The La Ceiba Primary Forest Foundation was created in the year 2018 and its main objective is to contribute to the conservation and welfare of wildlife living in the Costa Rican South Caribbean region.

It currently manages the Jaguar Rescue Center, which is the only center located in that area that receives more than 1100 animals per year (1146 during 2024). All animals receive intensive veterinary care and, for those that are possible, are incorporated into the rehabilitation program so that they can return to nature again.

Throughout its history, the Jaguar Rescue Center has cared for more than 8,000 animals. It counts with years of experience and experienced professionals in all areas of rehabilitation. It also carries out the rescues of animals that are in danger or need veterinary attention and releases them in suitable areas, such as protected areas or Natural Parks.

In addition to the rescue center, the foundation also manages different programs that help to conserve the fauna and flora of the area.

In 2021 the program objectives are:

Shock Free Zone: Purchase of materials to insulate electrical transformers in the South Caribbean area
Program for the improvement and renovation of equipment for veterinary clinics of wild animals in the South Caribbean
Tropical rainforest protection program through the acquisition of strategic properties in the South Caribbean
Environmental awareness program for schools in the South Caribbean
Establish an agreement for cooperation and donation of materials with ICE - and use this agreement in wildlife protection action plans to reduce the impact of animal electrocutions in the South Caribbean
Wildlife monitoring program through trap cameras in the Gandoca-Manzanillo area

Jaguar Rescue Center

Shock Free Zone

Every year more than 3,000 animals become victims of electrocution. Dozens of mammals such as monkeys, sloths, anteaters, foxes, squirrels as well as birds and reptilesdie daily on electricity power lines throughout the country.

Almost all of the power lines used in Costa Rica are aerial and are constructed with insulating conductive materials (bare aluminium conductors). They are a continuous cause of electrocution risk for any living being that has contact with or approaches the lines.

The low voltage or secondary lines have a voltage level of 120 and 240 volts. The medium voltage or primary distribution lines have voltages higher than 14,000 volts. Both types of line have the potential to cause electrocution of any living being. The transformers that are installed in the poles have the same voltage levels as the power lines and are therefore equally as dangerous to fauna as the lines themselves.

Our program has the cooperation of ICE (the national grid electricity provider) and the supervision of MINAE (the government body responsible for the environment). We have identified the black spots where more accidents occur in the South Caribbean area and that require the most urgent attention and are currently in talks to sign a formal cooperation agreement that should be ready in the coming weeks.

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Camera traps in the Gandoca-Manzanillo area

Wildlife monitoring program

Camera traps have become an important tool for monitoring those species which are difficult to observe, also covering a wide range of environments that other methods do not allow.

Cameras have multiple uses, from identifying individual species to assessing the size of a population and various aspects of their ecology and behavior. This makes the use of camera traps one of the most important and versatile methods for biological research and conservation studies.

This technique for wildlife studies is based on the use of cameras with thermal sensors, allowing you to photograph animals that pass in front of the lens' range. The method consists of placing trap cameras in preselected sampling stations (randomly or systematically).

With this technology we can distinguish and confirm the presence of species that are difficult to recognize by their footprints or other indications, and allow behavior studies, activity patterns and population estimates.

Veterinary Clinics of Wild Animals in South Caribbean

Improvement and Renovation of Equipment

The current crisis of biological diversity shown (though not exclusively) by the loss of wild flora and fauna, represents a notable threat to the health and future prosperity of humanity.

In order to meet the objective of conserving biological diversity and endangered species, it is necessary to have wildlife hospitals where workers are professionals specializing in the wildlife of the area and equipped with all the necessary means for the rescue and transportation of animals, as well as complete clinical care, clinical and postmortem diagnostic methods and hospitalization and rehabilitation facilities.

In the South Caribbean area, organizations that must attend to injured or abandoned wild animals need adequate technical equipment to provide comprehensive professional care. By being fully prepared with the correct equipment and facilities, we can ensure the best chance of survival for any animals being treated and avoid unnecessary transportation and treatment costs at other organizations.

Schools in South Caribbean

JRC Community Program

The JRC Community program is the most human connected project there is in the JRC as we are establishing direct relations with the Costa Rican population. Our goal is to involve the local community in our strategies of conservation, involving them and creating a familiar landscape for them to join our project, therefore the JRC can be a guiding light and a pillar for the community.

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