Costa Rica Shuts Down State Zoo to Boost Wildlife Conservation Efforts
Las Catalinas is proud to acknowledge a historic milestone for Costa Rica as its two state zoos were closed last Saturday, following eleven years of litigation over a 2013 law that in prohibited keeping wild animals caged in captivity. The animals were transferred to a rescue center to promote the conservation of wild species in their natural habitat. The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), who own the land decided not to renew the administration of the zoos to Fundazoo Foundation, opting instead to close the facilities and transform the spaces into urban parks, botanical gardens, or forests.
The Simón Bolívar Zoo in San José, which had operated for 104 years, and the Santa Ana Conservation Center, just outside the capital in Santa Ana, ceased operations on the same day. Both facilities should have been closed in 2014 following the law’s approval, but various judicial appeals regarding the concession delayed the closure for a decade. More than 250 animals, including monkeys, felines, birds, reptiles, and more, were transferred to the SOAVE rescue center where they will be quarantined and carefully evaluated by biologists and veterinarians.
The zoo's closure was celebrated by animal rights activists who gathered with banners outside the Simón Bolívar Zoo. Juan Carlos Peralta, director of the Asociación para el Bienestar y Amparo de los Animales, emphasized that Costa Rica is the first country in the world to eliminate state-run zoos. MINAE assured its commitment to monitoring private sites that house animals in captivity.
The closure of Costa Rica’s state zoos prioritizes animal welfare and the conservation of their natural habitats, aligned with Costa Rica’s conservation vision. We congratulate the country on taking this step toward a more ethical and sustainable vision of the relationship between humans and animals.