What is the GREENWAVE? All over the world, this environmental campaign is unifying children everywhere in an effort to appreciate the importance of biodiversity. Simply stated, a healthy environment equals a happy and healthier society, no matter where that particular society is based on planet earth.

There will be GREEN WAVE activities taking place throughout every nation. Here in Belize, events will be scheduled, leading up to the important day of Friday 22 May. This date has been formally designated as the International Day for Biological Diversity. To celebrate, children from east to west will plant a tree, creating a "GREEN WAVE" of ecological goodwill. What a great initiative! And positioned to have such a positive effect on our very own Mother Earth!

GREEN WAVE embraces the idea that this simple, yet important action, will foster an even greater appreciation and understanding of conserving forests and trees to protect global biological diversity.

The Belize Zoo, along with their nearby local school, La Democracia Government School, has joined the important GREEN WAVE. A tree seedling was planted this past week, and the children were all excited to be "GREEN WAVERS" by doing this!!

What kind of tree was planted? Our National Tree, of course! The mighty Mahogany Tree. Later during the month of June, the pre-schoolers will visit The Belize Zoo and have a good look at the Mahogany trees growing on zoo grounds. Just under 20 years old, they are tall, strong, and beautiful symbols of our nation's wealth of natural resources. The Belize Zoo has promised the kids that a GREEN WAVE visit to the zoo will also include a JAGUAR JOURNEY, too!

"Indy" wasn't born at the zoo, he was brought from the southern village of Independence by the Forest Department in mid-June, and has quickly won the hearts of the entire Belize Zoo staff.

A baby tapir, or "Mountain Cow", resembles a gibnut. They are covered in stripes and spots, and for the first few weeks of their lives, truly are "gibnut-like" in appearance. Their entire baby-spotted coat takes an entire eight months to fade away. Then they are left with a brown coat which is a suitable "overcoat" for the rest of their lives.

"Indy" should still be nursing with Mountain Cow Mom, and while we do not know the circumstances involved which led to his arrival in Independence, TBZ staff has readily taken up the important role of "Nanny" to the little fellow. He eagerly receives his bottle of milk and vitamins three times every day, and receives a visit during the evening hours, too, for his milk and banana.

The routine favored by baby "Indy," is to be fed his bottle and then to be "belly scratched" until he rolls back and goes into "Mountain Cow nap phase." He is one very happy baby tapir!

Once "Indy" gets older, TBZ staff will introduce him to the resident tapirs in the zoo. In the wild, tapirs exist as solitary animals. If they are ever viewed as pairs, most likely it is the mother with a youngster. The young remain with their mothers for nearly two years before striking out on their own into the tropical forests.

A definite habitat requirement for all tapirs is to live near fresh water. Our National Animal not only enjoys a swim, but each day, when they feel the urge to "poop", guess what? They absolutely have to do this deed in fresh water! How does TBZ address this need for little "Indy"? In his temporary holding enclosure, there is a small pond. And yes! "Indy" is quite fond of his little pool and makes good use of it every day.

Since "Indy" receives so much care and attention, it is a sure thing that his arrival to the main zoo grounds will see him in "fine action" meeting and greeting all zoo visitors who stop by.

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