store
Product has been added to your cart.

About Us

a non-profit organization

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation center situated in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. Our mission is to give injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife a second chance while raising awareness about the importance of conservation. We envision a future where wildlife Thrives safely in its natural habitat.

Every year, we rescue more than 700 animals, release 350 back into the wild, and educate over 1,000 visitors. We are the only wildlife rescue center serving three major conservation areas that together protect 19.7% of Costa Rica’s territory.

Support Us!
Our Story

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary began in 2014 as a small rescue project responding to the increasing number of animals affected by human development in the region. What started with only a few enclosures and a small team has grown into a fully equipped sanctuary with a veterinary clinic, nursery, research programs, and year-round internships and volunteering. Today, we are recognized as a leading center for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and education in the region.

Our Core Values

         Animal Welfare        –         Conservation         –         Education         –          Community Impact         

What We Do

01. Fully Equipped Veterinary Center

Our veterinary team works all year round to treat injured and orphaned wildlife. The clinic includes surgical equipment, diagnostic tools, and a specialized nursery with incubators for baby animals.

02. Sanctuary

Some animals cannot safely return to the wild. For the majority of them, this is because they were kept as illegal pets. Our sanctuary provides long-term, species-appropriate care while maintaining the primary goal of releasing as many animals as possible.

03. Conservation Education

We bring conservation directly to the community – visiting schools, hosting seminars, and offering workshops focused on Costa Rica’s biodiversity and the importance of protecting it.

04. Research

We collaborate with national and international organizations on studies of local flora and fauna. We run a camera trap monitoring program in several properties in our area, studying the local biodiversity. Our post-release monitoring program evaluates the success of rehabilitated animals once returned to their natural habitats. We also work to support national and international students to develop their research projects

05. Internships

Interns support our veterinary, sanctuary and orphan-care teams, gaining hands-on experience in wildlife rehabilitation, research and participating in nighttime emergencies and clinic procedures.

06. Volunteering

Year-round volunteers help with daily animal care, enrichment, maintenance, food preparation, wild food gathering and more. This is critical support that allows our team to rescue more animals. 

Our Team