Our fight against illegal activities
Although 70% of the Esquinas Rainforest have already become part of a national park, poaching and illegal logging still continue. Poachers still enter the forest to hunt peccaries, pacas and other animals. One of our priorities is the protection of the forest by park rangers. Since June 2003, two park rangers paid with donations from Rainforest of the Austrians have worked in the La Gamba area. In 2014, we doubled the number. Seit Juni 2003 arbeiten zwei von Regenwald der Österreicher bezahlte Wildhüter im Gebiet rund um La Gamba. Presently, nine park rangers are stationed in the La Gamba - Bonito sector of Piedras Blancas National Park.  

The main task of our park rangers is the fight against illegal activities such as hunting, poaching, logging, fishing near the coast, pollution of streams, gold mining or entering the forest as squatters. During the first 6 months of 2015,  rangers undertook 338 operations by land and by sea and filed 34 reports on illegal activities.  Besides, rangers are responsible for the maintenance of trails, buildings and park borders.   The monthly salary of a ranger, including administrative costs, social security and health care, was  CRC 656.900,72 in 2016 (approx. $ 1.200).  We need approximately $ 55,000 to pay for four rangers and we urgently require YOUR help! Thank you in the name of the animals in the Esquinas Rainforest.

Macaw Release Center in San Josecito
In 1996, the foundation "Fundación para la Restauración de la Naturaleza", which runs the private Zoo Ave in La Garita, began an artificial breeding program for scarlet macaws with the goal of releasing the large and endangered parrots into the wild and increasing the population. After a long search, the Rainforest of the Austrians was found to be the most suitable place for the reintroduction of macaws. Our organisation donated a 32-acre piece of land near Playa San Joscito on the Golfo Dulce, on which five aviaries, a kitchen and two prefab houses were built. In 1998, the first group of six macaws was brought to the release site. First, they had to adapt to the environment and learn to fly and strengthen their wings. Slowly, their diet was converted to wild fruits and seeds from the surrounding jungle. The social behaviour of the flock was monitored by ornithologists. Each year, 10-15 macaws were added until the 100th bird was released on 2008.  

The project surpassed all expectations. Originally, the chance of survival was estimated at 50%, but today is a healthy group of more than 150 macaws. They have begun to reproduce and are seen flying along the entire coast of Gulfo Dulce from the Rio Esquinas to Golfito. Park rangers also bring confiscated parrots and parakeets to the release center.  

Between 1998 and 2000, an ocelot and several margays were released by Pro Felis Wildcat organisation, but also capuchin monkeys, caimans, coatis and turtles have found a new home in the Esquinas Rainforest. Rainforest of the Austrians has supported the release programs with more than $50,000.