| Coiba |
Articles about Coiba |
Information AboutCoiba |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT COIBA | |
| islands of panama | |
| world heritage sites in panama | |
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HISTORY Coiba separated from continental Panama about 12,000 to 18,000 years ago. Coiba was home to the Coiba Cacique Indians until about 1560, when they were conquered. A penal colony was built on the island in 1918. During the years Panama was under the Dictatorship s of Omar Torrijos and Manuel Noriega , the prison on Coiba was a feared with a reputation for brutal conditions. As such, the island was avoided by locals, and other than the prison, was completely undeveloped. After the prison was closed down, its pristine condition made it ideal as a preserve. Unlike most of the adjacent mainland, Jaguar s, Ocelot s and Margay s still roam the island. It is one of the last places the Scarlet Maccaw can be found in the wild. The waters adjacent to the island are teaming with marine life. It is surrounded by one of the largest coral reefs in the pacific coasts of the americas. The island was declared a National Park in 1992. The island is home to many endemic species, including the Coiba Howler Monkey . EXTERNAL LINK |
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