The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, both run by a single non-profit, provide sanctuary to animals native to Belize. Entrance fees and purchases from its gift shop help fund this organization which also offers educational programs.
Sharon Matola of Baltimore initially came to Belize in 1983 with the intent of filming a nature documentary; what she found instead was much more: an active zoo that protects species native only to Belize’s savanna ecosystem.
Discovering the Belize Zoo: A Wildlife Paradise
Many Belize’s forest dwelling mammals can be difficult to see in the wild due to their tendency to hide in treetops or move quickly along forest floors. A trip to the Zoo provides one of the best ways of discovering Belizean wildlife while helping you appreciate its value as a natural resource.
At its heart, Belize Zoo is more than a simple zoo; it serves as a wildlife sanctuary that rescues and displays Belize’s native flora to educate both locals and visitors. All animals housed here are indigenous to Belize and all have spacious enclosures that mimic their rainforest environments.
The Belize Zoo boasts rainforest critters as well as five of Belize’s five wildcat species (jaguar, ocelot, jaguarundi and puma). You can even give one of them a high five at the Jaguar Encounter! Plus you’ll find spider monkeys, white-tailed deer, coatimundis, and of course April the Tapir!
Exploring Biodiversity: Animals of the Belize Zoo
In 1983, the founders of Belize Zoo realized that many Belizeans were unfamiliar with their native wildlife and made a shift in emphasis from animal rescue to education; study tours now exist so as to familiarize locals with rainforest ecology and biodiversity of their home country.
The Belize Zoo stands out from traditional zoos by featuring animal enclosures that are more welcoming, as wildlife thrives both inside and outside its cages. Visitors are treated to jungle animals lingering near enclosures to interact with those incarcerated within them, often sharing stories about their wild lives with visitors.
This unique approach makes the Belize Zoo much more than a conventional zoo, serving as an incubator for indigenous wildlife. Visitors can get close to several of Belize’s mammals such as Baird’s Tapir (commonly referred to as mountain cow), gibnuts, coatimundi (a cross between raccoons and monkeys) and white-lipped peccaries – along with meeting Runt the Keel-billed Toucan as its national bird!
Conservation Triumph: The Belize Zoo’s Mission
Belize Zoo, situated among tropical greenery and Caribbean waters, protects and displays an array of indigenous wildlife. Established originally to house documentary film animals used for film productions, today this private sanctuary houses over 175 creatures on 29-acre property – such as tapirs (Bolivia’s national animal known locally as mountain cow), jaguars, black howler monkeys and keel-billed toucans among others.
Sharon Matola is an unwavering champion for wildlife conservation. Perhaps her greatest achievement lies in educating Belizeans about their natural heritage; many encounter its creatures for the first time here at her zoological garden and discover a sense of pride and attachment with those on display.
The Milwaukee County Zoo also hosts high school students for two-week periods during each school year to teach them about conservation. Furthermore, their pen pal program with Belize Zoo helps educate children about migrating birds.
From Jaguars to Toucans: Belize’s Diverse Wildlife
The Belize Zoo boasts over 45 different native species of birds, mammals and reptiles from Belize – birds, mammals and reptiles alike – that have never been hunted. Serving as an educational hub for Belizeans year round.
Wildlife at this zoo is not kept in cages, contributing significantly to its vibrant atmosphere. Animals at the zoo climb trees, consume plants native to their environment, soak in natural ponds and play in mud flats just like in nature – just as they would do in their natural environment! Also featured at the zoo are curious Keel-billed toucans from Belize as well as Baird’s Tapirs who thrive here.
Each year, Belize Zoo plays host to over 12,000 Belizean students, parents and teachers on study tours designed to incorporate conservation science into classroom curriculum. Furthermore, additional tours such as the nocturnal tour, Tapir Encounter or Jaguar Encounter can also be experienced at this zoo.
Must-See Animals: Belize Zoo’s Native Fauna
Belize is an ideal natural paradise for animal enthusiasts, boasting remarkable biodiversity and home to an abundance of furry and scaled creatures. If you want a glimpse of our national animals, head over to the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center in Belmopan where over 175 creatures represent over 45 native species while also supporting conservation, research, and education initiatives.
Beginning its existence as a small-scale facility date back to 1983 when founder Sharon Matola was hired by filmmakers to care for exotic animals used in a documentary about tropical rainforests. When filming wrapped, she found herself with several animals too domesticated for survival in nature and began caring for them after filming wrapped.
Now, the zoo serves as a sanctuary for Belize’s indigenous wildlife. Its forested enclosures house five of Belize’s six wildcat species (jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay and jaguarundi). Furthermore, an impressive collection of mammals such as black howler monkeys, Central American agoutis, lowland paca, collared peccaries and neotropical otters also reside here.
Wildlife Success: Belize Zoo’s Conservation Story
Sharon Matola of Baltimore arrived in Belize as an independent country to make a nature documentary and quickly realized it would be impossible for her to safely capture many rainforest animals on film. Instead, she housed them in naturalistic enclosures during production and cared for them throughout production; eventually some became too domesticated for release back into nature and were taken care of at the Belize Zoo instead.
Now a non-profit, Belize Zoo houses only native Belizean wildlife (such as Baird’s Tapir and Keel-billed Toucan ). Many Belizeans have visited at some point and enjoy visiting this national institution that holds so many of our beloved, exotic creatures.
Celso mentions how the zoo has played an integral part in helping to resolve “problem jaguar” conflicts between ranchers and big cats, while teaching ranchers how to coexist peacefully with them. Furthermore, the zoo is creating a research program at Maya Forest Corridor dedicated to parrots and other species.
Ecotourism at Its Best: Animals at Belize Zoo
Once upon a time, film producers filming wildlife documentaries in Belize brought in animals as “stars” for their projects. Unfortunately, these creatures became so habituated to humans that they no longer survive in their natural environments; biologist Sharon Matola of Baltimore-born created The Zoo as an oasis for these creatures to reside.
Today, the Belize Zoo serves as a haven for native wildlife. Home to over 45 species of native mammals, exotic birds and reptiles from Belize itself as well as their exotic cousins from neighboring regions like Costa Rica or Honduras; its presence is both beloved by visitors as well as valued by residents alike.
Visits can see Belize’s national animal, the magnificent tapir, as well as other native wildlife such as black howler monkeys and keel-billed toucans. Unlike some zoos that confine their creatures in cages, Belize Zoo offers them free roam across 29 acres of natural jungle surroundings. Here, the wellbeing of all residents comes first while welcoming newcomers that have been orphaned and require rehabilitation services.
Nature’s Wonders: Belize Zoo’s Marvelous Wildlife
The Belize Zoo stands out as an exciting learning opportunity because it only houses animals native to this Caribbean nation. School groups visiting are particularly fascinated by it because school groups can explore all that makes Belize unique – such as its animals and habitats – through this educational excursion. Attractions at the Belize Zoo include Belize’s national animal (Bard’s Tapir), Central American agoutis, red brocket deer, collared peccaries with white-lipped as well as black howler monkeys – not to mention Jaguar Encounters where visitors can interact directly with these magnificent mammals during an encounter program!
Apart from mammals, the Belize Zoo also plays host to an assortment of birds such as scarlet macaws, keel-billed toucans and harpy eagles. Furthermore, there is a wetland aviary where visitors can appreciate Belize’s vibrant wetlands in all their splendor.
Forest-dwelling mammals can be challenging to observe in their natural habitat due to seeing, hearing, or smelling you before being visible to you. That is one reason why the zoo was created: as a place for these animals that cannot make it in nature.
