BUSHMASTER CONSERVATION PROJECT - Key Persons
Aarón is the curator of the Serpentarium within the Instituto Clodomiro Picado. He is responsible for a major part of the research conducted towards the production of antivenom within the institute.
His primary interests are toxinology, immunology and hematology. Next to these fields of study, Aarón has also conducted various ethological studies on venomous snakes.
Cristian is the founder of CRWild and local coordinator of the Melanocephala project.
With CRWild, an ecotourism and study organization that promotes environmental education, he aims to bring awareness to struggling species of herpetofauna in Costa Rica and does whatever he can to support conservation efforts.
He uses his skills in visual and graphic design to spread the word on the conservation of fauna and flora.
Job Titles:
- Scientific Director
- Scientific Coordinator
César is the scientific director of CRWild and the local scientific coordinator of the Melanocephala project.
Randall is a veterinarian specialized in reptiles and amphibians.
Being a skillful vet with decades of experience in working with venomous snakes, he is responsible for the safe implantation of the radiotransmitters and advizes on animal welfare and health.
His interests are pathology, immunology and conservation of birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Ireana is the oldest daughter of Sebastián and responsible for the majority of the fieldwork conducted in the Stenophrys Project. She goes out several times per week to track the bushmasters and collect data on their ecology and ethology.
She has a profound knowledge of the fauna and flora around her home and has a keen eye for spotting hidden creatures.
Job Titles:
- Local Manager of the Stenophrys Project of the BCP
- President of Kéköldi Wak Ka Koneke
Sebastián is the president of Kéköldi Wak Ka Koneke, a civil association protecting the indigenous BriBrí lands in the Kéköldi Indigenous Reserve, as well as all organisms living within them.
He knows the lands and animals around the project like the back of his hand and is the founder of the research station in Kéköldi that houses the Bushmaster Conservation Project.
Sebastián is the local manager of the Stenophrys Project of the BCP and collects data on the animals with his son and daughter.
Víctor is tracking team leader and main data collector of the Melanocephala project. He communicates with the local community and coordinates the project on location.
He has years of experience working on several scientific projects guided by the SINAC and UCR.
Born and raised in Rancho Quemado, Víctor knows the lands and is an expert guide when it comes to the fauna and flora in the primary forests surrounding his community.
He uses his profound knowledge and love for nature to promote ecotourism and conservation.
Weymer is the younghest son of Sebastián and an avid field herper and photographer. He accompanies his father and sister on data collection days and works as a naturalist guide on the guided day and night tours in the Stenophrys Project.
Weymer grew up looking for snakes in the wild and knows where certain species like to reside. Out of the whole team he has found the most bushmasters in the wild.