Shocking deaths of howler monkeys and sloths in nature paradise
In Costa Rica, a country globally celebrated for its lush biodiversity and eco-tourism, a darker reality lurks in the canopy: the quiet, gruesome deaths of thousands of wild animals by electrocution. Sloths, howler monkeys, anteaters—icons of the rainforest and the tourism industry alike—are being burned alive on uninsulated power lines.
A new national campaign, bluntly titled “This Is NOT Pura Vida,” is now challenging Costa Rica’s green image and demanding that the government fulfill promises made to protect its wildlife. Launched by International Animal Rescue (IAR) Costa Rica, the campaign is urging the immediate implementation of Executive Decree No. 44329—a legal framework passed in early 2024 but largely ignored since.
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“In Nosara alone, nearly 100 animals were electrocuted in just one year,” said Gabriela Campos, Director of IAR Costa Rica. “These aren’t rare accidents—they’re evidence of a national crisis in conservation.”
Many of Costa Rica’s arboreal animals, such as sloths and monkeys, use tree canopies to move through the forest. But as development fragments their habitats, they are increasingly forced to use power lines to bridge gaps—lines that are often uninsulated and deadly. The consequences are horrific.
According to the Jaguar Rescue Center, 53 electrocuted animals were brought in during the first part of 2024. Most of them died. Survivors often suffer internal burns, open wounds, and, in the best cases, require amputations or lifelong sanctuary care.
“The injuries are catastrophic and deeply painful,” said Dr. Francisco Sánchez, IAR’s veterinary director. “For many, euthanasia is the only humane option.”
Electrocution is not just an individual tragedy—it’s a blow to entire species. In howler monkey troops, for example, the death of a dominant male can lead to the infanticide of all his offspring by incoming rivals, compounding the toll. Costa Rica has long branded itself as a model of sustainability. But conservationists say this crisis contradicts its international reputation.
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“Allowing animals to burn to death on outdated, unsafe power lines is the opposite of ‘Pura Vida,’” said Gavin Bruce, CEO of IAR. “The government has the tools. What’s missing is political will.”
The campaign points to Executive Decree 44329, which was passed in 2024 to mandate wildlife protection measures in electrical infrastructure. The decree requires coordination between various agencies—MINAE, SINAC, ICE, CNFL, and municipalities—but over a year later, implementation is practically nonexistent.
Key reasons behind the ongoing electrocutions include:
- Rapid, unregulated development without wildlife corridors
- Outdated or uninsulated power lines near forests and towns
- Lack of Environmental Impact Assessments for electrical projects
- Poor enforcement of existing laws and no accountability
- Patchy or nonexistent mitigation efforts in known hot-spots
Despite Costa Rica’s silence, international voices are amplifying the alarm. IAR and its supporters are collecting signatures through the This Is NOT Pura Vida campaign website, calling on Costa Rican authorities to fully enforce Decree 44329 and insulate dangerous lines.
“This is not just a Costa Rican problem—it’s a global conservation emergency,” says Bruce. “We can’t let bureaucracy become a death sentence for sloths and monkeys.”
Thousands of signatures are needed to pressure power companies and policymakers. Signing the petition takes less than a minute—and could help save a species. Want to help? Visit https://www.estonoespuravida.org/english and sign the petition today. Because watching wildlife suffer in silence is not Pura Vida.
