Nature / Wildlife

by Karen Lee Hall.  Photos  provided by Debbie Zec VP: Before we get into all things surfing, please tell me a bit about yourself. Where are you from and how long have you been surfing? When did you start your surfing school? DEBBIE: I’m Debbie Zec Jimenez, blessed to be born and raised right here in Dominical Beach, a place I absolutely love! I’m the founder of Dominical Surf School and Surf Muse. I’ve been in the ocean since I was a kid, first bodyboarding and then surfing.

para Elly King La extraordinaria historia de Harriet comenzó cuando quedó huérfana a una edad temprana. Rescatada por nuestros amigos del Santuario de Vida Silvestre Alturas en 2019, continuó su rehabilitación en el Rancho de Rescate de Tucanes. Junto a ella se encontraba otra joven perezosa llamada Aurora, encontrada casi al mismo tiempo y de una edad parecida. Juntas, emprendieron su camino hacia la rehabilitación y finalmente llegaron al Instituto de Perezosos, antes de se

OUR Christmas MIRACLE by Elly King Harriet’s remarkable journey be- gan when she was orphaned at a young age. Rescued by our friends at Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary in 2019, she continued her rehabilitation at Toucan Rescue Ranch. Alongside her was another young sloth named Aroura, found around the same time and at a similar age. Together, they embarked on their rehabilitation journey and eventually arrived at their final pre-release home at The Sloth Institute. In February 202

Costa Rica, a small country that embraces two oceans, is home to nearly 4% of the planet’s biodiversity. A fundamental part of this wealth is found in its marine ecosystems, which cover more than 90% of the national territory and are home to countless species. However, the blue world also faces silent threats. Amid waves and challenges, these stories show the resilience of life at sea.

That beautiful, powerful ocean we love to gaze over at sunset is a balm to the senses. Lovely to wade in, relaxing to lie beside, soothing to listen to. We all love our coastal life here. But it comes with a few dangers, so why not be prepared?

ack Ewing’s most recent book – Monkeys are Made of Mangos: Colorful, Captivating Costa Rica – is a collection of 40 compelling short essays told in the first person by Ewing, a cattle rancher turned naturalist and environmentalist.

It’s natural that when we see a small, helpless animal, our first instinct is to help it. However, when it comes to wild animals, intervening—despite good intentions—can actually do more harm than good.

Es normal que si vemos un animal pequeño e indefenso nuestro primer instinto sea ayudarlo, sin embargo, en el caso de animales silvestre esto a la larga puede ser perjudicial para el animal, por más que nuestras intenciones sean buenas.

Sloths are peaceful, tree-dwelling icons of Costa Rica, and spotting one in the wild is a dream for many of us. But as tourism grows, so does our responsibility to ensure these gentle animals are protected, not exploited.

by Maritere Mendoza González On June 27, 2025, a juvenile white-faced capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus) was found unconscious on the streets of Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. It was discovered by a group of girls who were alarmed by their pet's constant barking. Upon investigating, they noticed the unresponsive monkey. Concerned for its well-being, this encounter prompted the girls to transport the animal to Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR) so it would receive the appropriate c

In and around Manuel Antonio National Park, spotting a sloth is always a memorable experience. Whether they’re curled up in the treetops or slowly making their way from branch to branch, these iconic animals never fail to capture attention!

photo: Jack Ewing Have you ever seen a caiman on a mountainside in a primary forest more than a kilometer from the nearest water? At Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge  there is a trail called the “caiman trail” because one of our guides sighted a caiman there in  March of 2016.  Late in the dry season, competition for possession of the few puddles that remain in the lowlands is so intense that caimans and otters are sometimes driven to walk great distances in search of w

A World Class Escape Artist Back in April of 2016 an octopus named “Inky” escaped his tank in the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier and made it out to sea, and freedom. This is perhaps one of the greatest stories of forging one’s independence there ever was.  The breakout, which has captured the imagination of New Zealanders and made headlines around the world, apparently began when Inky slipped through a small gap at the top of his tank, likely left open during rou

Una Artista de Escape de Clase Mundial En abril de 2016, un pulpo llamado "Inky" escapó de su tanque en el Acuario Nacional de Nueva Zelanda en Napier y logró llegar al mar, en busca de la libertad. Esta es quizás una de las mejores historias de independencia que jamás haya existido.

¿Alguna vez has visto un caimán en la ladera de una montaña en un bosque primario a más de un kilómetro del agua más cercana? En el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Hacienda Barú hay un sendero llamado "sendero del caimán" porque uno de nuestros guías avistó uno allí en marzo de 2016.  A finales de la temporada seca, la competencia por los pocos charcos que quedan en las tierras bajas es tan intensa que los caimanes y las nutrias a veces se ven obligados a caminar grandes d

photo: Martina Clerc Breathtaking to Behold Difficult to describe, breathtaking to behold, breaching whales are visible most months of the year off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.  Costa Rica has the enviable distinction of more months with humpbacks in residence than anywhere else in the world. The thousand or so whales that spend their summers off the coast of California and the northwestern United States head south in December to warmer waters off the Pacific coast of Cen

Nestled on the stunning Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Marina Pez Vela continues to deliver world-class fishing opportunities for both inshore and offshore anglers. The period from June 15 to July 15 brought spectacular action and two exciting tournaments to Quepos.

A whopping good time was had by all. !! Thanks to Benn Gilmore of Jackpot Sport Fishing for the great photos. | +(506) 8458 4997  |    info@jackpotsportfishing.com  | jackpotsportfishing.com

photo provided by Yeimy Gamboa Lucy was just a juvenile when she arrived at our wildlife rescue center. She had been electrocuted by a...

by Elly King, Fieldwork Coordinator and Educator  The Sloth Institute was founded with a clear purpose: to deepen our understanding of...

What looks like a miniature prehistoric monster (1 to 2 kilos) is; listed by Guinness Book of World Records as the world´s fastest...

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.  One man’s loss is another man’s gain.    The literary landscape is riddled with metaphors and...

Along the edge of our coast, where ocean meets rainforest, one can find Manuel Antonio. Toucans swoop from branches, howlers rumble deep within the trees, sloths pass overhead...Underneath the surface, the richness only enhances. White-tip sharks, rays, octopuses, reef fish, and nudibranchs call these marine-protected waters their home. At the base of the ecosystem, live the organisms that facilitate all this biodiversity, Coral Reefs.

“I never imagined any of this. It’s awesome. You know what? You should write this all down; all the same stuff you just told me. It’d make a great article. Lots of people out there would love to learn about this stuff. I’m sure you could get it published.”

Based in Manuel Antonio, The Sloth Institute is dedicated to enhancing and expanding the welfare and conservation of sloths in Costa Rica. These gentle, quiet creatures are iconic to our rainforests, but they face growing threats that require informed, science-based, and community-driven solutions.

In February 2025 we received an emergency call reporting a howler monkey found on the ground. This situation was highly unusual, as howler monkeys are rarely seen on the ground, much less in a resting position. This species is known for spending most of its time in the treetops, where they feel safest and feed on leaves, which make up their exclusive diet.