The Ara Project

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The Ara Project is a Costa Rican conservation effort focused on two native macaw species: the great green macaw (Ara ambiguus) and the scarlet macaw (Ara macao). It started in the 1980s as a private zoo called Amigos de las Aves, run by Margot and Richard Frisius. The zoo operated until 2008. In 2009 it was rebranded as The Ara Project to protect and restore macaw populations.

Reintroduction and releases began in 1999 with 13 scarlet macaws released at Curú Wildlife Refuge on the Nicoya Peninsula. A scarlet reintroduction program at Tiskita Jungle Lodge followed, but by 2010 those released birds had not bred in the wild. At Zoo Ave near Alajuela, 38 scarlet macaws were released by 2002 and raised to be free of human contact; by 2004 these birds had not bred in the wild.

In 2013 the project moved its macaw breeding center to Punta Islita. In 2012 ten birds were released there, and seven survived by 2013. Since 2011 more than 150 scarlet macaws have been released in the Punta Islita area, with over 50 released in Punta Islita itself, and these populations are now breeding in the wild. Between 2011 and 2016, 45 great green macaws were released in Manzanillo de Limón, with nest boxes and education programs in the local community.

From 2015 to 2018 The Ara Project was led by Sam Williams, focusing on captive breeding, reintroductions, wild population management, making artificial nest boxes, education, and habitat management. In 2019 the project split into two independent NGOs: the Macaw Recovery Network (based in Punta Islita) and Ara Manzanillo. Williams now leads the Macaw Recovery Network, which concentrates on researching and protecting wild macaw populations, breeding to reestablish populations, engaging local communities, and reforestation in northern Costa Rica.

As of 2019 macaw populations in Costa Rica appear to be slowly recovering. The Macaw Recovery Network estimates about 300 green macaws in the north and Caribbean coast, and about 2,000 scarlet macaws nationwide. Ara Manzanillo estimates about 350 green macaws in Costa Rica.