In the south of Costa Rica, a small community located next to Corcovado National Park is demonstrating that peaceful coexistence between humans and large wild mammals can become a real tool for environmental conservation.
The experience takes place in Rincón de San Josecito, where neighbors live daily with pumas and tapirs in a setting that until a few decades ago was marked by hunting and extreme survival. Today, however, the territory has begun to transform thanks to the advancement of ecotourism and environmental education.
The documentary “Living with Pumas and Tapirs,” promoted by BirdnWild along with the Corcovado Foundation, portrays how a rural community managed to replace fear and persecution with a model of biodiversity protection based on respect and sustainable economic development.
From conflict with wildlife to a nature-linked economy
Decades ago, the families of Rincón de San Josecito depended directly on hunting for food. Poverty, isolation, and lack of resources turned the forest into an immediate source of survival.
However, the arrival of ecotourism slowly changed the relationship between people and wildlife. Animals stopped being seen as threats or prey and began to become a natural attraction capable of generating employment and income for the community.
Currently, many residents work as tour guides, accompanying visitors interested in observing birds, mammals, and tropical jungle. This change allowed former hunters to find new economic opportunities linked to environmental protection.
Additionally, the project promotes training and certifications to train new local guides, strengthening a sustainable economy based on forest conservation and biodiversity.
Pumas and tapirs walk near homes
One of the most surprising aspects of the Costa Rican experience is the naturalness with which pumas move near the homes and trails of the community. In most of America, these large felines are usually associated with conflicts or livestock attacks.
However, in Rincón de San Josecito, encounters with pumas are part of everyday life. Something similar happens with the Baird’s tapir, a threatened species that is rarely seen so close to human settlements.
Still, the coexistence remains fragile. The case of Gemelito, a young puma raised near the community and later killed when moving to other areas, showed that conservation only works when it expands beyond an isolated territory.
For this reason, BirdnWild and the Corcovado Foundation aim to expand the program to neighboring communities through environmental education and job training linked to ecotourism.
Why does this coexistence surprise scientists?
The coexistence between humans, pumas, and tapirs is exceptional for researchers because it contradicts much of the patterns observed in other regions of Latin America. Typically, the presence of large predators near human populations leads to conflicts, persecution, or elimination of animals.
In Costa Rica, however, the community developed a relationship based on tolerance, protection, and shared benefits. Scientists believe this cultural change demonstrates how conservation strategies can be strengthened when they simultaneously improve the social and economic conditions of people.
Furthermore, the experience challenges the idea that human proximity always represents a threat to wildlife. In Rincón de San Josecito, community protection allowed vulnerable species to regain confidence and move freely near inhabited areas.
Specialists highlight that this model could be replicated in other territories where biodiversity loss and conflicts with wild animals continue to grow. The key, they argue, is to combine education, sustainable employment, and environmental conservation within a single territorial strategy.
