Belize Zoo and Abi!

Abi at the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave near San Ignacio, an impressive Mayan Site.

Abi at Tikal in Guatemal, one of the most impressive Mayan Cities in the area.

The Paca, known as the gibnut in Belize, is a nocturnal rodent. Inhabiting the forest floor, this solitary animal feeds on fallen fruit, leaves and some tubers dug from the ground. The gibnut is most often found near water and are found throughout many habitats of Belize, from river valleys to swamps to dense tropical forest.
The gibnut is the most prized game animal of Belize and the Neotropics. They are easily hunted by day with dogs which can sniff out the paca's dens, or during the night with headlamps while they feed. While thriving in Belize's many protected areas, the paca has been hunted to extinction in many parts of its range from Mexico to Southern Brazil.

Grounds of Tropical Education Centre, part of Belize Zoo.

Cabana Interior.

Here are the forest Cabanas that guests stay in. They are rustic but one of my favorite places to stay in Belize.

Harpy Eagles are considered to be one of the world’s largest eagles. This eagle has hind talons that can be as large as those of a grizzly bear. However, it can only fly with prey weighing less than one half its own body weight. Apart from the Jaguars, the Harpy Eagle was my favourite animal at the Zoo.

Here Abi is feeding the Harpy Eagle, lucky Gal!

The scientific and common names of this species come from the Greek word, harpe, referring to a bird of prey that was written about by many Greek scholars, and may also be correlated with the mythological harpies who were winged creatures with extremely sharp claws, a woman’s face, and a vulture’s body. The Belize Zoo is trying to re-introduce Harpy Eagles into the wild in Belize and have already released a couple into the Mountains.

Abi & a Tapir. The tapir, known as the "mountain cow" in Belize, are forest dwellers, active mostly at night as they forage along river banks and forest clearings.

The kinkajou, known as the "night walker" in Belize, is a nocturnal animal which lives among the upper canopy of the tropical forest. They feed mainly on fruit and insects. In the dry season of Belize, they often eat flowers for their nectar.

Falcon at the zoo.

Four wise owls! Note the chicken foot in one babies mouth, yummie:)

I told Abi that there was no substitute for my kisses, but she tried anyway:)

Ocelots are nocturnal and diurnal, feeding mainly on the ground. Found in all tropical forests, rarely does the ocelot climb trees though it is an excellent climber. During the night, they tend to hunt along open trails, while during the day, the stay hidden within the deeper bush. This is the most comely seen of all the cats in Belize.

Here is a picture of a rare Black Jaguar. If you look closely you can see the markings on the body.
Jaguars hunt mainly on the ground and mainly at night. Its food consists of everything from mice to birds to tapir. Its favorite food in Belize is probably the warrie, which lives in abundance throughtout the Jaguars habitat. Jaguars once lived throughout the Americas, from Arizona to the north to Argentina in e south. But hunting and forest clearing has reduced their numbers and forced them out of their habitat into interaction with man. Belize has one of the healthiest populations in Central America, and the Jaguar is protected from hunting throughout Belize.

The Morelet's Crocodile is a small crocodile, seldom exceeding 10 feet in length. There are reports of individuals reaching 14 feet. These larger animals can be considered dangerous to humans. This crocdile primarily inhabits freshwater lakes, rivers and ponds. The female will build a large nest of twigs and rotting vegetation and lay up to 3 dozen eggs.

Jaguars are found throughout Belize in the lowland forests and along the coasts. Adult jaguars are solitary and only come together for a short time to breed. The size of a jaguars territory depends on food availability. In a forest such as the Cockscomb Basin, a jaguar will roam over a territory of about 20 square kilometers.

Abi hard at work!
The Scarlet Macaw is arguably the most magnificent bird of the parrot family. With their wide strong wings, macaws can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour. They often fly in pairs or small groups and often call to each other in raucous hoarse voices.

Poor Frog, but that is nature....

Here are a few pictures of the various animals to be found at the Belize Zoo and Abi, the cool girl I met who was volunteering at the zoo. Abi worked at the zoo for about a month and was a really fun girl, as can be seen from the pics. She really loves big cats and previously volunteered with Lions in Kenya!

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center was started in 1983, as a last ditch effort to provide a home for a collection of wild animals which had been used in making documentary films about tropical forests.

Shortly after the backyard "zoo" began, it was quickly realized that its Belizean visitors were unfamiliar with the different species of wildlife which shared their country. This very aspect fomented the comitment to develop the little zoo into a dynamic wildlife education center.
Today, The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center is settled upon 29 acres of tropical savanna and exhibits over 125 animals all native to Belize. The zoo keeps animals which were either orphaned, born at the zoo, rehabilitated animals, or sent to The Belize Zoo as gifts from other zoological institutions.

A visit to the zoo is the best way to get an introduction to the animals of Belize, and to understand why it is important to protect the habitats that sustain them. We hope this website will be the next best thing to visiting us in person.

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center believes that by bringing the people of Belize closer to the animals which are their natural heritage, they will feel proud of these special resources, and want to protect them for future generations.

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center recieves over 15,000 schoolchildren every year as part of the progressive education programs, and popular zoo events include: April the Tapir's birthday party; summer camps; Science Fair; Teacher Training; and Student Career Training.
The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center is headquarters for the Tapir Specialist group/IUCN/SSC, and also maintains an active captive breeding program for the green iguana.

You can learn more at http://www.belizezoo.org/index.html

The zoo also supports are provides various schemes that protect many of the most at risk animals in Belize. These schemes include the Jaguar rehabilitation program and the Harpy Eagle program. Island Expeditions has supported the Belize Zoo in many ways both financially and providing resources, including the Forest Cabanas that our guests stay in whilst visiting the zoo.