According to the National System of Conservation Areas (Sinac), the capture, sale, or breeding of these species is strictly prohibited.

The case began with an anonymous tip alerting officials that the sharks were on display at a local tourism center. Working with specialists from the Ministry of Environment (Minae), authorities raided the site, seized the animals, and transferred them to a Wildlife Rescue Center, where veterinarians carried out health evaluations.

The tourism center’s owners now face charges for allegedly keeping protected wildlife.

Under Costa Rica’s Wildlife Conservation Law No. 7317, anyone convicted of holding wild animals in captivity faces fines ranging from $600 to $26,000, along with possible prison terms of one to three years.

Sinac officials urged residents and tourists to report suspected cases of illegal wildlife possession. With limited resources to patrol the country, authorities said they rely heavily on citizen tips and intelligence operations to uncover trafficking, including the illegal sale of animals on social media.

Officials also stressed the dangers of keeping wild animals as pets, calling the practice both illegal and harmful. “These practices endanger the animals’ health and threaten Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity,” Sinac said. Traffickers often use cruel capture methods, keep animals in cramped spaces, provide inadequate diets, and later abandon them when they become aggressive or unmanageable.

Anyone who suspects wildlife trafficking or illegal captivity is encouraged to call Sinac’s dedicated hotline at 1192.

This case is the latest in a series of wildlife seizures in Costa Rica. Recently, authorities confiscated an undisclosed number of African wild animals found illegally in three pet stores in San José province.

Sinac is the government agency responsible for managing Costa Rica’s national parks and protected areas.

---------------
Have you ever encountered wild animals being kept in captivity in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com