Costa Rica is a popular for its rich biodiversity and it has enormous enormous variety of wildlife, due in large part to its geographic position between the North and South American continents. This country is home to to more than 500,000 species (a little more than 300,000 are insects) which represents nearly 4% of the total species estimated worldwide. Some of the jungle residents can not be seen easily but if you visit to one of the many wildlife rescue centers, you can spot some rare wild creature in enclosures. In these rescue centers, you can also learn a lot about their natural habits and habitats that will help you spot them later when you’re on the trail. Founders, guides, volunteers and scientists who work for the rescue centers, they can also help you to learn about the rainforest wildlife. In the rescue centers, the wildlife comes from many sources. Some are pets that were keeping illegally or people no longer wanted and some others injured on roads or by poachers. Tame animals are on display which couldn’t survive in their natural habitats and other animals are kept isolated from humans to facilitate their eventual re-introduction to the wild. Some of the places are also developed to breed birds and animals to bolster endangered populations.
Southern Nicoya Peninsula Region:
Wild Sun Wildlife Rescue Center:
Bordering the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, Wild Sun Wildlife Rescue Center is a non-profit association in Costa Rica. This rescue center is home to hundreds of wild animals and unique plant species.The conservation and rehabilitation of wildlife in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula and in the central America generally is the main purpose of this center. This center also offers unique volunteer programs for those who want to work for helping wildlife beyond just financial support.
Izquierda, Cabuya, Costa Rica
Call: (011-506) 8884-8444
Refuge for Wildlife:
Developed in January, 1999, this refuge is working for taking care of the wildlife which are orphaned, injured and displaced from the region of Nicoya Peninsula and Nosara. It has a specially trained Emergency Response Team that each year works for more than 200 wildlife. In its clinic, the team of volunteers and professionals provide long-term as well as immediate medical treatment. This refuge has the goal to return them to the jungle as quickly as possible.
Tel 506 2682-5049
Cel 506 8708-2601
Info@RefugeForWildlife.com
The Ara Project or Amigos de las Aves:
The Ara Prject, formerly known as Amigos de las Aves. Situated in the province of Guancaste, in Punta Islita, it is a non profit organization. Opened in 1992, this organization has been working for conserving the two endangered species of macaws-Great Green or Buffon’s Macaw (Ara ambigua) and the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao). This project employs a ‘soft release’ method for restoring macaws to the wild.
Tel. 8505-3336
Email: islita@thearaproject.org
Northwest Region:
Proyecto Asis Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center:
It is situated in Arenal Volcano area. At this center you can learn and watch Costa Rican wildlife up close. You can also work as a volunteer and get more involve working with the animals. This center works on receiving and evaluation of new born animals and then introduce those animals to their new living quarters according to their natural habitats. They prepare animal diets and foods and also work on eventual liberation of animals back into the forest.
San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Call: +506 2475-9121
http://www.institutoasis.com/costa-rica-animal-rescue-center/
Las Pumas Rescue Center:
When deforestation was booming Guanacaste, in the early 60’s, Las Pumas Rescue Center developed. Las Pumas Rescue Center is home to wild cats, different species of birds and wild animals. Its primary goal is to release the animals into wilderness after having ensured that they can survive on their own. This non-governmental and self-sustainable organization also encourage society’s respect and appreciation for wildlife through these actions.
Cañas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Office: 2669-6044. Ticket Office: 2669-6019. PO Box: 89-5700.
http://www.centrorescatelaspumas.org/en
Sibu Sanctuary:
Nosara Wildlife Sibu Sanctuary is located minutes from Playa Guiones, Nosara. This sanctuary is working for taking care of the wild animals which are recently injured, newborns and orphans. It gives those animals proper treatment and during treatment also gives those proper shelter. Then it takes the animals for further rehabilitation. Those animals are also given permanent shelter at the center which can not survive in their natural habitat. For more than 10 years, this center is also working to teach the people of the community to work for protecting wildlife and also the habitat they live in.
Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
email: SIBUcr@gmail.com
Jungalow@gmail.com
Call: (Costa Rica Only)
506-8413-8889
506-8866-4652
6 a.m. – 6 p.m. CST
Southern Pacific Region:
The Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary:
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization. This sanctuary has the mission to help preserve wildlife in southern Costa Rica through its rehabilitation, rescue and reintroduction to the wild. It also provides shelter to the animals which are unable to return to their natural habitat due to permanent disability or excessive domestication. It also educate and foster appreciation for the wildlife.
Dominical, Puntarenas
Costa Rica
Phone: (011) 506 2200 5440
https://alturaswildlifesanctuary.org/
Osa Wildlife Sanctuary:
Located on a remote beach off the Golfo Dulce, just 25 minutes from Puerto Jimenez, Osa Wildlife Sanctuary has the mission to rehabilitate the wounded, displaced and orphaned wildlife in the southern zone of Costa Rica. As it is a non-profit organization, it appreciate donations to help with expenses like staffing, food, medicine and interactive playthings. This location is also perfect for kids. This sanctuary has many animals which are friendly and can be petted. At this place visitors can enjoy unique access to the diverse wildlife that can be found throughout Costa Rica’s southern region.
Apdo 48-8203
Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica
Phone:
011.506.8861.1309
011.506.8888.3803
E-mail: info@osawildlife.org
Caribbean Region:
Jaguar Rescue Center:
The Jaguar Rescue Center, a non-profit organization, is situated in Puerto Viejo, Limón (Costa Rica). This rescue center woks to rescue and rehabilitate wild animals and then release them into the protected areas. This center named after their first rescues-a baby jaguar but it not only rescue the Jaguars rather it takes all sorts of wild animals. If you visit this center, you can get the opportunity to make a direct contact with monkeys, wild cats, sloths, reptiles and many more.
Puerto Viejo de Limon
Costa Rica
Tel: (506) 2750.07.10
e-mail: jaguar.resc@gmail.com
The Tree of Life:
Situated in the surroundings of Cahuita, the Tree of Life wildlife rescue center has the goal to rescue animals that suffered problems to then release them in to their original habitat. There are flat trails in the center which will lead you to the different modules made for keeping the animals during the process of rehabilitation. If you visit this wildlife refuge center, you can watch more than 1000 species herb plants and trees.
Playa Grande, Cahuita, Costa Rica (follow the signs)
Tel: +506 83170325 or +506 27550014
E-mail: treeoflifecostarica@hotmail.com
Facebook:facebook.com/TreeOfLifeWildlifeRescueCenterBotanicalGardens
http://www.treeoflifecostarica.com/
The Sloth Sanctuary:
In 1975, this rescue center was declared as a privately-owned biological reserve by the government of Costa Rica. This is the original rescue center for orphaned, injured and abandoned sloths. This rescue center is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, release and research of sloths and conserving the Costa Rican rainforest.
email: Media@SlothSanctuary.com
Phone +506 2750 0775
http://www.slothsanctuary.com/
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