Costa Rica Court Orders Power Line Changes to Protect Howler Monkeys from Electrocution

The Lead: Costa Rica's Court Ruling for Monkey Protection

Costa Rica's constitutional court has ordered the state-owned electricity company and the Ministry of Environment to implement measures to prevent howler monkeys from being electrocuted on uninsulated power lines. The ruling comes after conservation organizations documented a growing problem with monkeys mistaking power lines for trees and vines, resulting in hundreds of electrocutions annually.

The Rising Crisis: Development and Electrocution

Peque, a small black howler monkey, was found electrocuted with her mother who didn't survive the incident. She was one of more than 100 animals to arrive at International Animal Rescue Costa Rica (IARCR) in 2025 due to electrocution on power lines. Howler monkeys account for up to 90% of these incidents.

Francisco Sánchez, a veterinarian at IARCR, has observed a rise in cases over the past decade, attributing it to increased development in the Nosara area, which has become a popular tourist destination and haven for US and European immigrants. "Now, we have new areas [of electrocutions] appearing that we didn't have in the past," he explains. "This is because of the development of houses, restaurants and hotels. We are rescuing from further inside the forest."

The Legal Response: Constitutional Court Mandate

In January, Costa Rica's constitutional court ruled that the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) had failed to put in place effective measures to reduce and prevent wildlife electrocution. The court gave them six months to implement necessary corrections to the bare wiring in power lines in the Nosara district.

The ruling resulted from a campaign called "This Is NOT Pura Vida" by 20 conservation organizations and rescue centers, including IARCR, which called for urgent government action. IARCR subsequently launched the court case that led to this decision.

The National Impact: Beyond Nosara

The ruling could have major ramifications for wildlife protection nationwide, according to Gavin Bruce, chief executive of International Animal Rescue. "Although this case was built on data from the Nosara area, the problem is nationwide," he states. "We will now monitor the implementation of the ruling and consider how best to scale these protections across the entire country."

In Costa Rica, the only country thought to regularly log wildlife electrocution numbers, electric shock is one of the biggest causes of death among wildlife, with 6,262 cases between June 2022 and June 2023. MINAE claims to have already implemented "a broad range of measures aimed at preventing wildlife electrocution incidents" and has "promoted a sustained collaborative process" to develop solutions.

The Global Context: A Widespread Wildlife Threat

While the impact of power lines on birds has been well-documented, there is a lack of global studies on the effect on mammals, making it difficult to quantify the problem worldwide. Justo Martín Martín, an environmental consultant specializing in the issue for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), notes that "there are few systematic studies but there is abundant evidence... that the problem is global."

Looking Forward: The Path to Protection

The constitutional court ruling represents a significant step toward addressing the electrocution crisis in Costa Rica. Conservation groups hope the decision will force electricity providers nationwide to implement proper insulation and other protective measures for power lines. With Costa Rica being a global leader in biodiversity conservation, this case could set an important precedent for other countries facing similar challenges with wildlife and power infrastructure.