Celebrating Aruba Flag Day with a Royal Visit & Shoco Conservation

At Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba, National Flag and Anthem Day on March 18th is a meaningful reminder of identity, heritage and the responsibility we share to protect the island we proudly call home. Our home is one that we hope will always feel like your home, too, which is also a reason we welcome our guests’ interests in giving back through voluntourism during their Aruba vacation or Caribbean honeymoon.

This year’s Aruba Flag Day carried even deeper meaning. Resort owner Ewald Biemans and Managing Director Crescenzia Biemans had the distinguished honor of standing alongside His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands during an official ceremony. Together with the Governor of Aruba, Mr. Alfonso Boekhoudt, this moment symbolized the close partnership between the Netherlands and Aruba, a constituent country within the Kingdom, and a broader collaboration across our island, bringing together government, conservation leaders, businesses and residents in a shared commitment to our future.

On this special occasion, His Majesty the King and Governor Boekhoudt unveiled the very first Shoco di Bario Program as part of Aruba’s National Shoco Conservation Project. A newly introduced “Protect the Shoco” sign now stands as a symbol of this united effort to safeguard Aruba’s beloved burrowing owl.

A National Commitment to the Shoco

The Shoco, Aruba’s endemic burrowing owl and national symbol since 2012, remains critically vulnerable, with fewer than 200 pairs left in the wild. Protecting this species is as much of an environmental priority as it is a reflection of Aruba’s identity and its commitment to responsible tourism.

The Shoco di Bario Program marks a hopeful step forward. By placing artificial burrows in carefully selected neighborhoods across Aruba, beginning in Savaneta, the initiative creates safe breeding spaces while thoughtfully reintroducing the Shoco into local communities.

This effort reflects a powerful idea. Conservation is strongest when it lives within the community. By bringing the Shoco back into Aruba’s barrios, residents and visitors alike can connect more closely with the island’s natural heritage.

Meaningful Progress and a Vision for the Future

After five years of research and testing, an important milestone was reached in December 2024 with the establishment of a permanent Shoco Sanctuary at the Tierra del Sol–Iberostar Golf Course. This sanctuary plays a vital role in protecting Aruba’s endemic subspecies, Athene cunicularia arubensis, and advancing efforts to prevent its extinction.

Looking ahead, plans are underway to expand this impact with a second sanctuary at the former San Nicolas Golf Course. This future site aims to become a national Shoco Scientific and Education Center, creating opportunities for research, learning, and inspiration for generations to come.

Across the island, artificial burrows are now being placed step by step, strengthening Aruba’s National Conservation Program and building a more secure future for the Shoco.

A Shared Effort Across Aruba and Beyond

This journey is made possible through collaboration. We extend heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander for his support of this national effort and to the Department of Nature and Environment for their valued partnership in shaping and advancing the Shoco di Bario Program. We are also thankful to Stichting Savaneta for supporting the launch of this first community-based initiative.

Internationally, we are grateful for the continued guidance of the Global Owl Project and Vogelbescherming Nederland.

Closer to home, Bucuti & Tara proudly stands alongside co-founding partners committed to protecting Aruba’s wildlife and natural heritage. Together with Aruba Birdlife Conservation, and a growing network of organizations and volunteers, this collective effort continues to gain momentum.

Your Stay Becomes Part of the Story

It is this spirit of shared responsibility that guests become part of when they visit Aruba, here at the Caribbean’s first and only Certified CarbonNeutral(® hotel.

At Bucuti & Tarat, your stay connects you to something greater. Within The Bucuti Tara - GMC Nature Preserve, a protected sanctuary and safe home to the Shoco, guests can experience conservation firsthand. Through Bucuti & Tara’s meaningful voluntourism opportunities including helping to reforest the preserve during your visit, you are invited to engage with the island in a deeper and more purposeful way throughout your responsible travel.

Here, you may encounter not only the Shoco, but also Aruba’s remarkable wildlife, including the Wara Wara, Prikichi, Kododo Blauw and Conew. Each species is a living reminder of why protecting this ecosystem matters.

Your Caribbean vacation or Aruba honeymoon supports ongoing conservation efforts, helping preserve the natural beauty that defines Aruba.

Moving Forward with Purpose

With fewer than 200 Shoco pairs remaining, the urgency is clear. Yet there is also hope.With each new partnership, each protected habitat and each shared commitment, the future of the Shoco grows stronger.

At Bucuti & Tara, we are proud to be part of this national effort. As an Aruban company, we remain deeply connected to the island, our people and our future.

Together, with gratitude and determination, we move forward.