Conservation Without Borders: TBZ and SUNY Cortland

Please enjoy this special guest post by Belize Zoo Environmental Educator, Jamal Andrewin-Bohn, who recently traveled from Belize and his work at the zoo to SUNY Cortland, to participate in its Field Biology course at SUNY Cortland's Outdoor Education Center at Raquette Lake:

As TBZ approaches its 30^th year, it continues to grow as a superb wildlife conservation facility. The Zoo itself being greatly improved, and its relationships and connections are being expanded and strengthened locally and internationally. 

And, what better proof of this than the Zoo’s recent involvement with SUNY Cortland’s Field Biology course in New York? The Zoo has a very special bond with the wonderful people and institutions of upstate New York, from the continuous animal adoptions by Tully Junior High’s International Club, to the great working relationship with Cornell University’s Vet School, to the fervent and undying support of SUNY Cortland, which even has a Margay adopted in honour of the great university.  The Margay, called “Cortland,” is a star! How so? The smaller cat pictured on the wonderful wildlife corridor billboard at Mile 40 on the Western Highway is the one and only Cortland!

Professor Tom Pasquarello has been the great link between TBZ and SUNY Cortland.  He decided many moons ago that the Zoo had a great deal to offer SUNY’s students, through involvement in their annual summer field course.

Plans were set in motion, and in no time at all, TBZ’s Environmental Educator, Jamal Andrewin-Bohn was off to SUNY’s Outdoor Education Center in the vast forest reserve of the Adirondacks.  There, he took part in their Field Biology Course, under the talented direction of SUNY Cortland Professors Steven Broyles and Larry Klotz, who were well versed in both temperate and tropical biology. As Mr. Jamal joined his SUNY peers in studying everything from Forest and Mountain Ecology, to Limnology, the professors wasted no time in asking him to compare and draw parallels to the ecosystems in Belize.  This gave all the students a valuable insight into the workings of the Tropics.

After the first exciting week of the course, Mr. Jamal was invited to give a guest lecture on Conservation efforts in Belize, showcasing the fantastic work the Zoo and its partners have done on behalf of our country’s invaluable natural resources. Talks on environmental education and the Central Wildlife Corridor impressed students and professors alike. The super cool documentary about Harpy Eagles in Belize, “Hope for Climate Change” was shared, giving a Tropical perspective to the issue of global climate change. The story of the rescue and survival of “Lucky Boy” the black jaguar struck a strong chord with the audience, and was met with thunderous applause. Mr. Jamal was bombarded with questions about internships and research opportunities in Belize through the Zoo by eager students, promising even more collaboration between TBZ and SUNY Cortland. Additional presentations and fundraising opportunities are already on the horizon, as the Zoo gears up for another visit to New York, sharing its latest projects with even bigger audiences!

TBZ greatly values this extraordinary learning experience, and the knowledge gained most definitely benefits the important education objectives and programs of “the best little zoo in the world.”

Paws Up for the Central Belize Wildlife Corridor!

From Sharon . . . 

The photo says it all!   Do we need our wildlife corridor which stretches to the north and south along portions of the Western Highway?   This recent photograph underscores the importance of these remaining wildlands in Belize.    The young jaguar crossing the highway somewhere near mile 40, was following mother jaguar.   She had already crossed.  Luckily, a camera-toting visitor to Belize, took the shot of her youngster, who was following in steady pursuit.

The Belize Forest Department has been actively promoting the Wildlife Corridor.  Working with local scientists, a billboard was erected by St. Matthew’s village, which beautifully advertises these special wildlands.   In addition, Forest Department official Mr. Jazmin Ramos and his fellow officers, have seen that signs are interspersed along the Western Highway announcing the presence of the Wildlife Corridor.

The Belize Zoo environmental education team, Jamal Andrewin and Celesha Guy, have visited schools and communities located nearby or within the Wildlife Corridor territory.   Often dressed as jaguars, they continue to bring into classrooms valuable and fun lessons about these magnificent cats,  who call Belize their home.  It is vital that all are aware of the lands and resources necessary in order to keep  jaguars alive and well in our country. 

What is needed?  A jaguar requires an expansive territory in which to hunt and find mates.   It has been documented that a jaguar will easily travel 100 miles in one day in search of food.  Deer, peccary, armadillo and reptiles will make a jaguar a happy cat when it comes time to dine.  Maintaining our remaining forests in some state of integrity is the key to keeping jaguars in Belize for future generations.

Belize is unique in Central America.  Rare and endangered species of wildlife still, as beautifully shown by the above photo, roam wild and free.  Keeping a healthy amount of our nation forested will serve to provide a strong natural resources profile, and contribute to our important nature-based tourism economy.

Bad development brings environmental degradation as well as a loss of valuable wildlife.  No better example of this exists than the Challilo Dam.  Insufficient energy output.  Pushing our remaining scarlet macaw populations into a future clearly marked by extirpation.  Contamination of the Macal river and the fish in that river.  Sorry, folks.  You can’t safely bathe in the Macal river, eat the fish from the Macal river, or drink the water from the Macal river, as you could just ten years ago.   This is an unsound development scheme.  The Challilo Dam is anything but a balance between conservation and development.  And that necessary balance strategy is what must be put into place in order to ensure that our jaguars will be crossing the Western Highway for years to come.

Lucky Boy, Two Months Post-Rescue!

The Belize Zoo Facebook page had a great post -- a then and now, two months post-rescue, of "Lucky Boy":

"It has been two months since Lucky Boy the black jaguar started his new life at the Zoo. The horror of his condition was made public on July 16th, and two days later, he was heroically rescued and immediately began receiving the vital care he needed. Two months into his road to recovery, this amazing cat has gained back much of his former beauty and strength, and has never failed to meet keepers a

nd visitors alike with a calm, majestic manner, despite his condition. TBZ once again thanks all the wonderful people who have supported Lucky Boy, through donating to his cause, spreading his story, and coming to see him in person. Your continued support with help us make his story of survival a magnificent one!"

Happy Update on Lucky Boy

Lucky Boy, 11 days post-rescue

Those of you who follow TBZ know that in July, a dramatic jaguar rescue took place in Punta Gorda, Belize, after the Belize Wildlife Conservation Network (BWCN) was alerted that a jaguar in captivity was in distress and appeared to be starving to death. You can read the initial news release, and see the frightening photo of Lucky Boy at the time of his rescue, HERE. 

As the TBZ Facebook page shared, "TBZ officials, working in concert with the Forest Department, successfully rescued the emaciated and sickly black jaguar from an abandoned resort southern Belize. Far too weak to withstand anaesthesia as a strategy to aid in his being transferred to the Zoo, a crate was constructed at TBZ, and taken to the jaguar's home the following day on July 19. Then, with much patience and some good beef liver, the thin and sickly cat was gently convinced to enter the crate. Once inside, the door was slowly lowered, and "Lucky Boy" (his new name) began the long journey to his new quarters. "Lucky Boy" quickly settled in and again was fed some nice beef liver and cooked eggs. It will take a bit of time to get "Lucky Boy" fit and beautiful, and we look forward to his being a proud on-site Belize Zoo black jaguar for all to admire!"

Sharon Matola recently sent this encouraging update on Lucky Boy:

Lucky Boy, our recently rescued black jaguar, has settled well in his new home off exhibit at The Belize Zoo. Always eager for his dinner, the guy is clueless about how happy he is making all of his zoo caretakers with such an enthusiastic appetite.  Not that we expected Lucky Boy to turn up his big nose at beef liver, but our consulting vet made a point in stating that some large cats are less-than-happy about eating the critical care canned feline food,  which was brought in special for our Lucky Boy.  Well, Lucky Boy simply loves the gooey mixture, and happily gives a jaguar “high five” whenever it comes his way.

And while his bones are still too prominently seen through his black fur, Lucky Boy has definitely put on some  much-needed healthy weight. The lesions on part of his sleek profile are fading, and his overall behavior and attitude shows us that he is a contented cat. We so look forward to sharing Lucky Boy with our zoo visitors. When will he be introduced to the zoo? More medical attention is on the horizon. Necessary and thorough examinations can only be done if Lucky Boy is completely anesthetized. And anesthetizing  any ill or weak animal is a risky and dangerous procedure. First, we will get him in very good shape, and then follow through with the much-needed and expected revealing examinations.

Lucky Boy’s healthy behavior is just as important as his physical profile.  Before he enters “Zoo Central”, he needs to be TBZ certified cool, calm and collected.  At one time, Lucky Boy lived with another jaguar.  He is very accustomed to cat-company. Lucky Boy’s gentle demeanor indicates, too,  that the boy’s former “Bosch” days were spent being well-cared for. Whatever went awry in his life, we are so very pleased that our zoo staff could work along with the Forest Department and provide a home for him. 

A gradual introduction to his upcoming enclosure mates, Springfield and CT, is a behavior-planned strategy. The zoo has rehabilitated and worked with over 15 jaguars. Every jaguar we have managed owns an individual personality. Introducing jaguars to one another deserves very careful attention. We intend to see that the introduction is done under the strictest of regimes, and due to our experience, all feel that the transfer and introduction process will go forward minus any difficulties. It will be some time before Lucky Boy resides within zoo grounds.  

Several fund raisers have raised needed funds to help in the rehabilitation and care of this beautiful endangered animal including a T-shirt campaign, Indiegogo campaign, and roadside barbecue at TBZ. Funds are still needed, and donations can be made at TBZ's web site, HERE. 

Lucky Boy becomes more beautiful and healthy with each day. Please help if you can make Lucky Boy's dreams come true!

The Eagle Has Landed

Sharon recently shared the following . . . 

Zoo officials were very happy to have been contacted by Mrs. Gina Zabaneh a short while back. She had opened her Eagle’s Landing restaurant, on the Western Highway, just to the east of the Garden City, Belmopan. The roomy and airy dining spot features Belizean cuisine delights.And the restaurant symbol, chosen some time ago, was a Bald Eagle.

Since the Harpy Eagle is a bird proudly living in Belize, Gina wanted to alter the eagle image a bit, creating a local bird representative for Eagle’s Landing. We were more than happy to help! For starters, two posters of “Panama”, the hero Harpy Eagle at The Belize Zoo, were presented to Eagle’s Landing.

Next, Education Officer Jamal Andrewin “re-eagled” the restaurant menu.The Harpy Eagle proudly invites guests to view the menu  with our handsome Harpy overlooking the pages. The food is great Belizean fare! Having a Harpy Eagle introduce each meal is a proud reminder that these birds, native to our Belize and very uncommon, will benefit from as much publicity as possible.

A slight change to the menu, however! Rather than offering “eagle wings” and “eagle tidbits” to hungry restaurant visitors, Mr. Andrewin slightly altered this, to “eco-eagle wings” and companion appetizer, “eco-eagle tidbits”. “Panama “ would most definitely appreciate those minor changes.

On Sunday, the 22^nd of September, The Eagle’s Landing is having a “Family Day”. And for all patrons, after enjoying their Eagle’s Landing meal, and then travelling a bit further east to The Best Little Zoo in the World,  and showing a receipt from Family day at Eagle’s Landing Restaurant, will be welcomed into the zoo for no charge. What a fine dessert, and such a fun way to celebrate our country’s Independence!

Education Officer Jamal isn’t stopping there. He wants Mrs. Gina Zabaneh to come to the zoo, meet “Panama“ the Harpy Eagle, and have a photograph taken so that she can proudly display this in Eagle’s Landing Restaurant.

So, please, move aside, Bald Eagle!  THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!