Costa Rica Bans Hunting for Sport

Before the world cried out for Africa’s beloved lion Cecil, Costa Rica had already put into effect a law to protect their countries precious Jaguars from a similar fate.

When it comes to the environment, Costa Rica is always leading the pack. But apparently when it comes to humanity and respect to co-exist with the wildlife in our world, Costa Rica is again setting precedence.  Back in May of 2015, something amazing happened in Costa Rica! Well actually, probably a lot of amazing things happened back in May in Costa Rica, because it’s a pretty amazing place… but I digress. This particular amazing thing sets a precedent that animal lovers hope is adopted the world over. Costa Rica passed a law banning hunting for sport! Not only is that a wonderful thing for all the animals and animal lovers, it makes Costa Rica the first Latin American country to put such a law on its books, which we certainly feel is worth noting.

This new law to ban hunting for sport in Costa Rica is actually several years in the making, with the first initiative being proposed to Congress back in 2010. At that time Ticos had already gathered over 177,000 signatures calling for the ban on sport hunting.  Finally in 2012 when the vote took place,  it was unanimously decided that hunting for sport in Costa Rica should be made illegal.  And so finally in May of 2015 the law banning sport hunting in Costa Rica became official, and the good news has begun to spread!

As anyone who is alive knows, sometimes life can take a harsh turn and leave us feeling bewildered at what just occurred.  In July of 2015 our collective life took such a turn when news broke to the world of Cecil the Lion’s killing in Africa, and the world mourned his passing. Though the loss of Africa’s beloved Cecil is a huge blow on many fronts, a lot of really good questions have been asked, and a lot of important discussions have begun as to how and why this could occur and what should be done to stop it. Just one example, many airlines have already banned the shipment of trophies, which is an excellent start. Cecil the lion’s death will not be in vain, and a large degree of comfort can be found in that knowledge.

Given the long timeline of the law banning hunting for sport becoming officially on the books in Costa Rica, it’s clear to see that the implementation of the law and Cecil the Lion’s fate was just a coincidence.  But it’s heartening to see that again, Cecil’s loss is not in vain, and a spotlight is shined a little brighter on this new law which some hope all other countries in this world would consider implementing.

Costa Rica is a country known for its attention to the conservation of all life, and it is often blazing a new frontier for all of us where the concept of living in harmony with nature is concerned. In Costa Rica,  it seems to be a self-evident truth that we are all a part of a greater whole.  It seems to be understood that we are not the top of any food chain, or the Master of any domain really, but that we are simply residents of this glorious planet who need to co-exist for the greater good of the planet as a whole.

Kudos to you, Costa Rica, for the unanimous vote to outlaw hunting for sport! Here’s hoping the importance of the message rings a little louder than it might have otherwise, and that more countries move to adopt this law as their own. It’s time for change.