Isla de Ratones
Encyclopedia
Isla de Ratones is a small island located near the Joyuda Lagoon
in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
. The island is a popular spot for snorkeling
.
During half of the twentieth century, the then owner of the Cerveceria India, Don Alfonso Valdés Cobián
was one of the people in charge of the Island. During this time he began cleaning up the small isle.
In 1988, the island was sold to MTV
, who organized a fantasy island sweepstakes
promoted by Cyndi Lauper
. After several protests, nothing more was heard from MTV.
Now the custodians of the Island are the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
(DRNA) and Tourmarine a privet tourist company. The have an cooperative agreement to help in the cleaning and trash collecting because of the DRNA lack of personnel.
As part of the annual "Tríalo de Joyuda en Cabo Rojo" or Joyuda Triathlon in Cabo Rojo, one leg of the event consist of reaching the island and returning.
, an environmentalist organization undertook a restoration project on the island's north shore to try to stop erosion and sedimentation that is threatening the coral reef and mangrove forest that used to surround the island. The island has lost approximately 45 percent of its area over the past 60 years due to coral bleaching, disease, and destruction of reefs by wave force and currents. In 2006, the Inter American University of Puerto Rico received grant from NOAA and the Gulf of Mexico Foundation to implement a second phase of the restoration project. Students, professors and members of Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, under the direction of the DRNA, planted some 400 floating seeds of Red Mangrove that forms part of the ecological inventory that surrounds the island. Approximately 0.25 acres (1,011.7 m²) of mangrove habitat was restored and 0.0091 acres (36.8 m²) of artificial reef was created.
Joyuda Lagoon
Laguna Joyuda is a natural reservoir located in the municipality of Cabo Rojo in Puerto Rico.The lagoon is one of only two natural reservoirs in the island of Puerto Rico , and is home to an ample variety of species....
in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Cabo Rojo is a municipality situated on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and forms part of the San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area as well as the larger Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area....
. The island is a popular spot for snorkeling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
.
History
The Island was originally known as "Piñas" or "Piñero" Island, or Pineapple Island. In the past the island was used to cultivate pineapple and Sugar cane crops. Later on for years the island was abandoned and was practically a dumpster, because of which the residents of Joyuda began referring to it as "Isla de los Ratones" or Island of the Mice, because of the amount of rodents that inhabited the island.During half of the twentieth century, the then owner of the Cerveceria India, Don Alfonso Valdés Cobián
Alfonso Valdés Cobián
Alfonso Valdés Cobián , was an industrialist, banker, sportsman and politician. Valdés Cobián was a cofounder of Cervecería India, Inc., currently Puerto Rico's largest beer brewery.-Early years:...
was one of the people in charge of the Island. During this time he began cleaning up the small isle.
In 1988, the island was sold to MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, who organized a fantasy island sweepstakes
Sweepstakes
The United States consumer sales promotion known as a sweepstake has become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among customers by enticing consumers to submit free entries into drawings of chance...
promoted by Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
. After several protests, nothing more was heard from MTV.
Now the custodians of the Island are the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources was created by Law 23 of June 20, 1972, during the governorship of Luis A. Ferré. In 1973, as a gesture of bipartisanship, Ferré's successor, Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón appointed his predecessor's Puerto Rico Environmental Quality...
(DRNA) and Tourmarine a privet tourist company. The have an cooperative agreement to help in the cleaning and trash collecting because of the DRNA lack of personnel.
As part of the annual "Tríalo de Joyuda en Cabo Rojo" or Joyuda Triathlon in Cabo Rojo, one leg of the event consist of reaching the island and returning.
Restoration
In 2005, Caborrojeños Pro Salud y AmbienteCaborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente
Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, Inc. is an environmentalist organization based in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico....
, an environmentalist organization undertook a restoration project on the island's north shore to try to stop erosion and sedimentation that is threatening the coral reef and mangrove forest that used to surround the island. The island has lost approximately 45 percent of its area over the past 60 years due to coral bleaching, disease, and destruction of reefs by wave force and currents. In 2006, the Inter American University of Puerto Rico received grant from NOAA and the Gulf of Mexico Foundation to implement a second phase of the restoration project. Students, professors and members of Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, under the direction of the DRNA, planted some 400 floating seeds of Red Mangrove that forms part of the ecological inventory that surrounds the island. Approximately 0.25 acres (1,011.7 m²) of mangrove habitat was restored and 0.0091 acres (36.8 m²) of artificial reef was created.