Animal Rescue Zoo Ave and the Minister of Environment and Energy (MINAE) confirmed the release of 16 red macaws in the Bosque Escondido Wildlife Refuge in the Nicoya Peninsula.

Each of the birds released has a coded identification ring on their leg to enable their monitoring.

The macaws were born in the Endangered Species Reproduction Center of the Zoo Ave where they were cared for until the right time to release them in their natural habitat.

Animal Rescue Zoo Ave is a non-profit organization managed by the Nature Restoration Foundation; it works in the conservation of wildlife in Costa Rica reintroducing endangered species to their natural habitat.

Every year, the rescue center receives in average 3,500 animals of different species, 80% of them are successfully returned to nature. Their main rescue center The Neotropical Wildlife Rescue Center is located in La Garita, Alajuela; the Endangered Species Reproduction Center is found in Golfito and Guanacaste, this center is responsible for reproducing endangered birds or those animals which populations are considered reduced; the Center for Research and Conservation of Wildlife in San Josecito, Golfito, Puntarenas which aims at restoring the threatened fauna in the area; and of course, the Bosque Escondido Wildlife Refuge in Nicoya, they also recently opened a new location in Grecia, Alajuela.

Other species that have been released by the Animal Rescue Zoo Ave include, iguanas, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, deer, parrots.