The Shock Free Zone project began several years before the formalization of the 2017 agreement between ICE (Costa Rican Electricity Institute) and the La Ceiba Primary Forest Foundation, and it has undergone significant evolution over time.

Through the years, the Foundation has purchased and provided materials to ICE to isolate transformers, single-phase lines, three-phase lines, and installing stretches of underground lines and wildlife crossings. Collaborative efforts have been made in designing and installing anti-climbing devices for wildlife in the area. kilometers of electrical lines and dozens of transformers have been isolated. In other words, lot’s of work has been done.

But electrocution numbers are growing due to the rapid urban development in the area, and so we continue our work. From prevention to advocacy, we are at the forefront of this challenge.

In the South Caribbean of Costa Rica, hundreds of electrocutions to wild animals occur every year.

We receive an average of 25-30 electrocuted animals per year, of which we manage to save and recover 30% (see graph below).

70% of the electrocuted animals are sloths and monkeys, with the other 30% mainly made up from kinkajous, opossums, birds, and reptiles.

Each electrocuted animal represents an enormous challenge. Electric shock causes a myriad of very serious problems that usually result in death. Sometimes the animal’s body temperature increases to more than 43° Celsius (109.4° Fahrenheit), causing multi-organ failure. Frequently we find large areas of tissue necrosis. Saving the animal usually involves severe surgery, including amputation of limbs and large areas of affected skin.

Sometimes animals can recover with a lot of time and effort, but their number is minimal compared to the number of those killed.