Wildlife Protection Measures in Honduras: Important Notice for Visitors to Roatan
**UPDATE** (3/14/25): There are no changes to report at this time. Our booked island guests continue to interact with sloths and other wildlife. Please bookmark this page for future updates.Â
**UPDATE** (3/7/25): The park and sanctuary owners met with the regulatory body on 3/6/25. There will be no changes to the wildlife interactions at the present time. However, regulatory officials will be monitoring the wildlife and owners are required to provide images of the animal interactions.
**UPDATE** (3/5/25): As of today, the regulatory agency has not made any final determinations regarding the interaction with the wildlife. Island guests continue to interact with the various wildlife, including the sloths.Â
BREAKING (3/1/25): Recent developments in wildlife protection efforts in Honduras that may affect your experience at Roatan’s animal parks and sanctuaries. Recently, the government of Honduras, through the Wildlife Department of the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF), have conducted several raids and confiscated various endangered and protected animal species at the mainland’s port city of La Ceiba.Â
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Recent Conservation Actions
In response to the above, the Honduran government, through the Wildlife Department of the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF), has recently intensified efforts to protect endangered and vulnerable species.Â
These measures come as part of Honduras’ commitment to combat wildlife trafficking, which has unfortunately seen an increase in recent months. While tour operators on the island were not directly notified of these enforcement actions, the regulations aim to ensure the protection and conservation of precious wildlife that calls Honduras and Roatan home.
It is our understanding at this time, the animal parks and sanctuaries on the island who are properly licensed to have these animals will be able to keep them. However, visitors will not be able to hold or handle the wildlife, such as the sloths. Island guests will be able to still observe the wildlife and also take a Sloth Selfie®. We will have more clarification in the upcoming weeks regarding what animals may be allowed in interactions.
Our Commitment to Conservation and Community
We want to reassure you that Roatan’s animal parks and sanctuaries remain dedicated to:
- The highest standards of animal welfare and conservation
- Supporting the livelihoods of local staff and tour guides
- Providing educational and meaningful experiences for visitors
These conservation facilities play a vital role in Roatan’s economy, supporting thousands of families who depend on sustainable tourism for their livelihoods.
As we navigate these regulatory changes, we invite you to continue experiencing what Roatan offers, while supporting establishments that prioritize ethical treatment of wildlife. Your visit contributes directly to both conservation efforts and the wellbeing of the local community.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of responsible tourism in Roatan.
We hope the news and changes mentioned above do not deter you from visiting Roatan’s animal parks and sanctuaries. The park owners are deeply committed to the well-being of their wildlife and provide crucial financial support to their staff and tour guides. Tourism is vital to Roatan’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of thousands of individuals.
The translation of the official documents to English can be found below each of the images.
National Institute of
Forest Conservation
HONDURAS
OFFICE DVS-ICF-010-2025
COMAYAGUELA, M.D.C. JANUARY 24, 2025
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND EXHIBITION CENTERS
ROATAN, BAY ISLANDS
Dear Wildlife Owners,
By this means, the Wildlife Department of the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF), in the use of the powers conferred by the Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife and based on the manual of technical administrative standards for the management of wildlife in Honduras (agreement 045-20211), informs all owners of wildlife under the different management modalities, whether these centers or sites are registered, unregistered or in the process of registration of the Department of the Bay Islands, especially the Island of Roatan.
That, due to the drastic increase in the frequency of illegal trafficking, mismanagement and OVERMANIPULATION OF WILDLIFE observed in recent years on Roatan Island, this department informs you that since the issuance of this document, OVERMANIPULATION (carrying and holding animals for exhibition and taking photographs), ILLEGAL POSSESSION AND ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING OF ENDANGERED, ENDANGERED, CRITICALLY ENDANGERED OR RARE WILDLIFE SPECIES SUCH AS: 3 AND 2 CLAWED SLOTH BEARS, GREEN GUARAS, RED GUARAS, WHITE-TAILED DEER, MONKEYS, SEA TURTLES AND OTHER SPECIES OF NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL INTEREST, all this based on the animal welfare law of Honduras, Decree No. 115-2015, Chapter V, Article 18 General Measures. Wild Animals in Captivity. Likewise, THE TRANSPORTATION OF WILDLIFE WITHOUT THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL AUTHORIZATION is prohibited, based on Article 115 Protection, Management and Administration of wild flora and fauna. (Decree 98-2007).
Failure to comply with this PROHIBITION will result in INTERVENTION BY THE FTIA (inter-institutional task force against environmental crime), as well as ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS authorized in the manual Special Procedural Regulations for the application of Fines and Sanctions for the Commission of Administrative Offenses of a Forestry Nature in Forest Areas, Protected Areas and/or Wildlife and CRIMINAL SANCTIONS authorized in articles 330, 331 and 332 of the current penal code of Honduras. At the same time, we urge all owners, legal representatives and managers of conservation and exhibition centers and natural persons who own wild fauna to begin, continue and complete their regularization processes before this CONSERVATION INSTITUTE, to avoid the aforementioned interventions, administrative and criminal sanctions.
SE VIA LAVACION POC
Lic. Marcio A. Martinez
Head of the Wildlife Department
ICF
Cc. Executive Directorate
CEPT OF LIFE
SELVESTRA
Cc. archive
La Ceiba, Atlántida. – On January 14, 2025, the Border Police in coordination with the Special Environment Prosecutor’s Office (FEMA), managed to rescue five specimens of sloth bear (four adults and one cub) in the cabotage dock of the city of La Ceiba, Atlántida.
The animals, which had previously been captured in the Honduran region of La Mosquitia, were transferred by land to La Ceiba, from where they would be illegally sent to the island of Roatán. During the stagecoach, a person was reported detained for investigation.
The action was the result of a strategic operation developed by the authorities, who acted in compliance with the regulations that protect wildlife in Honduras. The specimens were placed in custody and will receive medical care and rehabilitation in a specialized center before being reintegrated into their natural habitat, as long as conditions allow it.
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