Rescued in critical condition along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, this flamingo has made a remarkable recovery. Discover his journey, why he cannot return to the wild, and how we’re working to build him a permanent home at Jaguar Rescue Center.
In 2025, a flamingo in desperate need of help arrived at Jaguar Rescue Center. Found along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, weak, severely underweight, and suffering from hypothermia, he needed immediate medical attention. Further examinations revealed that he was also suffering from liver and kidney failure.
Today, he has made a remarkable recovery. He is stable, active, has gained weight, and his feathers are brighter and more vibrant pink than ever. He has become a very special member of the JRC family. But his journey is far from over. Since he cannot return to the wild, our next challenge is to provide him with a permanent habitat designed around his specific needs.
Here is his story.
A Rescue That Changed His Life
In September 2024, something quite unexpected happened along Costa Rica's Caribbean coast: a flamingo appeared in the area. Since flamingos are not found naturally in Costa Rica, his presence was a big surprise for everyone. He continued to be spotted along the coast over the following months, becoming an unusual visitor in the region.
In late June 2025, a kind neighbor found him lying on the beach and stepped in to help. MINAE (Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment and Energy) contacted our team, and the flamingo was transferred to Jaguar Rescue Center later that day.
When he arrived, his condition was critical. He was extremely weak, severely underweight, and suffering from hypothermia. Our veterinary team examined him and identified several minor wounds around his body. Further medical assessments also revealed that he was suffering from liver and kidney failure.
He immediately received medical attention, including fluids, vitamins, and antibiotics. We also prepared a quarantine area with a heat lamp to help regulate his body temperature, allowing him to rest and begin recovering in a safe environment.
His recovery was not going to be easy, but he gradually began showing signs of improvement. He became more active, and little by little, we began to see his strength return.
Rehabilitation: The Importance of Specialized Nutrition
One of the biggest challenges during his rehabilitation was providing the right nutrition.
Flamingos have very specific dietary requirements. In the wild, they feed by filtering small organisms and food particles from the water. Recreating a nutritionally balanced diet in human care requires specialized food formulated specifically for the species.
While our team initially worked to provide a balanced diet using locally available ingredients, we knew that the best option for his nutritional needs was Mazuri Flamingo Complete Diet, a scientifically formulated food designed to meet the nutritional requirements of flamingos in human care.
There was one problem: this specialized food is not available in Costa Rica, and importing it through regular mail is difficult because shipments can become held up in customs.
Thanks to the generosity of people traveling to Costa Rica and the support of our community, we were able to obtain the specialized food he needs. In June 2026, we also launched a food campaign to raise funds for his specific dietary requirements, helping us secure an additional supply to ensure he continues receiving the nutrition essential to his health and well-being.
For an animal with such specific dietary requirements, access to the right food is essential to his daily care and well-being.
Today, his recovery has been remarkable. He is stable, has gained weight, and is much more active. His feathers are brighter and more vibrant pink than ever.
Why Can't He Return to the Wild?
Although he has made a remarkable physical recovery, releasing him back into the wild is not a possibility.
Following a joint and coordinated assessment involving MINAE, the Flamingo Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Jaguar Rescue Center's team of veterinary specialists and biologists, it was determined that the flamingo cannot be released.
This decision was based on several factors:
- Limited vision: He has lost one eye, although we do not know how this happened. This permanent impairment affects his ability to navigate his surroundings, find food, and detect potential dangers.
- Human-imprinted behavior: His prolonged interaction with people has affected his natural behaviors, making independent survival more challenging.
- No other flamingos in Costa Rica: There are no other individuals of his species in the country for him to join and establish natural social interactions with.
- No suitable feeding ecosystem: Costa Rica does not have a suitable ecosystem that can provide the specific conditions and resources he needs for his natural feeding behavior.
Considering all these factors, releasing him into the wild would not be viable. The safest and most responsible decision is to provide him with permanent care.
His physical recovery is complete, but his need for specialized care will continue throughout his life.
Building a Home for Life
Our flamingo currently lives in a temporary enclosure while we work toward creating a permanent habitat that meets his species-specific needs.
Flamingos have unique behaviors and nutritional requirements, and their environment must be designed to support both.
That is why we launched ONE FLAMINGO. A HOME FOR LIFE., a campaign to raise $70,000 to build a purpose-designed enclosure following international flamingo husbandry guidelines.
The new habitat will include:
A specialized pool with a recirculating filtration system
Clean water is essential for his health and natural behaviors. The pool will include a filtration system to remove waste and maintain good water quality while reducing water consumption, an important consideration in a region increasingly affected by drought.
A separate feeding pool
Flamingos feed by filtering food from the water. A dedicated feeding pool will allow us to provide his specialized diet in a way that better supports his natural feeding behavior and nutritional needs.
Our goal is to create an environment where he can remain healthy, express natural behaviors, and enjoy the best possible quality of life.
Giving Him a Home for Life
His journey is a reminder that rescue does not always end with a return to the wild. Sometimes, giving an animal a second chance means committing to a lifetime of specialized care.
From the neighbor who first helped him to MINAE, our veterinary and animal care teams, and the people who supported his recovery, many have played a part in getting him where he is today.
Now, we are working toward the next chapter of his story: a permanent home where he can thrive.
Link to the campaign: https://www.jaguarrescue.foundation/en-us/GivingTuesday2026