Costa rica’s wildlife faces deadly threat from power lines despite conservation success

Despite earning international acclaim for environmental protection, including the prestigious Earthshot Prize for Protecting and Restoring Nature, Costa Rica confronts a shocking wildlife crisis hiding in plain sight. The nation’s electrical infrastructure is killing thousands of animals each year through electrocution—a problem that highlights the complex challenges facing even the most environmentally conscious countries.

Between June 2022 and June 2023 alone, Costa Rica documented 6,262 cases of wildlife electrocution. The victims include some of the country’s most beloved species: howler monkeys, sloths, squirrels, foxes, and kinkajous. These animals are dying because they treat power lines like natural tree branches, using them as pathways to navigate increasingly fragmented habitats.

The root of this crisis lies in Costa Rica’s electrical infrastructure design. Most power lines use uninsulated aluminum conductors mounted on aerial systems, creating deadly traps when combined with high voltage electricity. As urbanization and deforestation continue to shrink natural habitats, animals are forced to adapt by using human-made structures for movement—particularly when crossing roads where power lines often run parallel.

This tragic situation underscores a broader environmental challenge: even nations leading in conservation face unexpected consequences from infrastructure development. For Costa Rica to maintain its reputation as a biodiversity champion, urgent action is needed to retrofit power systems with wildlife-safe alternatives, such as insulated cables and animal-friendly designs that can coexist with the country’s remarkable fauna.