The highlighted area of the article below is of interest to the Othon family and other ranchers in Darien because their cattle ranch lies in the area that is under quarantine to halt the contamination of aftosa (hoof & mouth disease in hoofed animals)before it gets to Central  America, Canada, and the USA,.    When this disease found anywhere in the world all the animals are sacrificed to prevent the spread of this disease.   Because of the quarantine ranchers ability to sell their cattle is limited because of these economic health-related issues.  However, they can and did export the animals south and import animals from the north.

I remember two occasions of import, export while I lived there.  A huge Brahman bull imported from the US to improve the stock, and a sale of I don’t remember how many, sold to somewhere south.  Both were big events in town and all turned out to watch this bull being transferred from the boat to the land.   Exciting days!

It’s been many years that I have had first-hand information of all this activity. The principles involved have gotten old or passed away and times have changed so the outcome for the farm is in other hands but if the ranch is not attended for it will return to the jungle it was.

This is an article about the proposed highway going thru the gap that I’ve  added here about the Choco Indians and the effect it will have on the rainforest and the Choco.

DECISION AT DARIEN GAP