10:00 to 10:35 Herpetofauna conference:
• 10:40 to 11:10: Herpetofauna conference
• 11:15 to 11:45: Herpetofauna conference
• 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Lunch
• 2:10 pm to 3:00 pm. Certification
• 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm Close up Conference: Twan Leenders
• 4:00pm: Check out

Below: 2016 conference group.