Wildlife Rescue in Manuel Antonio: Helping Injured or Orphaned Animals
Spend a few days in Manuel Antonio and you will understand why so many people here have devoted their lives to its animals. If you ever find a sloth, monkey, bird or turtle that needs help, here is exactly what to do: a few calm steps, the right number to call, and a team of local experts ready to take it from there.
Found an animal? Do this now
The kindest thing you can do is also the simplest: keep the animal safe from a distance and call the people trained to help.
- Keep your distance. Stay a few meters back and keep your voice low. A frightened sloth freezes, so it can look calm when it is not (Sloth Conservation Foundation).
- Keep people and dogs away. If the animal is on a road, slow or warn traffic only when it is safe for you to do so.
- Do not pick it up, feed it or give it water. Handling stresses and can injure wild animals, can keep a mother from returning to her baby, and exposes you to bites and scratches.
- Note the exact location and take a photo or short video from where you stand. A dropped pin helps rescuers find it fast.
- Call for help: Kids Saving the Rainforest +506 8568-5335 (daily 8 am–5 pm); for a sloth, The Sloth Institute +506 8775-6847; any hour, Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary +506 8589-7812; to report, SINAC 1192.
- Staying at ECOTICA? Tell the front desk (6 am–10 pm). We call our rescue partner, Kids Saving the Rainforest, and stay in touch until help arrives.
Then follow the rescuers’ guidance. They will tell you whether to wait, watch from a distance or simply let the animal be.
Wildlife rescue in brief
| Topic | Key fact |
|---|---|
| ECOTICA’s rescue partner | Kids Saving the Rainforest, +506 8568-5335 (daily 8 am–5 pm) |
| Sloth emergencies | The Sloth Institute, +506 8775-6847 (call or WhatsApp) |
| After hours | Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary, 24-hour line +506 8589-7812 |
| To report (pets, photos, turtles) | SINAC 1192, or online via SITADA |
| Golden rule | Keep your distance; do not touch, feed or give water |
| Sloth on the ground | Usually normal: they come down about once a week (Sloth Conservation Foundation) |
| Main causes of injury | Power lines, cars, dogs and cats, the illegal pet trade (KSTR) |
| The law | Ley 7317: only SINAC-permitted centers may treat wild animals |
Who to call for an animal in need
Manuel Antonio is fortunate to have dedicated, licensed people caring for its wildlife. Save these numbers before your first walk; they are verified from each organization’s own published contacts.
| Organization | Call them for | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR), Manuel Antonio–Quepos. ECOTICA’s rescue partner. | Any injured, orphaned or sick wild animal: monkeys, sloths, birds, parrots and more | +506 8568-5335 | Daily 8 am–5 pm |
| The Sloth Institute, Manuel Antonio | Sloths only: injured, orphaned, on the ground in danger | +506 8775-6847 (call or WhatsApp) | Sloth emergencies line |
| Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary, near Dominical | Any injured, sick or orphaned wild animal, especially after hours | +506 8589-7812 | 24 hours |
| SINAC / MINAE environmental line | Reporting: wild animals kept as pets or offered for photos, illegal capture or sale, sea turtles in trouble | 1192, or online via SITADA | Report line |
| 911 | A cable down or sparking, an animal causing a traffic hazard, a snake inside a home (fire department) | 911 | 24 hours |
| ECOTICA front desk | Anything on the hotel grounds; we call KSTR for you | Front desk | Daily 6 am–10 pm |
Which one first?
- Daytime, any animal: Kids Saving the Rainforest.
- A sloth: The Sloth Institute, or Kids Saving the Rainforest.
- Evening or night: Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary’s 24-hour line.
- No answer, or something to report: SINAC on 1192.
From a foreign phone, keep the +506; inside Costa Rica, dial the eight digits.
Situation by situation: what helps
Find the situation closest to yours. Each one ends with the call to make.
A baby sloth on the ground
This is often less dramatic than it looks. Sloths climb down about once a week to relieve themselves at the base of a tree, and mothers do come down to collect a baby that has fallen. Because they move slowly and rarely descend, it can take her a while (Sloth Conservation Foundation).
Do this:
- Watch quietly from a distance and keep people and dogs away.
- Do not put it back in a tree; the wrong tree can leave it worse off.
- The Sloth Conservation Foundation suggests keeping watch until nightfall, unless the baby is in immediate danger. Hurt, in danger, or still alone? Call The Sloth Institute (+506 8775-6847) or Kids Saving the Rainforest.
An adult sloth on the ground or crossing a road
Sloths cannot jump, so they crawl between trees, which leaves them exposed to cars and dogs (Sloth Conservation Foundation). A sloth moving steadily toward a trunk with its head up is usually fine. Give it room and let it continue. If it is injured, trapped or stuck on a busy road, call a rescue center.
A monkey or sloth on a power line
Electrocution is one of the leading reasons monkeys and sloths reach rescue centers here (Kids Saving the Rainforest). The Sloth Conservation Foundation counts more than 3,000 wildlife electrocutions a year in Costa Rica.
Do this:
- Never touch the animal, the cable or anything in contact with them; they may still be live.
- Keep everyone back, especially from an animal that has fallen.
- Call a rescue center right away. If a cable is down or sparking, also call 911.
A bird that hit a window
Many are only stunned and fly off after a quiet rest. Keep pets and people away and watch from a distance. If it does not recover or is clearly hurt, call a rescue center for guidance.
An animal hit by a car
Car strikes are among the main causes of injury that KSTR treats. Your safety first: pull over only where it is safe, turn on your hazard lights, and do not stand in the road. Note the location, then call Kids Saving the Rainforest or Alturas; call 911 if the animal is causing a traffic hazard.
A sea turtle or a nest on the beach
Keep people and dogs back, avoid shining lights on the turtle or the hatchlings, and let them make their own way. For a turtle that seems hurt, stranded or tangled, call SINAC on 1192 or 911. Our ocean and marine life guide introduces the turtles of this coast.
A snake in your room or garden
Step away, keep an eye on where it goes from a safe distance, and do not try to catch or move it. At ECOTICA, tell the front desk; elsewhere, the Universidad de Costa Rica advises calling the fire department through 911. For bites and first aid, see our health and safety guide.
A wild animal kept as a pet or offered for photos
Being held by strangers causes sloths great stress (Sloth Conservation Foundation), and keeping wildlife without a SINAC permit is not allowed in Costa Rica. Kindly decline the photo, and report it to SINAC on 1192 or online through SITADA, with the place, date and a photo if you can.
People feeding monkeys
Feeding makes monkeys bold, harms their health and draws them toward roads and people. A friendly word usually works wonders; our responsible wildlife watching guide explains why. Repeated feeding or harassment can be reported to SINAC on 1192.
Why not take the animal yourself
The wish to scoop up a hurt animal and drive it to help is completely natural. Here is why a phone call does more good.
It is the law, for the animals’ sake
Costa Rica’s Wildlife Conservation Law (Ley 7317) declares wild animals part of the public domain, under the care of SINAC. Only rescue centers holding a SINAC permit may take in and treat wild animals. That is why The Sloth Institute’s 2025 SINAC permit was such a milestone for Manuel Antonio (The Sloth Institute).
Stress is a real danger
Wild animals experience handling as a predator attack. A sloth’s response to fear is to freeze, so it may look calm while under great stress (Sloth Conservation Foundation). A quiet space and expert hands give it the best chance.
Good intentions can go wrong
- Food and water can harm an injured or stressed animal; rescue centers know the right diet for each species.
- A baby may not be an orphan. Moving it can keep a returning mother from finding it.
- Bites and scratches from wild mammals mean a trip to the doctor for you (see our health and safety guide).
- A general vet clinic is not set up for wildlife; licensed rescue centers have wildlife veterinarians and, above all, the skills to prepare animals to return to the wild.
The most loving thing a visitor can do is to keep watch and make the call.
How rescue works in Manuel Antonio
Behind every phone call is a careful journey: rescue, veterinary care, rehabilitation and, whenever possible, a return to the forest.
Kids Saving the Rainforest: ECOTICA’s rescue partner
KSTR began in 1999, when two nine-year-old girls in Manuel Antonio started raising money to protect the rainforest and its tiny squirrel monkeys. Today its rescue center:
- Treats around 200 animals a year, with a full-time wildlife veterinarian and veterinary technician.
- Releases an average of about 55% of its patients back to the wild.
- Gives lifelong sanctuary to animals that cannot return, including parrots, monkeys, sloths, kinkajous and coatis.
- Sees injuries mainly from electrocution, car strikes, the illegal pet trade and loose dogs and cats (Kids Saving the Rainforest).
The blue rope bridges over the road
Look up as you drive the hill road and you may see thick blue ropes strung between the trees. Since 2000, KSTR has installed more than 130 wildlife bridges, working with the national electricity institute (ICE), so monkeys, sloths and other tree-dwellers can cross above traffic instead of along power lines. More than 22 species have been recorded using them, and KSTR credits the bridges with helping the local squirrel monkey population grow from about 1,200 to more than 4,000 (Kids Saving the Rainforest). Our monkey guide tells the story of the mono tití.
The Sloth Institute: rescue, rehabilitate, release
Founded in Manuel Antonio in 2014, The Sloth Institute specializes in orphaned and injured sloths. Young sloths learn the skills they need to live in the forest, are released, and are then followed after release to see how they fare, research that has helped show orphaned sloths can return successfully to wild populations. In 2025 it received its SINAC wildlife rescue center permit (The Sloth Institute). Meet both of Costa Rica’s species in our sloth guide.
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary: around the clock
Near Dominical, further south along the coast, Alturas rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, sick and orphaned native animals, and keeps a 24-hour rescue line (Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary).
How you can help Manuel Antonio's wildlife
You do not need to find an animal in trouble to make a difference. These are simple, generous ways to help during your stay and after you fly home.
Visit
Kids Saving the Rainforest offers guided tours of its sanctuary, designed to teach visitors about conservation, and Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary offers guided 1.5-hour tours from Tuesday to Sunday. Your ticket supports the animals’ care. Ask our concierge and we will help you fit a visit into your plans.
Donate or adopt
Each organization accepts donations on its website, KSTR supports its sanctuary and rescue center through them, and The Sloth Institute offers an adopt-a-sloth program.
Volunteer
KSTR welcomes volunteers for anywhere from about a week to a year, and Alturas also has volunteer programs, helping with animal care, habitat work and maintenance.
Every day of your trip
- Never feed wildlife, and keep snacks zipped away on the beach.
- Slow down on the hill road, especially at dawn and dusk, and watch for animals crossing.
- Keep a respectful distance for photos and use a zoom lens.
- Choose ethical experiences: no holding or touching wild animals, and guided walks with licensed naturalists. Our responsible wildlife watching guide shows how.
- Keep the numbers on this page in your phone.
Ready to meet the animals the best way, wild and free? Book a guided wildlife tour or explore our wildlife and nature tours.
At ECOTICA: wild neighbors, cared for
ECOTICA sits on its own 10-acre private rainforest reserve, and its wild residents are part of everyday life. Howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins and squirrel monkeys pass through the trees, sloths doze in the canopy, toucans call from the branches, and a pair of scarlet macaws nests in the royal palms. You may well watch them from your bungalow porch; our wildlife at ECOTICA story shows what to look for.
If an animal on the grounds needs help
- Keep your distance and keep others back.
- Tell the front desk (daily 6 am–10 pm), with the spot and a photo if you have one.
- We call Kids Saving the Rainforest, our rescue partner, and follow their guidance until help arrives.
Our partnership with Kids Saving the Rainforest
ECOTICA works with Kids Saving the Rainforest, the Manuel Antonio rescue center whose veterinarians, sanctuary and blue rope bridges have done so much for local wildlife. When one of our wild neighbors needs care, they are the people we call, so the animal goes straight to licensed, experienced hands.
Come and share the forest with them. Check dates and rates for your stay, or book a guided wildlife walk with our concierge.
Wildlife rescue in Manuel Antonio: questions and answers
Who do I call for an injured animal in Manuel Antonio?
Call Kids Saving the Rainforest (+506 8568-5335, daily 8 am–5 pm), The Sloth Institute for sloths (+506 8775-6847) or Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary’s 24-hour line (+506 8589-7812). You can also report to SINAC on 1192.
What should I do if I find a baby sloth on the ground?
Watch quietly from a distance, keep people and dogs away, and do not pick it up or put it in a tree; the mother often comes back for it. If it is hurt, in danger or still alone by nightfall, call The Sloth Institute or Kids Saving the Rainforest.
Is it normal to see a sloth on the ground?
Often, yes. Sloths come down about once a week to relieve themselves and crawl between trees because they cannot jump (Sloth Conservation Foundation). Give it room and call for help only if it seems injured, trapped or in danger.
What if I see a monkey or sloth hurt on a power line?
Do not touch the animal or the cable, which may still be live, and keep others back. Call a rescue center right away, and call 911 if a cable is down or sparking.
Can I give water or food to an injured animal?
It is best not to. Food and water can harm a stressed or injured wild animal; the rescue center will know exactly what it needs.
Can I take an injured wild animal to a vet myself?
Please call instead. Under Ley 7317, wildlife belongs to the state and only SINAC-permitted rescue centers may treat wild animals; they will guide you on what to do.
What do I do with a bird that hit a window?
Keep pets and people away and watch from a distance; many birds are only stunned and fly off after a quiet rest. If it does not recover or looks hurt, call a rescue center.
Who do I call about a sea turtle on the beach?
Keep people back and avoid shining lights. If the turtle seems hurt, stranded or tangled, call SINAC on 1192 or 911.
Someone is offering photos with a sloth or monkey. What should I do?
Kindly decline. Being held causes wild animals great stress, and keeping wildlife without a SINAC permit is not allowed; report it to SINAC on 1192 or online through SITADA.
Why are there blue ropes across the road in Manuel Antonio?
They are wildlife bridges. Kids Saving the Rainforest has installed more than 130 since 2000, with ICE, so monkeys and sloths can cross above traffic instead of along power lines.
What does ECOTICA do if an animal on the grounds needs help?
Tell the front desk (6 am to 10 pm daily). We call our rescue partner, Kids Saving the Rainforest, and follow their guidance until help arrives.
How can I support wildlife rescue in Manuel Antonio?
Visit a sanctuary on a guided tour, donate, volunteer, or adopt a sloth through The Sloth Institute. Every day, never feed wildlife and drive slowly on the hill road.
Keep exploring
Keep exploring Manuel Antonio’s wild side. Meet the sloths and monkeys, browse our wildlife overview, reptiles and iguanas and birds, read our responsible wildlife watching guide, and save our health and safety guide for the people in your group.
Arrive with everything ready
Tell us your dates and we will have the best of Manuel Antonio waiting for you before you land:
- Book your tours: Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist guide, boat trips, zip lines, rafting and more
- Reserve Jungle Spa: massages, couples treatments, facials and body rituals
- Airport transportation: a private transfer from San José, US$195 each way for up to 5 people
- Concierge requests: dinners, celebrations and anything special
- Stay at ECOTICA: check dates and rates for our bungalows and suites
Where our facts come from
- Kids Saving the Rainforest – Wildlife rescue center, sanctuary and wildlife bridges
- The Sloth Institute – Receives sloth rescue permit from SINAC
- The Sloth Conservation Foundation – Baby sloths: everything you always wanted to know
- The Sloth Conservation Foundation – Sloth problems (and how to solve them)
- Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary – Get in touch
Photos: Veronika Andrews, Crisbel Solano, Koen Swiers, Tomáš Malík / Pexels.
