Published on Saturday, April 18, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rica’s only known flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) will remain indefinitely under specialized care, the Jaguar Rescue Center announced.

The bird, an American flamingo, is the only documented individual of its species in the country. Veterinarians say it cannot be released into the wild due to several critical factors, including limited vision, human-imprinted behavior, the absence of other flamingos in Costa Rica, and the lack of a suitable ecosystem to support its natural feeding habits.

Experts said these conditions significantly reduce the bird’s chances of survival outside human care.

The flamingo is currently housed in a specially adapted enclosure at the rescue center in Cocles Beach, in Limón province. It is being monitored by specialists from the Ministry of Environment, with guidance from the Flamingo Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The exotic bird was rescued in July 2025 after it was found near a beach in Limón with injuries caused by a dog attack.

 

Officials from the Ministry transported the bird to the rescue center, where it arrived in critical condition. “It arrived in very poor condition: weak, underweight, and suffering from hypothermia,” veterinarians said.

“Although he was diagnosed with liver and kidney failure, his recovery has been incredible. He is now stable, has gained weight, and his feathers look better than ever.”

That same month, the rescue center launched a nationwide campaign to secure specialized flamingo feed, which is essential for the birds’ survival. The IUCN provided support to help cover the animal’s dietary needs.

The flamingo was first spotted in October 2024 at the Estero Negro community near San Clemente Beach, Limón province. Experts believe it may be the first wild flamingo ever documented in Costa Rica.

“The flamingo may have arrived along the Limón coast after being pushed off course by strong winds from hurricanes or cyclones affecting the Caribbean region,” said Maylin Mora, regional director of the Amistad-Caribbean Conservation Area.

American flamingos are native to the Caribbean region, including the West Indies, northern South America, the Galápagos Islands, and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. The species is also an iconic symbol of the state of Florida in the United States.

Known for their bright pink plumage and long legs, adult flamingos can grow up to 5 feet tall and weigh between 4 and 8 pounds. Their uniquely curved bills are adapted for filter-feeding in shallow saltwater lagoons and brackish lakes, where they consume algae, seeds and small aquatic organisms such as brine shrimp, mollusks and insect larvae.

Flamingos are highly social birds that typically live in large flocks numbering in the thousands. However, this individual remains the only known flamingo in Costa Rica, making its care and recovery especially significant.

Earlier this year, park rangers also rescued a baby Florida manatee after it became stranded near Tortuguero National Park. Officials said this is the first documented case in the country involving the rescue of a manatee calf. The animal is currently under the care of a specialist at the Zooave Wildlife Rescue Center.

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