Sharon and Lucky Boy - October 26, 2012

from Sharon!

Lucky Boy is looking so good, isn't he? Just a little more than three months post-rescue, and look at that beautiful jaguar!

Jerome Gives SHED a Try!!!!

From Sharon. . .

Jerome Flores, our consultant for SHED, Stroller-Handicap-Elderly-Disabled, new walkway (still under construction), paid a visit to the zoo to give the remarkable path a try out. Joined by Berto Wohlers and Tony Garel, who oversee the progress of SHED, the trio had an enjoyable “wheel around” the zoo.

The contrast between the loose-gravel pathway and the SHED upgrade, is truly something to applaud. No longer will guests who are not as mobile as some of us, be left out from a fun zoo visit. There is still much to do, but even with our recent rainy spells, good progress is being made. At this time, the SHED pathway skirts around the jaguar area of the zoo. This is because work is currently going on there to provide Black Jaguar Lucky Boy with his new home.

Jerome also got an initial view of the new SHED deck in front of Jaguar Junior Buddy. The gentle slope will be ever-so-welcoming to any wheelchair, cane, or slow-moving zoo guest. Jerome gave it a HUGE Paws Up! Junior even sauntered over to greet the trio, and would like to see the SHED deck finished as soon as possible. That “Panthera-Prima-Donna” is truly missing attention!

Fundraising in order to see this vital work come to a successful completion is still going on. And PLEASE! If you enjoy good food and good beer and fine company, come out to Flagstaff Mess on Sunday the 28th of October….start up is 2pm! A PIGGIE ROAST with all the trimmings and special guest, Bal Boa, for photo ops with the kids. The price is a mere 20.00, and kids are half of that. Sponsored by BATSUB, this PIGGIE Feast will be a memorable afternoon for all (except for the Piggie…).

Jerome will be doing The Belize Zoo a great honour on the 12th of December. He will be cutting the ribbon to the new SHED pathway, and the day promises to be a very exciting, happy, and fulfilling event.

Meanwhile, we were all happy to see the smile on Jerome’s face as he sampled the SHED pathway. Thank you, Jerome, you are the SHED Inspiration!

CALEDONIA TURNS ON TO JAGUARS!

"Justicia" the Jaguar (aka Celeshia Guy, of TBZ)

[The Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center recently shared this article pertaining to the preceding post. Enjoy!]

Just a few weeks ago, a sad event occurred in the Corozal District town of Caledonia. A healthy male jaguar was shot and then skinned. Horrifically, it was shown on the news and many people voiced harsh objection to this unfortunate and unnecessary action.

However, recently, Belize Zoo Education Officers, Jamal Andrewin and Celeshia Guy, created a different “Jumpin Jaguar” atmosphere in this placid northern village. Warmly welcomed by principal Augusto Olivarez, they met and gave fun presentations to over 300 students.

Principal Olivarez kindly invited parents and teachers and the “standing room only” audience was keen to learn all they could about the greatest cat in the Americas: our jaguar. Besides discussing jaguars in Belize, our charming “Junior Buddy” got much review, as did the Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation program, and of course, beloved black jaguar “Lucky Boy”.

No need to kill a jaguar who wanders through one’s lands. These big felines are “roamers”, and it has been documented that a jaguar will easily travel 100 miles in a day in search of a juicy gibnut, deer or peccary. The Belize Zoo has successfully maintained its Problem Jaguar Rehab program. “Junior Buddy”, our star, is residing at the zoo as a result of this program. And happily, a young male jaguar, named “Lucha” was born at the Phildadelphia Zoo over a year ago. His dad was a problem jaguar, named “Frankie”, who was a gift to the Philadelphia Zoo from Belize. All were pleased to learn this.

Of course! The vital Central Belize Wildlife Corridor was spoken about with pride. As time passes, these forested lands will play an even more important role in maintaining our remaining jaguar populations. Lots of applause from the crowd on this issue!

A stark display came about when the skin of a jaguar was brought out for all to see. While the dull and unattractive skin was viewed, there was a large photo of gorgeous “Junior Buddy” gleaming in the background. That message was very clear. What is more appealing? The decayed and sad-looking jaguar skin held for all to inspect, or the glowing look at our incredible natural heritage, the nothing-short-of-being-too-beautiful for words, “Junior Buddy” himself!

Justice and Justicia the jaguar mascots handed out posters and poems to all and it was a terrific day for everyone. Sure would be nice to have a visit to The Best Little Zoo in the World from the kind and charming people of Caledonia - quite a few happy jaguars would enjoy giving a “high five” to these special kids and their teachers!

TBZ and Jaguar Education in the News

Hunting jaguars is against the law in Belize. Despite this fact, several weeks ago, an adult jaguar was killed in the Corozal District village of Caledonia. The Belize Zoo responded to this incident with an education campaign, aimed at children, to teach them not to view jaguars as a threat or to fear them.

Kudos to The Belize Zoo! The full story can be read on Belize's 7 News Channel web site, HERE.

" .  . . the objective was to turn it into something positive to involve this community that have these jaguars and other wildlife very near their community and interact with them probably on a daily basis and the whole concept is simply education and awareness making them have a sense of pride and respect for these animals that they live in close contact with every single day and for them to understand our value in the conservation of our forest and in all the industries that its connected to."  "We were very well received today and so we felt the objective was met."