Park Rangers in Costa Rica Receive Satellite Tech Assistance

Among the most popular tourist attractions in Costa Rica are the country’s national parks. Even so, protecting those parks is a job that can be more than a little dangerous, particularly in terms of the wild nature preserves located in areas such as Corcovado National Park, along the Osa Peninsula. Among the potential dangers faced by park rangers in such areas include exhaustion, snake bites, twisted ankles, and even the potential for encountering drug traffickers or poachers. Park rangers must also face the very real risk of becoming lost within the dense jungle and losing communication with the outside world.

Donations Provide for a Monitored Satellite Network for Costa Rica Park Rangers

Now, thanks to donations made by non-governmental organizations working with the Conservation Area of the Osa Peninsula, park rangers will receive protection via a monitored satellite network. The system will include ten Spot Satellite Messengers and a portable phone. Supporting the Spot Satellite Messenger is GPS technology along with five communication options that will make it possible for rangers to communicate even in the most remote areas. A variety of features are included in the Spot devices, including a SOS function that rangers can use in the event of a life threatening situation or other emergency in order to notify emergency services that they need assistance. Appropriate agencies around the world will be alerted by the GEOS International Emergency Response Center.

Rangers can also make use of a help function to notify personal contacts that they are in need of assistance. The Spot Assist function will also make it possible for rangers to notify emergency services on either water or land.

There is also a check-in/OK function that gives rangers the ability to notify their friends and family that they are okay using a pre-programmed message in conjunction with their GPS location. All it takes is a simple touch of a button for the message to be sent via SMS or email. The feature includes the ability to store 10 pre-assigned contacts.

A custom message feature can also be used to allow rangers to send a custom message to their friends and family along with their GPS location. Tracking is also included with the system for marking a reference point or sending check-in messages from specific locations.

Since the devices feature a waterproof, rugged design, the rangers can be assured that they will work wherever they may need to go into the park. A total of $2,000 was provided by the CRUSA Foundation in order to provide the devices.