HE'S A BELIZE ZOO STAR! JUNIOR THE JAGUAR!

In November of 2006, we received a female jaguar, who was repeatedly preying upon livestock in a small village not very far from the zoo.

She became part of our “Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program.” (The zoo, in collaboration with the Government of Belize, modifies the behavior of these wild cats and turns them into "people friendly" jaguars. Then, they are found good homes in other zoological facilities).

But surprise!! What zoo staff didn't know is that she came to us pregnant! Her cub, "Junior" was born in February. However, mama Jaguar rejected her cub. So zoo staff came to the rescue! "Junior" was bottle-fed every 3 hours. He eventually began to eat meat. The entire zoo staff played with "Junior" and kept him occupied and happy.

In June, it was obvious that "Junior" was ready to become a "grown up" and take up permanent residence in a roomy enclosure on zoo grounds.

He isn't shy! When visitors come by, he struts over to meet and greet his admirers who enjoy his show.

A NEW HOME FOR CIEBO AND NAVIDAD

In 2004, a young male tapir was confiscated by the Forest Department from Cotton Tree Village in the Cayo District. He was only a few months old and was being kept illegally as a pet. He was named Ceibo and became the youngest member of the Belize Zoo mountain cow clan. Two years later the Belize Zoo Animal Management Department received another call, this time a young female Tapir needed to be rescued from the same fate at the village of Arenal in the Cayo district. She was named Navidad, as she arrived at the Zoo shortly after the Christmas holidays.

Navidad was very used to people around her and was immediately placed in an enclosed area near the three older tapirs. Ever since her arrival, Navidad has been growing “like wild cabbage” and the need for more space has become of top priority. Recently the Belize Zoo met with members from British Forces Belize and they were more than willing and excited to take over the construction of an area specifically designed for Navidad and Ceibo. Both young tapirs have shown an interest for each other!

British Forces Belize along with Belize Zoo staff will erect a fencing area encompassing 100 feet by 100 feet adjacent to the existing Tapir enclosures. This area will serve as Navidad and Ceibo’s new quarters. The Belize Zoo is hopeful that the couple will eventually mate and father the first generation of our captive born Baird’s Tapir.

The Baird’s Tapir is endangered within its range from southern Mexico to Northern Colombia. In Belize, they hold a special place, being the national animal of the country.

Huge and enormous thanks to British Forces Belize and especially to ASM WO1 Duane Leach for the funds raised for this important project. This is super –duper Tapir aid!

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

It has been an action-packed 2007 for all here at The Belize Zoo. Our new arrival, “Junior” the jaguar cub (a big surprise to zoo staff!), is a true star, and on the same note about jaguars...One of our “problem jaguars” is now happily at home at the Philadelphia Zoo. Working with the Belize Forest Dept on this innovative conservation program has proven to be a positive move forward for all involved.

TBZ now owns a river camp! Just a short distance away, we can now offer our zoo clients a chance to cool off in the Sibun River. Bird watching, tubing and kayaking get rave reviews!

We had another successful Conservation Camp, more on that inside, and this event just continues to get better year after year. Other on-hands training at the zoo happened with Galen University and their visiting vet students, and with the wardens from the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Outreach Education involving the Harpy Eagle and the Jaguar continues to be "out there". We are now working with The Nature Conservancy and looking at extending this important work into the neighboring countries of Guatemala and Mexico.

August saw an important scientific field trip happen in the highest part of the Maya Mountains, "Doyle’s Delight" Focusing on invertebrates, vegetation, ornithology and fungi, it provided important biological data for Belize.

As ever, British Forces have been over-the-top helpful on our behalf. Besides providing weekly meats for our happy jaguars, they are also taking on a project here to expand the tapir exhibit. I still am a joyful radio presenter with British Forces Broadcasting Station, BFBS, and appreciate being able to step into that world-of-fun each week.

We all extend a big thank you for your wonderful support on behalf of our conservation work.

Sharon Matola, Director

THE BELIZE ZOO AND TRAINING - WHAT A PAIR!!

Recently, The Belize Zoo had visits both from students attending Galen university’s international program, and from wardens who "stand guard" in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Galen students will be veterinarians some day, and the days they spent at the zoo served to introduce them to tropical wildlife. They also took part in procedures which assist in keeping the zoo animals in the top of health.

All of the wardens from the cockscomb basin, with sponsorship from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), visited the zoo and focused upon the natural history of the jaguar. They met “Junior” the jaguar, very close up! The wardens also received a good introduction of the Belize Zoo Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program. And all were pleased that this important project was addressing a persistent environmental conflict in Belize. Dr. Bart Harmson led the group and works closely with the wardens in the Cockscomb Basin.

ZOO & TOOB

"It's a hot one! Like seven inches from the mid-day sun!" These words belong to legendary guitarist, Carlos Santana, from his song, “Smooth”, but they also do well to describe a visit to The Belize Zoo during mid-day at the height of our dry season But don’t sweat it! Because now, there is a cool “post-zoo” river trip which is simple and easy and of course, FUN!

Forget packing a kayak or canoe, zoo transport will take you on a short 10 minute drive and then assist you as you place your backside into a toob. You and your toob will be on the peaceful and lush Sibun River, and as you head eastwards, the calls of kiskadees, kingfishers and tanagers will guide you towards the Belize Zoo River Camp.

Situated nearby a gigantic limestone rock (and you can jump off of this big white stone into the river), is a screened cabana where lunch and cold drinks await you...very beautiful and exotic and yes, you may hear the call of howler monkeys while you enjoy a healthy helping of rice and beans.,,, Swimming? The best! Trails to walk? Of course!

And if you are staying at the Zoo Jungle Lodge (or want to stay there), then forget a vehicle pick up! It is a simple journey back - how?

Jump back into your toob and float a bit to a nearby trail, climb out and then have a leisurely walk back to your accommodations through —- pine savanna. Cool? Relaxing? Refreshing? Yes to all of that! It is truly a very beautiful time spent in Belize’s tropical natural paradise. No doubt about it, simply: TOO WILD FOR WORDS!!

APRIL THE TAPIR IS 24

Once more the Belize Zoo Family put on their party hats, for yet another birthday celebration for April the Tapir. April the tapir is the leading ambassador for the conservation of the Baird’s Tapir in Belize and in the region. “World famous April the Tapir” turned 24 this year, making her one of the oldest animals at the Belize Zoo. The Belize Zoo staff put on their traditional party regalia along with two visiting local schools to honor April.

The morning kick started with a presentation about the Bairds tapir in Belize, their diet and conservation status. After the presentation the children were given treats and refreshment to set them in a festive mood.

By mid morning all the activities moved to April’s enclosure where the children and the Belize Zoo staff sang a warm happy birthday to April.

The highlight of the event was the presentations of April’s birthday cake, specially prepared by the Zoo keepers with their own secret recipe. All the children were curious as to what the cake was made of and some even wondered if they could have a bite. April and her buddy Ceibo gorged on the cake leaving a clean plate behind. April then swayed away with a goodbye glance to her fan club. The children then continued to do a full Zoo tour with warm memories of the lovable April.

April’s birthday party is an innovative way the Belize Zoo has been using to spread the message of wildlife conservation both in Belize and abroad. The now 24 year old April has become a well known character to all school children. Her birthday celebration has become a well covered media event and a tradition for the Belize Zoo family.

Every year local primary and pre-schools get a chance to participate in the celebrations and carry with them every lasting memories of April and the importance of protecting her species.

The Belize Zoo family is looking forward for April’s 25th birthday which should be a special event featuring all the conservation, and awareness efforts that April, the lovable Belizean Tapir, has done for her species and the Belizean people.

The Zoo with No Giraffes, The "Jane Goodall" of Belize American Saves Wildlife,
Teaches a Nation About its Heritage
By JEFFREY KOFMAN
Extracted from ABC “Nightline” Sept. 10, 2007

The tiny Central American country of Belize is bigger than the state of Massachusetts claims to have more birds, trees and plants than are found in all of the U.S. and Canada. Yet, it had no zoo, until an American woman with an extraordinary vision arrived. Deep in the jungles of Central America, lurk wild beasts and exotic birds few people will ever get to see, especially in the jungle which is what makes the little Belize Zoo such a wondrous place.

Sharon Matola bounds over a wire fence into a muddy enclosure that houses Navidad, one of the zoo's tapirs (pronounced "TAY-peer"). With her odd, very long, snout, Navidad looks like a pig that collided with an anteater; in fact, she's a tropical cousin of the horse. "She would eat bananas till she fell over," says Matola, as Navidad snatches one banana after another, deftly curling that snout around the object her desire. 29 Acres of Scarlet Macaws, Spider Monkeys and Jaguars.

In this country of fewer than 300,000 people, 40,000 people a year come to the remarkable little zoo to see Navidad and the other animals, birds and amphibians on display. All of it is the single-minded vision of Matola. Born in Baltimore, she is the founder and director of Belize's first and only zoo. "I was astounded," says Matola. "I would go into schoolrooms when I first came to Belize, and ask kids to draw me a picture of a tapir, and they couldn't do it. They had no idea what a tapir looked like." Those tapirs are the national animal of Belize. The theme here, she says, is simple: "Every animal in the Belize Zoo is Belizean." You won't find a polar bear or a giraffe on display here. And you won't miss them. In the immaculate cages of the 29-acre zoo, you will find jaguarondis, scarlet macaws, spider monkeys, the jabiru stork, and a pair of very entertaining otters who dart in and out of their pond with infectious curiosity.

Matola didn't plan to open a zoo when she arrived here in 1982. As a young woman, she worked in a circus as a lion tamer. She came to Belize to work with animals on a nature documentary those animals would become the first residents of the Belize Zoo. "I didn't know anything. I've never worked in a zoo. I was not a zoo person," she says, admitting she had a lot to learn.

From its modest beginnings, the zoo has grown to more than 100 animals, 22 employees, and a budget of just under $1 million a year, all of it from tickets sales, private foundations, and donations. It is Matola's work with the majestic jaguars that has really put the Belize Zoo on the map. This endangered species still roams in the jungle, but in the eyes of poor farmers, they are pests. At the back of the zoo, a handsome, but ferocious, jaguar called Wild Boy is kept in a cage far from the public. Until he came here, he lived in the wild, where he was a persistent and unwelcome pest, killing the cattle of poor farmers. Matola took him in. "He would have been doomed, because he was a repeated known cattle killer," Matola says, as she feeds him scraps of raw chicken that he devours eagerly. "The cattle ranchers are small farmers, and that's their livelihood, and how they feed their families. So, they lose any feeling of compassion for this animal and he would have been killed." And so began the Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program.

Through it, Matola has saved 10 jaguars from certain death. She trains them to be less aggressive, and ships them off to zoos in the U.S. With only 44 jaguars for breeding in U.S. zoos, the new arrivals are needed and welcome. Matola would rather see the animals left in the wild, but that is clearly not an option. "If we didn't take this animal out of the wild, he would be killed," she says. "We take him out of the wild. We change his behavior. We send him off to a zoo that is in desperate need of fresh, genetic input, to establish a healthy captive population. He lives happily ever after. The cattle rancher isn't bothered. They can view him in the states, learn about jaguars, and problem jaguar issues that face countries like ours. Who loses?" Two of those problem jaguars have already been sent to zoos in Milwaukee and Philadelphia, with two more on the way to the U.S. Because of her groundbreaking work, Matola has been called the Jane Goodall of jaguars, after the pioneering advocate for chimpanzees. She says it wasn't always like this. Initially, she had to fight skeptics in the worldwide zoo community who saw her as an unqualified outsider. "I didn't care what people thought," she says. "I knew that there was a very important need for a facility like this, and I just went head on into it. And I think it shows that you can accomplish something if you stay focused, and follow your dreams." It's no wonder they call the Belize Zoo, "The Best Little Zoo in the World."

Note from the Director, Sharon Matola -
The best part of receiving this publicity from ABC News is that millions of people saw Belize in a very
positive light. I hope this has empowered the efforts being made in Belize to conserve our special natural
resources.

A 2007 SUCCESS STORY! DOYLES DELIGHT SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION

Once again, The Belize Zoo was the organizing force for an important scientific expedition into the southern Maya Mountains.

Expedition Coordinator Sharon Matola, working with British Forces Belize and the Belize Government, was successful in getting 12 highly talented scientists into this remote region for the objective of undertaking biodiversity studies. Sharon admits that her timing could have been a bit better. The expedition, which occurred between the dates of 15-20 August, was neatly sandwiched in between two Category 5 Hurricanes.

However, neither Hurricane Dean nor Hurricane Felix could deter the scientific spirit of the Doyles Delight 07 crew.

Important training occurred. Dr. Colin Young, Director, Environmental Science Program at Galen University, teamed up with Bruce Holst, a renowned botanist from Selby Gardens, based in Florida.

Celso Cawich, a University of Belize student, learned a tremendous amount from scientist Peter Kovarik, whose area of special study is high altitude rainforest beetles.

New species of fungi were collected, and Expedition Coordinator Matola was more than pleased to collect the mushroom now bearing her name, Arthromyces matolae...

Another significant event was the finding of a yet-to-be-catalouged to science species of bamboo - IN FLOWER!!! Found by ecologist Jan Meerman, the bamboo can now be classified from these flowereing specimens.

The expedition underscored the important role the southern Maya Mountains plays in the entire ecological profile of Belize.

P.S. The name Doyles Delight was established in 1989, taken from Arthur Conan Doyle's 1912 book, THE LOST WORLD. This area of Belize appears to have not been submerged under the seas, as was the rest of the country over a period of 60 million years. As a result, the soils there are ancient, and give rise to interesting and unique vegetation. The biological resources found at Doyles Delight most definitely are different and apart from those found in other areas of the Belize.

Belize Harpy Eagle Outreach Education Program

Hurray!!! For the Belize Zoo Education Department for completing a successful outreach education program with nine local communities within the buffer zone of the release sight for the reintroduced eagles. The nine communities selected surround the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, which in itself covers 4% of the total land mass of the country. The Education Department at the Belize Zoo selected the primary schools of each village as the targeted groups for the awareness and education campaign.

The program was carried out in three phases an introductory visitation, where our Belize Zoo educators introduced the school children to the Harpy Eagle. This visit is aimed at creating a sense of respect, awe and personal care and ownership for the bird. During this phase the nine selected communities were visited leaving the children hungry for more Harpy Eagle information.

The second phase included another school visit which covered two main areas; information about the Harpy Eagle natural history and the objectives of the restoration program. After the presentation the Belize zoo educators whom the children have gotten to know. asked questions to children rewarding them with Harpy Eagle posters and stickers for every correct answer. This created a sense of competitiveness among them and made the presentation very interactive.

After the second visit all the children from the participating school were excited to visit the actual site where the Harpy Eagles were released. Seven of the nine participating schools visited the Rio Bravo Management Conservation Area where the Belize Zoo Educators offered an interactive activity about animal adaptation focusing on the adaptations of the Harpy Eagle to live in the Forest. The children then had a guided tour of the area and visited the Maya temples at La Milpa. All school groups also competed with each other to create best Harpy Eagle Slogan for a bumper sticker. The winner got his slogan and dumper sticker design published by the Belize Zoo.

The Belize Harpy Eagle Restoration Program is an ongoing effort and its final result greatly depends upon public awareness. It is the children that may one day see the future generations of the newly released birds flying free in the Belizean Forest. The Belize Zoo is planting the seeds for a change in mind set about wildlife conservation to these communities and fomented in them a sense of pride for their Belizean Harpy Eagles.

"The most rewarding part of the entire program was to know that all the children from the communities that participated in the program knew what a Harpy Eagle was, why we should protect them and they were surely proud of the Belizean Harpy eagle!!"

The outreach education program was made possible through funding support from The Nature Conservancy and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Fund.

THE BELIZE ZOO PROBLEM JAGUAR REHABILITATION PROGRAM NEWS

This important program is nicely progressing and proving to be an important "conservation bandaid" for an extremely difficult environmental conflict: Jaguar Predation on livestock and domestic animals.

We successfully saw the transfer of our young male, "Frankie" to Philadelphia Zoo earlier this year. He is doing well, and the education graphics there explain to all visitors about the "Problem Jaguar" issue in Belize, as well as jaguar conservation, in general.

Later this year, another male jaguar, "Pat" will be heading to his beautiful home in Milwaukee. And yes, both jaguars have mates awaiting their arrivals.

At a recent meeting sponsored by Wildlife Conservation Society and the Belize Forest Department, it was acknowledged that the Problem Jaguar situation was of extreme serious concern in Belize. Reduction of habitat as well as the prey species necessary to sustain their numbers, more and more cats are turning to livestock and domestic animals in order to survive.

The Forest Department acknowledged their gratitude to the work we are doing at the zoo: They are glad that there is some situation in the country which can be considered as a positive approach to this environmental dilemma.

Another male jaguar, less than 5 years old, from the village of San Antonio, was brought to us in late June. “Antonio" , a repeated sheep killer, arrived with a very aggressive manner. Today, he is much more passive, and readily enjoys being handfed his chicken.

In May, we hosted a visit from the wardens of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. They truly got "up close and personal" with all of the jaguars, and received a great deal of information about the natural history and ecology of this great cat.

Problem jaguars transferred to other zoological facility are done so as conservation gifts - they not sold. The Belize Zoo Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program is strictly a conservation program not oriented towards financial gain.

FRESH CATCH TILAPIA FARM: HEROES FOR OUR JABIRU STORKS

While some development projects conveniently turn their heads to the impact they may be having upon the environment, Fresh Catch Belize, has proven to be a “Wings Up” exception!

Situated off the coastal road, this massive tilapia farm produces high quality fish for both the local and foreign markets. Their ponds have also seen an increase of Jabiru storks in the area.

Field research, conducted by Omar Figeroa, has shown that less than 200 Jabiru storks remain in Belize. This is yet another reminder that our Belizean wildlife, so rare and special, requires our concern, care, and protection to see it thrives into the future.

Hungry Jabiru storks, and in some cases, needing extra food to care for young during the breeding season, have given a huge “wings up” to FreshCatch. The Jabiru, at times numbering 25 or more birds, visit the tilapia farm and readily sample the fish. Mr. Joe Mena and his son, Emil, have chosen to work in concert with The Belize Zoo and Birds Without Borders, to see that the Jabiru remain safe and sound. This kind approach is not only good for our scant Jabiru stork population, it is great for the nation of Belize.

The Jabiru stork is a charismatic part of our country’s natural heritage. Thanks to the Menas, and their principled stand aimed at protecting, rather than persecuting these birds, the chances of seeing this superb species live on in Belize, look very, very good! "Wings Up" to Fresh Catch, Belize!

CONSERVATION CAMP 2007

For the 14th consecutive year the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center hosted Belizean youths for its annual conservation camp. Conservation camps are geared at creating awareness about the local environment and instilling appreciation for it among the participants. However this year an aspect of critical thinking was included in the overall objective of camp and campers were introduced to the art and science of investigation. A total of nine lessons were done by facilitators as they guided campers in developing a question to be answered during a half-day investigation at the zoo.

According to Education Director, Celso Poot, “it was a challenging task because “campers” don’t want to think, they want to have fun, and the facilitators had to show the campers that learning can be fun.” After two days of developing their questions, the campers were all excited to test their hypothesis and investigate their questions. There were four groups of seven campers studying four different animals in the zoo. One group hypothesis was that “the spider monkeys move around more frequently when large group of people visit” and they were investigating the “frequency of movement from one tree to another in a 15 minute period.” Another group hypothesis was that the “white tail deer will lifts its tail whenever it is frightened” and they were investigating the “frequency at which the white tail deer raises its tail in a 15 minute period.”

Reporting their findings was as much fun as answering the questions; the group studying the deer found out that the white-tail deer raises its tail for a number of reasons including feeding time, visit by humans and fright.

Other activities during camp included, environmental art, birding with BWB-ASF staff, canoeing the Sibun river, hike to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary sponsored by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust and the annual cleanup along the western highway.

Thank you, from us all,

Sharon Matola, Director