Costa Rica has taken a major step toward protecting its wildlife after the country’s Constitutional Court ordered authorities to address the growing problem of howler monkeys being electrocuted on uninsulated power lines. The ruling came after conservation organizations documented a sharp rise in monkey deaths, particularly in the Pacific coastal region of Nosara.
Howler monkeys, which spend most of their lives moving through the forest canopy, often mistake electrical wires for tree branches or natural pathways. As forests become fragmented by housing, tourism development, and roads, the animals increasingly use power lines to travel between isolated patches of habitat, putting them at risk of fatal electric shocks.
According to wildlife rescuers, more than 100 animals were electrocuted in the Nosara area during 2025, with howler monkeys accounting for the vast majority of cases. Many victims suffer severe burns, broken bones from falls, or death at the scene.
The court ruled that the state electricity provider and the Ministry of Environment and Energy failed to implement adequate measures to protect wildlife. Authorities have been given six months to correct dangerous sections of the power network and develop long-term solutions. Recommended measures include insulating electrical cables, installing protective devices on poles, and building canopy bridges that allow animals to cross safely above roads and power lines.
Conservationists have welcomed the decision as a landmark victory for biodiversity. They hope it will set a nationwide precedent and significantly reduce wildlife deaths across Costa Rica, a country renowned for its commitment to environmental protection and ecotourism.
