Two hyacinth macaw chicks (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking will now be permanently relocated to the Temaikén Foundation.
There, they will continue their development in optimal conditions for the species after receiving specialized care at the Aguará Conservation Center in Corrientes for months.
The specimens arrived at the Aguará Center at the beginning of the year after being rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking in the province of Chaco.
During their temporary stay in Corrientes, the rescued hyacinth macaws received the necessary care to ensure their healthy growth.
Now, they are once again in optimal condition.
However, the hyacinth macaws cannot return to their natural habitat, as they are not birds with a natural distribution in Corrientes.
Therefore, their release in Argentina could jeopardize both their survival due to inability to adapt and that of other species.
Given the high conservation value of the species, it was decided to relocate them to the Temaikén Foundation.
International relocation, besides being complicated for a conservation center, could also affect the well-being of the birds.
The work of the Aguará Center with the rescued hyacinth macaws
The Aguará Conservation Center in Corrientes primarily allocates its resources to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native wildlife.
It also permanently cares for only those animals that cannot be reintroduced into the wild.
In this context, with the transfer of the birds to Temaikén, they highlighted the commitment of their team during the care period.
“Our task was to temporarily shelter them and provide the necessary care so that they grew healthily, until we could transfer them to a place that would provide them with the appropriate care and welfare conditions,” detailed the Aguará Center.
This is part of the “Empty Enclosure” concept under which the institution operates.
This implies promoting each space as a temporary accommodation until the rehabilitation and release of the animals.
“We work with the ideal of the ‘Empty Enclosure’, meaning that our enclosures should only be a temporary accommodation to rehabilitate and release the animals,” explained the center.
A message against wildlife trafficking
The authorities of the Aguará Center recalled a fundamental message: wild animals are not pets.
Illegal possession not only affects the species that are victims of trafficking but also the environmental balance and natural heritage of the country.
The case of these hyacinth macaws highlights the consequences of the illegal wildlife trade.
It also shows the importance of having specialized centers that can care for rescued animals until their transfer to suitable institutions.
The teams from the Aguará Center and the Temaikén Foundation work together to ensure the well-being of these specimens, which will now have the opportunity to live in conditions appropriate for their species.
