The Ministry of Environment (MINAE) announced the rescue of a baby Florida manatee after it became stranded near the Tortuguero National Park in Limón Province.

Authorities said the rescue marks the first documented case in Costa Rica involving a manatee calf. The animal is a juvenile female measuring about 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) long. Officials said the manatee became separated from its mother for unknown reasons, lost its orientation and became trapped on the sand.

Park rangers with the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) responded to the scene and initially attempted to guide the manatee back into the sea. The effort was unsuccessful, and the animal was unable to swim on its own, becoming stranded again just minutes later.

Officials also conducted multiple monitoring patrols in the area to locate the calf’s mother. After several attempts, authorities reported no signs of the mother or other manatees near the shoreline.

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With reunification no longer possible, rescuers transported the manatee by small air ambulance to the Zooave Wildlife Rescue Center in the La Garita Canton of Alajuela. The facility is equipped with the specialized conditions needed for the medical care and rehabilitation of wild animals.

The aerial transfer, accompanied by a veterinary team, was made possible through a donation from the air transport company Boena. The manatee was flown to Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela and then transported by ground to the rescue center.

The rescue center is also open to the public for guided tours and is home to Costa Rica’s only capybaras, including four rare specimens of the world’s largest rodent species.

Authorities said the manatee calf has been placed in a specially adapted medical care area. The animal remains in critical but stable condition. Veterinary teams and rescue center staff are providing medical treatment, nutrition and continuous monitoring 24 hours a day.

The calf will remain in rehabilitation for an indefinite period while specialists later evaluate the possibility of reintroducing it into its natural habitat.

The rescue operation involved a coordinated effort by experts from the National Animal Health Service, park rangers from the National System of Conservation Areas, manatee specialists from the National University, rescue center professionals and the donated air transport services provided by Boena.

Experts noted that manatees are not commonly seen near beaches or river mouths along the Caribbean Coast, although sightings in those areas have been documented.

The manatee is considered a national symbol of Costa Rica’s marine wildlife. Sightings have been reported in several locations along the Caribbean coastline, as well as in river estuaries in Barra del Colorado, in northeastern Limón Province.

The Costa Rica Wildlife Organization is leading a program aimed at promoting coexistence between manatee populations and the Barra del Colorado community. Through bioacoustic “Sea Cow Conservation” studies conducted with residents, researchers have identified key feeding areas, travel corridors and threat zones affecting local manatee populations.

Manatees are primarily herbivorous marine mammals that inhabit warm, slow-moving waters. While they are generally considered coastal animals, they are capable of traveling through both saltwater and freshwater environments.

The animals have large, cylindrical bodies with rounded tails, paddle-like flippers and a wrinkled appearance. Their coloration ranges from gray to brown, and algae may grow on their skin, sometimes giving them a greenish tint. They inhabit warm, shallow waters, including rivers, estuaries, coastal areas and bays.


SINAC is the state-owned agency that oversees Costa Rica’s national parks and protected areas.

MINAE is the government agency in charge of setting policies on environmental protection, natural resource management, and the sustainable use of renewable energy.

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