In what Mr Audrines describes as a barter arrangement (in which the Cubans seem to get the rough end), Caracas will trade them for eight macaws, two tapirs, a puma and four capybaras.

ECONOMIST: Venezuela and Cuba

Mr. Kelley now has a breeding operation on some of that acreage, known as Rum Creek Ranch, that's dedicated to a range of endangered species including tapirs, anoas (small buffalos), hippos, rhinos, bongos (antelopes), bentang (wild cattle) and a host of others.

WSJ: The Man With a Million Acres

At Corcovado you can find tapirs, jaguars, pumas, anteaters, two-toed and three-toed sloths, golden orb spiders, moon crabs, a diversification of monkeys (including all four types of Costa Rican monkeys, found only in Corcovado), crocodiles, poison dart frogs, pelicans, 220 species of butterflies, scarlet macaws and even the rare and venomous fer-de-lance snake.

FORBES: Take A Trip To The "Happiest Country On Earth"