Welcome to Isla De Coco. Take a step into an environmental landscape that can only be described as breathtaking. Isla De Coco is a part of the Costa Rica Sims and is a virtual representation of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. The Island was developed by Advanced Virtual Solutions and is sponsored by the Costa Rica Tourist Board. Upon arriving you are greeted with the following information concerning the Isla De Coco: A virtual representation of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. This unique and wondrous island is home to the largest underwater scuba environment in SL. Explore the cloud forest island interior or dive beneath the waves with free scuba gear or by submarine and virtually witness one of the most bio-diverse places on earth. The Island has been nominated as one of the 7 Wonders of the Nature World, one can only appreciate the magnificent beauty Earth has seen fit to gift us with. The following Cocos Island article will contain an abundance of information gathered from various sources and sites. In doing so we can get a clearer picture of what the history, geographical layout, dangers, and life is like for plant and animal within this Rain forest. It is an educational delight for the environmentalist and those who feel deeply about helping to save the few untouched wonders we have left in our world. Let us take a trip to the Isla De Coco and savor what it has to offer.
"The Cocos Island, Costa Rica in SL project was developed for the Costa Rica Tourist Board by Lester Nefarious of Advanced Virtual Solutions (developer of the Visit Mexico Sims) with build support from Grace Loudon (terraform and landscaping), Kaikou Splash (underwater seascape development), Dizzy Banjo (soundscape and custom musical soundtrack), Naimon Brome (custom water), Kriss Lehman (custom vegetation), ArchTX Edo (custom wildlife), and Toran Cult (welcome area design)." - Lester Nefarious, co-owner and founder of Advanced Virtual
In order to understand and appreciate what has become a rare gift of beauty, of flora, fauna, and aquatic life one must first understand what the history of this natural rain forest is, how it came about, what it means to the world, and what we can do as individuals to preserve it for our future and that of our children. The history of Isla de Coco is somewhat murky and often arguable as to where and who discovered the island. There are a variety of dates and maps showing when the island was discovered and location. The following information was taken from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_Island#History: Cocos IslandJ. Lines (Diario de Costa Rica, May 12, 1940) cites Fernández de Oviedo who claims that the first discoverer of the island was Johan Cabeças. Other sources claim that Joan Cabezas de Grado was not a Portuguese sailor but an Asturian. D. Lievre, Una Isla desierta en el Pacífico; la Isla del Coco in Los Viajes de Cockburn y Lievre por Costa Rica (1962: 134) tells that the first document with the name "Isle de Coques" is a map painted on pergamen, called that of Henry II that appeared in 1542 during the reign of Francis I of France. The planisphere of Nicolás Desliens (1556, Dieppe) places this Isle de Coques about one and a half degrees north of the Equator. (See also Mario A. Boza and Rolando Mendoza, Los Parques Nacionales de Costa Rica, Madrid, 1981.) Blaeu's Grand Atlas, originally published in 1662, has a color world map on the back of its front cover which shows I. de Cocos right on the Equator. Frederik De Witt's Atlas, 1680 shows it similarly. The Hondius Broadside map of 1590 shows I. de Cocos at the latitude of 2 degrees and 30 minutes northern latitude, while in 1596 Theodore de Bry shows the Galapagos Islands near 6 degrees north of the Equator. E. Bowen, A Complete System of Geography, Volume II (London, 1747: 586) tells that the Galapagos stretch 5 degrees north of the Equator.* Though the discovery of the island itself is the greatest mark in its history, there are many more points to look at. Other factors came into its development. Isla De Coco, like all pages of history, has one that is filled with death and loss of humanity. One could say that this was nature's way of protecting itself against the wrath of mankind. Is it a lesson for us to learn from? Maybe. *In October 1863 the ship the "Adelante" dumped 426 Polynesian ex-slaves on the island, the captain being too lazy to bring them home as promised. When they were saved by the "Tumbes", one month later, only 38 were left over, the rest had already perished from smallpox. *Wikipedia* Continuing a look through the rich history of this lush green oasis we learn that in 1897 August Gissler, a known treasure hunter became the first Governor of Cocos Island and in doing so he established a short-lived colony upon the island. Cocos Island officially became part of Costa Rica by the promulgation of the Constitution of Costa Rica on November 7, 1949. On May 12, 1970, the insular territory of Cocos Island was incorporated administratively into Central Canton of the Province of Puntarenas by means of Executive Decree No. 27, making it the Eleventh District of Central Canton. The island's 33 residents, the Costa Rican park rangers, were allowed to vote for the first time in Costa Rica's February 5, 2006 election.
What would a tropical island's history be without the tales of Pirates and lost treasure? In 1699 Author Lionel Waffer first spoke of a legendary treasure amassed by pirates upon the Isla Del Cocos. The treasure is mentioned again in April of 1919 in a document drafted by a British Foreign Relations minister, who spoke of not one but three treasures. The most famous of all being the Lima Treasure. *The Lima Treasure allegedly consists of two dozen 300-pound crates of jewels and other valuables that once belonged to the Catholic Church and several wealthy families living in Peru in the early 1800s, before its independence. According to the legend, the treasure was en route back to Spain to be stored safely from the pro-independence forces marching on Lima, but was stolen by sailors of the English Merchant Marines and buried on Isla de Coco. The crates allegedly contain coins and golden and silver chalices, as well as a large image of the Virgin Mary laid in precious stones and jewels.* http://www.ticotimes.net/dailyarchive/2003_01/Week3/01_20_03.htm#story_one
"When we learned the island was being created in Second Life I contacted Lester first to congratulate him on an amazing project and told him how proud I was as an rl costarican to have the island in SL. Later I offered him the possibility of moving the island here as part of the Costa Rica Sims, a decision he said only the Costa Rica Tourism Board could make. After showing the Tourism Board what we have created here in SL, they agreed to move the island as part of the Costa Rica Sims was a perfect idea. For us as a private estate, it really is an honor that a government institution recognizes what we have done and trust us with the first virtual project by the government of Costa Rica." - Giancarlo Takacs, CEO of The Costa Rica Sims Estate
Isla Del Coco is a geographical map of flora, fauna, and aquatics. Some species have been introduced into the rainforest habitat as the years have gone by allowing for intermigration of species development. At this time the biota or plants and animal life (flora and fauna) are only partially known to the scientists and rangers living there. The same could be said for the aquatic and corals living beneath the ocean waters that surround the island. There is a constant need for advancement in research techniques and development in order to understand the wildlife and plant-life that make up the Rain-forest. To this date, there has been a significant leap in technology that has enabled us to gather more information and log it, but the research continues as does the constant discovery of something that was not known before about this lush paradise. Where has evolution played into this? How does the behavior of marine and freshwater species here differ from other islands?
The Flora and Vegetation on Isla Del Coco are as unique as the animal and marine life. In order to best understand the intricacies of the environment of this island, we studied the information provided for us by the Costa Rica Tourism Board, found on the Island Beach. Some of which we have included here. The flora corresponds to the diversity of plant species in a specific area. The flora of Cocos Island is related to that of the continent, particularly with that of Central America and the northern part of South America, and was dispersed by migrant birds, winds, ocean currents, and floating materials. The highest percentage of species of vegetation on the island is similar to the flora of the bio-geographic area of the Guyanese-Amazonian provinces of the Neotropical region. This explains how reproductive and vegetative materials arrived from the continent to the island, which occurred at some time during the Pliocene-Pleistocene period. This occurred before the Central American isthmus was closed in the area of Panama and when the outflow from the rivers, including the Magdalena and Orinoco Rivers, emptied into a common sea where there was a westerly circulation of currents that transported botanical material to Cocos Island. Vegetation is understood to include the way that plants appear, develop and organize in a specific area. In general, the vegetation of Cocos Island corresponds to a Tropical Rain Forest, however, the following types of vegetation can be identified. Vegetation in littoral zones, which are located at altitudes under 50 meters and develop above rocky cliffs and in the lower parts of the valleys of the bays and inlets that surround the island. The most common tree species in that area are: Annona grabra, Erhytrina Fusca, Ochroma pyramidalis and Cocos nucifera found on the high ridges, with an undergrowth of rubiáceas and solanáceas, a diversity of herbs (ciperáceas, gramínes, leguminos, malváceas) and ferns, both epiphytic and those that grow in soil. Therefore, from a botanical point of view, Cocos Island can be considered a separate bio-geographic unit in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It constitutes a genuine botanical garden of tropical plants that include elements of several bio-geographical regions. An analysis of the current knowledge about the diversity of the flora, of its bio-geographical relationships and of its endemism, demonstrate its exceptional nature and its high scientific interest.
The Fauna, or Wildlife, of the Island, is varied and diverse. The land mammals are few in species though do cause problems, especially the rat and wild pig population. Other land mammals consist of White Tail Deer, Cats, and Goats. None of these animals are indigenous to the island and have been introduced to the environment by mankind. Whether on purpose or accidental, the island now has a growing population of mammals traditionally found in other geographical atmospheres. Other mammals to be found residing within the perimeters of Isla Del Cocos are the Bottle Nose Dolphins playing in the waters. Occasionally other sea mammals such as the false killer whale, the cuvier-beaked whale, the hunchback whale, and the sperm whale have also been observed. Sea lions, another aquatic/land-living mammal has taken up residence on the island's beaches, due to the warming of the waters in the aftermath of El Nino. Currently, though, the greatest population of wildlife living within the rain forest is Birds. There are over 100 different species of birds living on the island with 13 various species that breed there. There are also several species that are endemic to the island itself. The flycatcher, the coocko and about 13 species of finch, including Darwin Finch, named after Charles Darwin who used this finch to help develop his thesis on the evolution of this species. The warbler is also endemic to the Coco Island but it is also endemic to the Galapagos. There are also various Seabirds to be found nesting amongst the beaches of the island, the most famous is the Holy Spirit Dove. The Island has identified 2 Land Reptiles so far, a small lizard and a gecko salamander, and various sea turtles, though none of these turtles are endemic to the Island itself. No data and research show to date that these turtles in fact nest within the island. They visit here but nothing more.
"Cocos Island in SL was designed to replicate Cocos Island, Costa Rica, an uninhabited rain forest oasis in the Pacific Ocean and New Natural 7 Wonders of Nature (http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/) nominee for Costa Rica, to raise awareness about the island ecological significance and the need for marine conservation. The site will introduce users to the wonders of Cocos Island through the most extensive marine world ever built in SL, which includes schools of sharks, an array of fish, spotted eagle rays and coral reefs, among others." - Lester Nefarious, co-owner, and founder of Advanced Virtual
The marine life is a wonder to behold. You could describe it in words but to experience it is truly the only way to appreciate what this Island offers us. Isla Del Coco offers us a chance to slip on some scuba gear and dive into the coral reefs for an underwater exploration found nowhere else in Second Life. A chance to reach out and feel as if you could touch a hammerhead shark or a tiger shark as it swims by. Glide past a moray eel. Sit upon an eastern Pacific green turtle's back and float. Play amongst the dolphins. Take a closer look at a coral reef. The list of marine life one can visit, study, and appreciate is truly astounding. The chance to reach out and bring to life something that you may not have understood or never had a chance to visit. Unfortunately, in reality, this extraordinary gift is put at risk every day due to erosion, illegal fishing, economic and lack of funds. Mankind has introduced plants and animals non-endemic to the island, which disrupts the atmosphere and climate. Pigs dig at the ground and the rains come it washes the dirt away leaving the foundation of erosion. Plant-life brought by mankind is reproducing with the natural plant-life of the island. though the Island draws one in with its beauty, uniqueness, serenity, tourism itself disrupts the balance of growth and nature. This is where knowledge and research are the most important. Where knowing how to bring about and help to keep the balance will ensure the longevity of this tropical rain forest.
In 2009 Coco Island was Nominated by the New Seven Wonders Foundation as one of the new seven wonders. Though they go up against 300 other well-deserving natural environmental wonders, we can do our part in helping to make this beautiful Island stand out. Please go to www.new7wonders.com and cast your vote. Each vote matters. Jacques Cousteau referred to Isla Del Cocos as “the most beautiful island of the world”. Let us show the world that his words, in fact, held truth.
Thank you to the following sites for information in helping to write this article:
Thank you to Giancarlo Takacs, owner of the Costa Rica Sims estate and Lester Nefarious, co-owner, and founder of Advanced Virtual.
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