Physical injury to Costa Rica’s wildlife is most often caused by human encroachment. Deforestation, development and fragmentation of their natural habitat has led to frequent electrocutions on power lines, dog attacks and injury or death due to fast moving motor vehicles.
Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary has been helping local wildlife, specializing in howler monkeys, for several decades. Our mission has been to provide orphaned, injured and displaced wild animals with safe sanctuary, rehabilitation, and eventual release into the wild. Rehabilitated animals will be released back into their natural environment. We also provide a permanent, spacious sanctuary and ongoing care for wildlife that, due to psychological or physical injury, it is not possible to release back into the wild.
In order to give the animals that survive but have been handicapped the attention, care and safety they need, our goal is to:
- Construct large habitats enclosing natural surroundings, designed to meet the specific needs of handicapped residents
- Provide visual and auditory stimulation
- Develop and research enrichment activities
Providing enriching environments for those who have been handicapped due to human encroachment has been one of our priorities, and we are constantly assessing the needs of the animals in our care and developing new spaces based on individual needs.
Last year we created a new habitat as a test with the aim of providing a transitional space for our youngest howlers ahead of their next developmental stage. It has been a huge success, providing plenty of sunshine, greenery and fresh air. It is not just a rich environment but also a learning area for them to explore, with a maze of vertical and horizontal climbing branches as well as vines so they can begin to test their weight as they jump and play from one area to another.
Not only does this space cater to our youngest howler monkeys, but it also provides a wonderful alternative habitat for our handicapped howler monkeys. It is proving particularly stimulating for Nambi, an older female howler monkey who is paralyzed from the waist down, as it offers her an additional challenging environment with enriching new scenery.
As this habitat was originally built as a temporary space, the materials used were organic and weathered easily, and the structure is beginning to deteriorate. It has been such a success that we would like to invest in rebuilding this habitat, using materials to make this a permanent space, which would cost roughly $3,000.
To donate to our enrichment project please follow this link.
Alternatively, to follow our progress and find out more about us, follow us on Instagram.