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Belize Zoo, and Tropical Education Center |
| Name: | Belize Zoo, and Tropical Education Center | |||
| Address: | P.O. Box 1787 | |||
| City/Town/Village: | Belize City | District: Belize | Country: Belize | |
| Phone: | 501-220-8004 | Fax: 501-220-8010 | Phone #2: | |
| Website: |  Belize Zoo, and Tropical Education Center |
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| Email: |  Send private email |
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| Photo Gallery: |  Submit your photos |
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| Video: |  Submit your video |
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| Location: |  Map for Belize Zoo, and Tropical Education Center |
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| Description: | Howler monkeys played and chased each other through the trees, perhaps showing off for school kids visiting the Belize Zoo. Suddenly, a playful young monkey missed a branch and fell to the ground. The school kids laughed, but zoo founder Sharon Matola bolted up like a worried mother to check on the dazed little primate. In a way, she mothers all of the 125 native Belizean animals who live at "the best little zoo in the world". In 1983 Matola made a home for it's first 20 residents after they had starred in a series of documentaries. As a biologist, she knew that tame animals could not be released back into the wild, so she founded the Belize Zoo. Visitors enjoy close encounters with mammals, reptiles, and birds--some quite rare. Resident mammals include powerful jaguars, nocturnal kinkajous, and edible gibnuts. Reptiles include prehistoric iguanas, menacing crocodiles, and such poisonous snakes as the fer-de-lance. Birds include green parrots, scarlet macaws, and jabiru storks, plus an endangered harpy eagle named Panama, who likes to pose for pictures. The Belize Harpy Eagle Restoration Program, in which the zoo is a leader, has rescued that species--among the world's most powerful raptors--from the brink of extinction. Next to the zoo, the 84-acre Tropical Education Center promotes research and environmental education.. A magical place for kids, more than 10,000 take part in programs at the zoo each year. The non-invasive design of exhibits gets visitors very close to the animals. "My favorite thing was how little the zoo altered the natural site", said one visitor. "They cleared just enough to fit the fences and pathways". Cute signs use humor to teach conservation. One reads, "I'm the rare jabiru--how about that! Belizean wetlands are my habitat! One thing I know! This for true. Save that habitat for all we jabiru!" With no operating funds from the government, the zoo raises it's own through fees, memberships, sponsorships, and an adopt-an-animal program. Gates open daily 8:30am to 5pm except on major holidays. US$8 adults, $4 children (non-Belizeans) -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. -The Belize Zoo is settled upon 29 acres of tropical savanna and exhibits over 125 animals all native to Belize. Zoo SceneThe 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. -The Belize Zoo recieves over 10,000 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 is headquarters for the Tapir Specialist Group/IUCN/SSC, and also maintains an active captive breeding program for the Green Iguana. |
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