Rare animals in Costa Rica are everywhere. This is a country home to 250 endangered plant and animal species. Many of them are unique to this Latin American country. No trip would be complete without making an attempt to spot some of these wonders. You might be one of the last humans to see them. Here are three rare and endangered animals you might be lucky enough to spot.
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Resplendent Quetzal
This country is famous for bird watching. The Resplendent Quetzal is a prize for any birdwatcher to spot. It’s easily noticeable with its ruby red chest and emerald green wings. It is cute and fluffy and makes its home within the cloud forests of the country. While it is only 14 inches in height its feathers can expand up to 30 inches.
Population numbers are declining as this bird can’t reproduce in captivity. The biggest threat is deforestation. Try spotting it around the Monteverde area.
Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey
This spider monkey is long and slender and has only a 25-inch frame. It’s very fragile and weighs a tiny 20 pounds at its maximum. You’ll hear this animal before you see it as it’s normally hooting from tree to tree with other monkeys. This makes it a target for predators in the forest canopy as it simply doesn’t know when to shut up!
These spider monkeys can be found in Tortuguero National Park, Santa Rosa National Park, and in many private reserves around the Monteverde area.
Baird Tapir
The Baird Tapir looks very much like a hybrid of a rhinoceros and an elephant. It also has some aspects of a horse. They can weigh up to 880 pounds and are about 6 feet long and 4 feet tall. It’s the largest land mammal on the entire continent. You can spot it by its coarse fur. Despite its size and the fact they’ve been known to beat up crocodiles, they’re peaceful herbivores.
There are only about 1,000 of them left, and most of them are held in national parks as part of conservation projects. Your best chance of meeting a Baird Tapir is by going to the Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula.
Some rare animals in Costa Rica might be difficult to spot on your own. Take a local guide along with you. They can point out the little quirks of the species to you. This is important in the case of Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey where only slight differences separate them from other species of spider monkey.
Feel free to contact us for more information on wildlife spotting excursions.
