57.7% of the country is forested, and is a true rainforest nation. It also contains part of the so called Darien gap, which is a 60 mile gap in the roads which run from further south in South America, right the way up to the Panama canal.

There are a wide range opossums which survive in the country, along with the west Indian manatee (the two largest populations of West Indian manatees in this country are Bocas del Toro and Lake Gatun, the main body of water for the operation of the Panama Canal. There are also occasional manatee sightings along the Caribbean coast of Panama. 2 species of armadillo are found along with 3 species of both sloth and anteater. 

There are 10 species of primate – 2 night monkeys, 2 howler monkeys, 2 spider monkeys, 2 capuchin monkeys and 1 tamarin (Geoffrey’s tamarin) and one squirrel monkey (the central American squirrel monkey). A wide range of rodents can be found, which include 3 species of porcupine, the lesser capybara, 2 species of agouti, and a range of mice rats, squirrels and other small species. A wide array of bats also make Panama their home.

There are a wide array of cetaceans off the coast, from large baleen whales to a wide selection of dolphiins, including the biggest – the killer whale. There are even 4 species of beaked whale that have been recorded here (Gervais’ beaked whale, Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Pygmy beaked whale and the Cuvier’s beaked whale), though it should be noted that little is known about these species, and all are listed as Data deficient.#

Jaguarundi, Ocelot, Oncilla and Margay join the bigger cats of the cougar and the Jaguar as predators. Canids include bush dog, coyote, crab-eating fox and grey fox, The spectacled bear is also present, though this is hard to see in much of its range.

Mustelids are well represented with Tayra, Greater grison, Neotropical river otter, Long-tailed weasel, Striped hog-nosed skunk are all found. 

The Baird’s tapir is the only member of the pig family. The collard peccary and the white lipped peccary are both present, as is the Central American red brocket and the white-tailed deer.

There are a wide range of reserves and national parks that are working to protect all these species, though there is still plenty of forest loss, suggesting that there is little success at the current time.

Below is a short video, on the jaguars which still roam the country. Below that is a list of any articles written on this site that mention this country. Below that, we will list any resources which will help you book your wild travel to the country.