I Belize I Will!: Sat. 4-16 Heading to the Tropical Education Center and the Zoo!

We arrived at the Tropical Education Center [TEC] in the afternoon (4-16). To get to there, the bus driver turned off the paved road and drove about two miles down a dirt and rock road that was sun baked and dusty and across a couple of small wooden bridges into the TEC. We notified them that we had arrived, got back on the bus, drove back to the paved road, and drove to the Belize Zoo a few miles away. You might think that because we were at a zoo that we were in an urban area. No way! We were in the middle of nowhere. The zoo is located down a dirt and rock road nestled in the bush. This is not your typical zoo. It is very modest. There are no cages except for the poisonous snakes. The animals are basically in natural habitat areas that have been surrounded by fence to keep the people out. What is interesting is that unlike most zoos where animals are in cages, these animals can come right up to the fence and reach out and grab you if you get to close. There is a wood rail about 18 inches in front of the fence and about 24 inches high as you walk the trails to discourage people from standing next to the fence. I think the best deterrent is the sign at the entrance that says, “Beware. Keep all body parts behind wood barrier.” After walking the trails for quite a while, we met one of the wildlife keepers, a native Belizean, carrying a small plastic container. We began talking with him, and he took us to various areas where he called to the animals. I mean called to them in their language. He could call the Howler monkeys and the big cats. He gave the Howler monkeys peanuts and they took them right out of his hand. He then took us to areas where different species of big cats lived. We saw pumas, ocelots, and jaguars. The wildlife keeper fed them small pieces of chicken parts from the plastic container so that we could take pictures. The chicken parts still had the bones in them, and you could hear the powerful jaws of the cats crunching through the bones. The amazing part of the experience was that we were less than two feet away from the cats. I didn’t want to take pictures of these beautiful animals with fence in front of them, so I would lean over the rail and stick my camera lens through the fence. This worked great. I was getting real up close pictures until the jaguar decided I was a threat to his chicken and growled and took a little swipe at me. He was not trying to harm me in any way. It was just his way of saying, “Hey, this is my chicken, and I’m not sharing.” What an amazing experience to be that close to such a huge powerful beautiful animal.

But, I believe the highlight of this visit to the zoo was the wildlife keeper. His knowledge of each of the animals was incredible. What was more incredible was his love for these animals and his pride that they represented his country of Belize. The animals that live at the Belize zoo are not captured and brought there. The animals that live there were orphaned, rescued, or rehabilitated after injuries. This wildlife keeper shared the story of each animal, most of whom he personally treated, nursed, or raised from an infant. You could see the love and pride in his eyes and hear it in his voice as he shared each story. I would say something like, “What a wonderful experience that must have been!” and he would nod his head yes and a beaming smile would spread across his face. I not only could see his love and pride for these animals, I could feel it.