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Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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there's nothing new in this story about Belize Zoo but it is a recent press item and there's nothing about the zoo on the forum yet, so here it is (there are some videos on the link too)
A Belize zoo: Tapirs, vultures and jaguars...oh my! - allDAY - msnbc.com
Sharon Matola is one of those rare breeds who not only loves what she does, but she sucks you right into her exciting world. When a jaguar licks your face and doesn’t tear it off, how can you not feel an adrenaline rush? (More on that in a moment.)

Matola’s journey is an amazing path of twists and turns, from Baltimore upbringing, to circus lion tamer, to assistant filmmaker to pioneer.

Pioneer? Indeed! Twenty-six years ago, Matola came to Belize and after helping film wildlife for a documentary, she realized the native animals were disappearing and no one seemed to notice.

It was her idea to carve out a square mile in the jungle, and like Noah, gather animals, two-by-two if possible, to create a zoo. Today, she has more than 130 native species including harpy eagles, jaguars and tapirs in what’s become known as “the best little zoo in the world.”

The tapir, which I figure looks like an overgrown guinea pig, is the national animal of Belize.

The urgency of the zoo became apparent to Matola when, years ago, she entered a classroom here and asked kids to take their crayons and draw a tapir. The blank stares and empty sheets of construction paper convinced her she had a mission: To make sure everyone in Belize, and beyond, knew the country's animals.

In this remote jungle-turned-zoo, I first got up close and personal with the tapirs. They are herbivores (that means they don’t eat meat), so they are – allegedly – non-threatening.
We fed them a jungle favorite: bananas. But tapirs are curious animals, not only in how they look, but in how they’ll surprise you. Yes, one of the hungry herbivores bit my leg.
OUCH! No skin broke, but the nibble on my leg startled me and as I would later find out, this was a jungle omen.

As I stood with Sharon looking at the king vulture, which has lost upwards of 70 percent of its habitat in Central America to development, it took a peck at my finger. OUCH! And OUCH again! One of the little suckers jumped on me, up around my neck and onto Matola before I could comprehend what had just happened.

So, you’ll understand my reluctance when Matola asked me if I might want to go in a small cage inside the jaguar habitat.

I obliged, and there, inside this tiny cage, Junior, a jaguar orphaned when his mother was shot, came up to us. I put my fingers through the cage to touch his pelt. Soft. Warm.

Then, following Matola’s lead, I stood up as Junior jumped on top of our cage. It took some coaxing, but I did as requested, and put my face right up to the wire and, YIKES! Junior’s long, wet, abrasive tongue licked my face.

Startled? You bet. As for his breath, let’s just say Junior could use a toothbrush!

Matola’s zoo today is a must-stop for those who visit Belize. She proves just about anything is possible, with determination, and individual donations, even in a remote jungle.
Click to expand...
Belize Zoo website Tropical Zoo, educational tours, Belize!
 
When Matola was working on the documentary, all those years ago, a lot of the animals were kept on the property of the film-maker (forgotten his name). They built large studios around the native vegetation so they could film the animals in "realistic" environments.

When filming was complete, the film-maker wanted to just release the animals. Many were tame, so Matola decided to use them to start the zoo. The zoo was, for many years, on the film-maker's property (he'd gone back to the States or Europe and didn't live there anymore). In the early 90's the zoo moved to a new site across the road.

In the early days Matola painted all the signs and labels in the zoo on whatever she coud find, because there was virtually no money to run the zoo.

The Baird's Tapir, Belize's National Animal, was known colloquially as the Bushcow, and superstition told how they would come into your home at night and - using their proboscis - would suck your brains while you slept. Another reason why she wanted to educate the children. Despite having no money, all school groups visiting the zoo got free entry.

I haven't been to the zoo since 1990, so I imagine lots of things have changed since then.

Some of the photo's I've uploaded to the gallery illustrate how tough times were in the early days. The Morelets Crocodile pool, for instance, has a wooden fence to stop people from getting too close. The fence was only about 40 feet long, and in a modern zoo in Australia/USA/Europe you would have a continual stream of people walking around the fence, or going under or over it.

:)

Hix
 
Sad news indeed.

Met Sharon once (very nice person) and been to Belize zoo.

Have to say though I thought it was extremely overhyped and more of a sanctuary than a zoo.

I think that Zoomat ( Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro) in neighbouring Mexico (would recommend zoochatters considering ecotourism in the region to give Belize a miss and focus instead on Mexico and Guatemala) is 1000 times the zoo that Belize zoo is and whatsmore actually contributes to ex-situ conservation.
 
Has anyone been to this facility recently? My family is planning a trip to the country and I'm wondering if this is a zoo worth visiting. I'm interested in seeing margays, white lipped peccaries, jaguarundis, jabirus, ect.) Is this a good quality zoo worth going to? I'm just curious to hear a zoo enthusiast's idea of it.
 
Belize Zoo has just rescued a Baird's Tapir calf, that has been called GRACE
The Belize Zoo & TEC on Instagram: "Meet our newest rescue, Grace the tapir calf! Earlier this month, a concerned citizen found a struggling baby tapir near La Gracia Village in the Cayo District. A wildfire had swept through the area, and amid the chaos, this tiny calf was found alone her mother nowhere in sight. Her rescuer saw that she was alone, weak, and struggling, so he acted quickly to remove her from harm. He then reached out to the @belizewildlifeclinic so the tapir calf could get the urgent care she needed. Once she was stable, she made her way to the Belize Zoo where she will grow up in a safe and loving environment. We are so grateful to Grace’s rescuer and the BWRC who helped make her survival possible. Estimated to be about a month old, “Grace” is still developing; her little teeth are just beginning to come in! This is just the beginning of her journey, and we can’t wait for you to follow along. Stay tuned for updates as she grows into the magnificent “mountain cow” she’s destined to be! . . . #belize #belizezoo #bestlittlezoointheworld #animalsofbelize #nativewildlife #belizewildlife #zoosandaquariums #animalencounters #belizevacation #travelbelize #belizedestination #belizeanliving #wildlifeprotection #wildlifeconservation #tropicalwildlife #explorebelize #tropicaleducationcenter #tapir #tapirsofbelize"
 
MonkeyBat said:
Has anyone been to this facility recently? My family is planning a trip to the country and I'm wondering if this is a zoo worth visiting. I'm interested in seeing margays, white lipped peccaries, jaguarundis, jabirus, ect.) Is this a good quality zoo worth going to? I'm just curious to hear a zoo enthusiast's idea of it.
Click to expand...

@MonkeyBat So did you end up visiting the zoo?

:p

Hix
 
Other baby animals have been rescued : 1 Central American Tamandua and 1 Jaguarundi.
The Belize Zoo & TEC on Instagram: "Last month, alongside the arrival of baby Grace the tapir, we welcomed two more precious neonates into our care a baby anteater and a jaguarundi! Our goal is to rehabilitate them and, when the time is right, release them back into the wild where they belong. Giving these little ones a second chance is one of the most rewarding parts of our work here at the Belize Zoo. Before they begin their journey back to the wild, we need your help ‼️ Drop your best name suggestions for the baby tamandua and jaguarundi in the comments below! Anteater photo taken by Lead Zookeeper Roxy . . . #belize #belizezoo #bestlittlezoointheworld #animalsofbelize #nativewildlife #belizewildlife #zoosandaquariums #animalencounters #belizevacation #travelbelize #belizedestination #belizeanliving #wildlifeprotection #wildlifeconservation #tropicalwildlife #explorebelize #tropicaleducationcenter #rescuedwildlife"
 
LINDO the male Jaguar has passed away at the age of 18.
The Belize Zoo & TEC on Instagram: "Saying Goodbye to Lindo the Jaguar: From Predator to Ambassador. The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center is mourning the loss of Lindo the jaguar. Following a prolonged battle with chronic renal failure (kidney disease) and the increasing challenges of old age, Lindo was humanely euthanized to prevent further suffering. At over 18 years old, he lived a long and meaningful life, a remarkable milestone for a “wild jaguar” in human care. Lindo first arrived at the Belize Zoo in 2008 from the Linda Vista area in northern Belize, after repeatedly preying on domesticated animals and livestock. Concerned community members reached out to the Belize Zoo and the Belize Forest Department for assistance. In response, Lindo was safely relocated to the Belize Zoo, both to protect the community and to ensure his own safety. For several years, Lindo lived behind the scenes as part of our Human-Jaguar Conflict Program. Thanks to the dedication of our animal care team, he eventually transitioned to a public habitat. With his striking features and calm demeanor, Lindo quickly became a favorite among guests and staff alike. He served as a powerful ambassador for his species, inspiring thousands of people, both Belizeans and international visitors, to develop a deeper appreciation and respect for jaguars. The Belize Zoo and the community gave Lindo an alternative; a second chance at life. In many other circumstances, a jaguar with a learned behavior of preying on livestock would have been killed. Instead, through collaboration and compassion, Lindo was given the opportunity to live safely and meaningfully, helping to foster a better understanding of human-wildlife coexistence. We are profoundly grateful to everyone who played a role in Lindo’s journey over the years, including the Linda Vista community, the Belize Forest Department, our guests and supporters, tour guides, veterinary partners, and, above all, our dedicated staff who cared for him with unwavering commitment and compassion. Lindo’s legacy lives on in the hearts of all who were touched by his presence."
 
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