Causes: Animals, Wildlife Preservation & Protection

Mission: The Toucan Rescue Ranch’s (TRR) mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Costa Rican wildlife. TRR works with a model that focuses on conservation, education, and research to ensure a brighter tomorrow for native wildlife.

Results: In 2017: TRR made history by becoming the first facility in Costa Rica and the second in the world to have parent-raised captive-bred emerald toucanets. TRR applied knowledge learned from the emerald toucanets to keel-billed toucans. In 2016 TRR became the first facility in Costa Rica to have parent-raised captive-bred keel-billed toucans. In 2018: TRR invested in a 25-acre piece of property in Nazareth, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. On this property, we started a cooperative reforestation project with a Costa Rican company called Café Britt. In 2017 and 2018 several species of native trees were re-planted on this property to help bridge the fragmented rainforest canopy as well as provide new refuge and food for released and wild animals. In 2013: A small veterinary clinic was built at headquarters in San Isidro, Heredia, Costa Rica. Generous donations allowed TRR to equip the clinic with an anesthesia machine, bandaging supplies, ultrasound machines, medications, etc. The clinic has been in constant use since its completion. Today, we are nationally recognized for our successful medical work on rescued wildlife. To ensure the utmost care and recovery the Toucan Rescue Ranch works with orthopedic surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, and physical therapists who visit headquarters to perform these practices, as well as, working in collaboration with their premier facilities. In 2015: A farm owned by Leslie and Jorge in Sarapiqui was turned into a soft release site for rehabilitated mammals and birds. Volunteers with backgrounds in zoology, biology, wildlife, and veterinary medicine are given an opportunity to gain hands-on experience monitoring and releasing rehabilitated wildlife. In 2017: TRR partnered with The Sloth Institute of Costa Rica to form the Saving Sloths Together (SST) project. Combining each organization's skills and knowledge it has improved the success of sloth rescue, rehabilitation, and release in Costa Rica. in 2018: The sloth release efforts have grown. TRR receives many orphaned sloths each year. Thanks to TRR’s continued partnership with Café Britt and The Sloth Institute, TRR can acquire tracking equipment for more sloth releases. This equipment enhances the Saving Sloths Together project and enables both institutions to monitor sloth release movements, and activities, and intervene if sloths do not appear to be adjusting to life in the wild. in 2019: TRR built 2 new pre-release aviaries for toucans and 1 new wildlife clinic. We also expanded our clinics by having new medical equipment such as an autoclave, IV stand, anesthesia machine, and operation lamp. We received a total of 277 wild animals with a 56% release rate. There is a total of 324 animals in our care.

Target demographics: wildlife, animals, environment, sustainability, conservation, wildlife conservation

Direct beneficiaries per year: We have over 300 rescued wild animals in our care

Geographic areas served: We are located in Costa Rica. Toucan Rescue Ranch is a 501c3 in the United States and a Costa Rican Foundation

Programs: RELEASE PROGRAM: The Release Site is an ever-expanding component of TRR. The Toucan Rescue Ranch has been releasing wildlife at this property for over 10 years. >EDUCATION PROGRAM: Animal Handling Workshop – Targeted for forest rangers, police, and firemen to teach how to properly handle certain wildlife such as raptors, parrots, sloths, monkeys, etc. >First-Aid Workshop – Targeted for forest rangers, police, onsite interns, and firemen to teach rescue approaches and techniques for critically injured and young wildlife. >Educational Public Property Walks – Informative lecture and walk of TRR and its rescued wildlife for national and international audiences. The goal of these educational walks is to focus on conservation issues and proactive steps to maintain healthy relationships with wildlife and the environment. >University Shadowing/Workshop – Colleges from around the globe visit TRR to learn from our medical team, as well as, take note of the care and rehabilitation of exotic wildlife. >Local School Lessons – We host various student groups of all ages teaching students about wildlife conservation, biology, and environmental research. >The Virtual Classroom – TRR brings Costa Rica to your classroom wherever you may be located. We do meet-ups and discussions with teachers and classrooms of all ages from all over the world. We use Skype to give a virtual walk of the property and explain the wildlife rescue process.