Panama’s huge areas of tropical rainforest make it one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Besides, its connection with two continents provide it with a unique ecology. One of the main indicators of biodiversity are birds: there are 936 different bird species in Panama, more than the United States and Canada combined.

There are 125 animal species found only in Panama, and many kinds of animals can be seen including: tapirs, caiman, monkeys, sloths, jungle cats, deer, bats, possums, etc.

Panama is also privileged to be home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), the world’s primary tropical scientific investigation center. It is a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution based outside of the United States dedicated to understanding biological diversity. STRI’s facilities provide a unique opportunity for long-term ecological studies in the tropics, and are used extensively by some 900 visiting scientists from academic and research institutions in the United States and around the world every year.