Home to around 5% of the world’s plant and animal species, Costa Rica is one of the planet’s most biodiverse countries. Unfortunately, many of its animals face threats from human activity. Animal welfare issues in Costa Rica include human-wildlife interactions (especially through tourism), street dog and cat welfare, animal fighting, cruelty and neglect, wildlife trafficking and disasters.
As a leader in environmental conservation, Costa Rica has taken significant steps to protect wild animals. It banned trophy hunting in 2012, and the country passed stronger regulations to combat wildlife trafficking and biodiversity loss in 2017. The same year, Costa Rica strengthened its animal cruelty laws, adding jail time for offenders and creating a national database to track animal welfare crimes.
Meredith Lee/Humane World for Animals
From wildlife trafficking to freedom
Our team in Costa Rica has partnered with ARCAS for nearly 20 years to rescue, rehabilitate and liberate Guatemala’s wildlife from illegal trafficking, pet trade and negative interactions with humans.
There is still much to be done. Humane World for Animals is working hard to help. Through our street dog welfare programs, we’re improving the lives of both free-roaming and owned dogs and cats in rural areas of the country. We’re partnering with local groups to support better standards for farmed animals. And we’re equipping law enforcement to tackle wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty through our training programs.
We’re there for animals who are suffering in Costa Rica today.
And we’re confronting the root causes of that suffering for a kinder tomorrow.
Latest News
Diego Choque Mahecha
An estimated 1,000 wild animals are illegally removed from their natural habitats in Costa Rica each year, to be trafficked to international markets, sold as pets, or added to private collections. To
SAN JOSE—Costa Rican authorities have approved a vital new regulation that establishes stronger controls over establishments dedicated to the breeding and sale of dogs and cats. This regulation was
TORTUGUERO—Despite being diagnosed with heartworm disease, a cheerful dog named Pulgosin is showing steady improvement thanks to the treatment he received during free animal clinics organized in the
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