Rewilding Jaguar Territory in Costa Rica
A Wild at Heart Project
Restoring balance to the rainforest
In the Piedras Blancas region of southern Costa Rica, one missing species is threatening the health of an entire ecosystem. The White-Lipped Peccary – a vital prey animal for jaguars and a keystone species in the rainforest – is vanishing from this landscape.
Without it, jaguar populations are declining, and forest balance is beginning to unravel. But now, there’s a chance to reverse that.
Making a difference
Led by our partners Osa Conservation and supported by the national government, the Jaguar Resilience Project is working to bring the White-Lipped Peccary back to the wild. The project includes:
Engaging citizens through community workshops, media campaigns and public education
Releasing healthy peccary populations into the wild and monitoring the ecological changes that follow
Equipping local rangers to monitor and protect both reintroduced species and their habitats
Training local Rewilding Ambassadors to lead ecotourism, guide education programmes, and build sustainable livelihoods rooted in conservation
Inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders through school programmes
Project timelines
1. Over the next three years, White-Lipped Peccaries will be carefully reintroduced to the Piedras Blancas region, with long-term monitoring to assess how the forest responds.
2. At the same time, the project will work hand-in-hand with local communities to create shared benefits, including sustainable tourism and environmental education.
3. This is rewilding designed to work – for nature, and for people.
Why it matters
The disappearance of the White-Lipped Peccary disrupts more than a food chain. It affects tree growth, seed dispersal, and predator behaviour – unravelling the balance of one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
By bringing them back, we support jaguar recovery, restore forest health, and build pride and opportunity in the communities that live alongside the rainforest.
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