Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary

Cabuya, Costa Rica

“Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary and Penjamo Community Wildlife Refuge has been created on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, on the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The Rainsong Sanctuary and Wildlife Rescue Center are located in Cabuya, on the edge of Costa Rica's oldest National Park, "Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco." Our community refuge stretches from Playa Coyote to Paquera, including (to date) almost 3000 hectares (7500 acres) of protected habitat, a figure already larger than the nearby Cabo Blanco Reserve, and this figure is growing rapidly as additional property owners sign up.”

Set up by local activists, staffed by resident Biologists, Veterinarians and volunteers, and funded entirely by donations, the Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary is a rescue centre for species native to the Southern Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. They have a rapid response team and emergency number that reacts to native species injured through traffic impact, hunting or poaching, electrocution, domestic animal attack, release of animals illegally kept as pets, or natural take over injuries. The centre attempts to save injured animals, perform emergency medical procedures and nurse animals back to health before releasing them back into the wild. Animals that have suffered injuries that make their survival upon release back into the wild impossible, they encourage breeding for the release of their offspring at a later date. Many of the animals they save on a regular basis are either considered threatened or severely endangered, they include: Three-toed Sloth, Baird's Tapir, Quetzal, Spider Monkeys, Kinkajous, Tepezquintles (pacas), Tamandua Anteaters, Green Iguanas, Crested Guan, Chachalacs, native pigeons and quail, Scarlet Macaws, the highly endangered Red River and White River Turtles and more.

The biggest threats to animals on the Peninsula are:

• Human created Habitat destruction / Destruction of Wildlife corridors.
• Hunting, Poaching and the Pet Trade
• Domestic animals: Dogs / Cats / Cows / Goats / Horses
• Un-insulated Electrical Power Lines
• Rainsong are also raising money to create a sealed 40 hectare Primary Growth Jungle reserve, that is a Solid Fenced surrounded area managed and guarded to exclude the above threats.

Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary is funded wholly by private donations and staffed by an active board and volunteers – mainly international. These donations cover everything from food and medical support for the animals, construction of enclosures, all running costs of the site and the planed Secure Reserve as it is developed. The Breathe Foundation is raising money to support to completion and launch of this project.

Activities on site include Tour of the Rescue Centre with biologist and staff, introduction to the specific animals and their individual threats, detailed information on the native species in the area, status of the individual reserves and wildlife sanctuaries and their breeding introduction programs. A tour of the prospective Secure Reserve site is also available. There is no entry fee, however visitors are encouraged to make a donation to the running costs on departure.

Contacts:

Mary Lynn Perry – President Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary Association - rainsongwildlifesanctuary ( at ) gmail.com

More Information:

http://www.rainsongsanctuary.com/