Two weeks flew by in the breathtaking landscapes of Costa Rica—far too short a time to take in all its beauty and biodiversity. During my journey, I had the privilege of visiting four unique animal sanctuaries, each dedicated to protecting, preserving, and rehabilitating wildlife. In this post, I’ll share what I learned about the challenges these sanctuaries face, the inspiring work they’re doing, and the opportunities for meaningful support and involvement in their missions.

A Tour of Compassion

Each sanctuary I visited was a safe haven for animals rescued from abuse, neglect, environmental disasters, or illegal trade. I met sloths rescued from powerline electrocution, monkeys who had been kept as illegal pets forced and abused to work for tourist entertainment, macaws rescued from a life of minuscule confinement, injured and abandoned street dogs, and a multitude of birds saved from smuggling operations. The staff—often underpaid or volunteering—worked tirelessly with minimal resources. Despite the hardships, their dedication to animal recovery and rehabilitation was unwavering. These animals were not just being housed, they were being healed emotionally and physically, often with the goal of rehabilitating and where possible releasing them back into the wild.

The Challenges on the Ground

• While the work being done is nothing short of heroic, nearly every center faced similar, serious challenges:
• Underfunding: Most sanctuaries rely on donations or small grants, with little to no help from the local government.
• Overcrowding: The rate of rescued animals far exceeds available space and staff capacity, making quality care extremely difficult in most cases.
• Limited Access to Veterinary Care: Many sanctuaries are in remote areas where getting access to skilled veterinarians, medications, tools, equipment or even basic lab testing can be a logistical nightmare.
• Legal and Political Barriers: zero government intervention, aid and funding with strict laws and regulations for animal interactions ands transport making the work of the sanctuaries at times almost impossible.
• Illegal Pet Trade: Despite laws in place, the exotic animal trade still persists. Many animals at these sanctuaries were confiscated from private owners, unable to be released due to dependency or trauma.
• Tourism: Sanctuaries are trying to reduce the interaction between humans and animals to improve the chances of the animals’ success in the wild. Once initiative is promoting “Stop animal selfies” and only use minimal tourist engagement without selfies. However, it is hard to bring people to sanctuaries without an attraction therein lies a devastating conundrum which leads most motives of Costa Rica sanctuaries falling sort of true wildlife restoration.

Highlights of Hope

While the challenges are real, the highlights were powerful. I witnessed:

• A howler monkey learning to trust again after sever abuse.
• An amputated sloth regaining a fierce lease of life.
• A mutilated capuchin monkey saved from potential wildlife abuse that was homed with other un-releasable capuchin monkeys creating a family and safety.
• Enrichment techniques for un-releasable animals to simulate wildlife with reduced human interaction.
• Understanding of the releasing steps to ensure high levels of success starting with aiding the animal then encouraging natural instincts.
• Educational programs teaching local communities and children about wildlife protection and coexistence.
• Initiative that use a monitor released wildlife for research and future development and successful release.
  These moments reminded me that rescue and rehabilitation are only half the mission—education and community engagement are just as essential.

A Journey that changed me

This two-week experience reminded me why I chose veterinary technology in the first place. It’s not just about medicine, it’s about compassion, education, and global responsibility. Seeing the resilience of both the animals and the people who care for them reminded me that even in the face of struggle, hope and healing are possible.
I returned with a renewed commitment to the field, eager to apply what I learned and to be part of the global network fighting for better lives for animals everywhere.

– Penny , SPC Costa Rica Vet Tech Study Abroad Program, July 2025