Jaguar Rescue Center - Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

In our second month of the trip we volunteered at the Jaguar Rescue Center, just outside Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in Costa Rica. The centre is home to many injured or orphaned animals, from monkeys to snakes to owls who are all in the process of rehabilitation and will be released back into the wild eventually. These are some of the animals we met and loved (and the ones we have pictures of!):

Monkeys

Shaki

A spider monkey who lost an eye when indigenous people threw stones at him and his mother in order to eat them!

Nerea

The definition of 'cheeky monkey'

Chipito

A big teenage howler monkey who only wants to cuddle with the ladies, even though he is supposed to be the alpha male.

Tonino

The cry-baby of the group!

Othello

A very temperamental monkey...

Sloths

Fernando

A favourite of many volunteers due to his gorgeous smile.

Palma

A three-toed sloth who loves crawling on the floor.

Dante

A very wilful little two-toed sloth.

Violetta, Carlos & Cocles

Three babies who are always cuddling, meaning they often look like one three headed sloth.

Bongito

One of the babies who arrived when we were there.

Other

Agouti

One of the nicer members of the rodent family.

Stanley the Kinkajou

He looks like a cross between a cat and a monkey, but is related to neither - still cute though!

Xo & Chai the White-tailed Deer

Two friendly deer who like to use humans as salt licks.

Michael the Squirrel

An overly friendly squirrel.

Porcupines

These guys were very shy but very cute

Tarantula

This is actually a skin... phew.

Diavolino the Marguay

A beautiful but dangerous wildcat with huge eyes.

Tuki-Tuki the Toucan

A toucan that was always hopping around annoying volunteers and animals alike by pecking at them.

Other photos...

Sloth Count: 13!!!!!
Next Stop: Salvador, Brazil