SUNY Cortland - TBZ Project

Belize Zoo Founding Executive Director Sharon Matola recently visited SUNY Cortland as part of The Belize Zoo Project initiative. Sharon gave a campus-wide lecture on October 27, and the next evening SUNY Cortland students hosted a first birthday party for Cortland the Margay, complete with rock band performances and a giant birthday cake! To wrap things up after Sharon's visit Tom Pasquarello offered a Sandwich Seminar about the Belize Zoo Project on November 17.

The following links will take you to archived web casts of the programs recently offered at SUNY Cortland.

Sharon Matola and The Belize Zoo Project

Belize Zoo - Cortland the Margay's Birthday Party

Sandwich Seminar - The Belize Zoo Project (Tom Pasquarello)

Simply Great! Our Greater Northern Grison!

It is highly unlikely that you will ever see this active animal in the wild, but at the zoo, “Bill” and “Larry," our fun-loving Greater Northern Grisons, are adding a happy touch to all zoo visits.

Grisons are in the otter family, and they scurry around on land, similar to the way otters use water habitat, which can only be described as “extremely playful.” They have semi-webbed feet, and this gives us a clue that the Greater Grison enjoys a swim now and again. “Bill” and “Larry” sure do! A favourite activity for these two fellows is to jump into their pond when a zookeeper tosses a bit of chicken in there as an afternoon treat. Both of these “aqua-critters” can swim under water and detect food in the process. “Bill” and “Larry” are always 100 percent successful in underwater searches for their afternoon snack.

The Greater Grison also likes to burrow. At the zoo, in their enclosure, we have placed clay “tunnels,” and this sure pleases “Bill” and “Larry.” Their playful nature comes to life each day at the zoo as they have the opportunity to burrow and swim. Their home can best be described as a “Greater Grison playground!"

Not much is known about the natural history of these animals. It is said that they are found in the Savanna areas of Belize, however, nothing is ever mentioned about their affinity for water. And finding permanent water areas in the Savanna can be a challenge.

“Bill” and “Larry” came to the zoo as pups. A hunter came upon them in a nest, and made a wrong move. He took the pups and intended to keep them as pets, but then brought them to The Belize Zoo. We, of course, agreed to provide good care for the little guys.

At first, we had no idea WHAT they were, and everyone thought they were Tayras (Bushdogs). But as they developed, we quickly saw that they were Greater Grisons and we were delighted to welcome them into our Zoo family! The Greater Grisons delight all of our visitors, especially school children, who see how unique Belize truly is because of the interesting and fun animals that share our land!

Cortland Kitty is One Year Old!

From Sharon . . .

Back on August 9th our beautiful Cortland Kitty turned one year old! What does a Margay cat get for a birthday present? If you look closely, Cortland is munching away on a nice chicken foot. She loves them! A talented photographer spent time at the zoo recently, and was particularly enchanted with Cortland. Perhaps we will catch her on a calendar or greeting card one of these days. TBZ is always happy to see how our animals serve to bring the beauty of tropical wildlife into the homes and hearts of so many....Cortland Kitty is a star!!!

On October 28th, I will host a celebration of Cortland's birthday on the campus of her namesake, SUNY Cortland. The celebration will start at 8 p.m. in the Corey Union Exhibition Lounge, and will feature two bands (Tribal Revival and the SUNY Cortland Rock and Blues Ensemble), refreshments, and a birthday cake. If you are in the area please stop by and wish Cortland a belated happy birthday! If you need directions to the party or have any questions about the event contact Tom Pasquarello.

We've been busy!

TBZblog is sorry for the recent lack of posts, but we've been very busy! Sharon is preparing for the upcoming Harpy Eagle release set for 18 October, 2009, and her upcoming visit to the U.S., during which she will participate in a "big cat conference" and give presentations at SUNY Cortland, Cornell University, and Alfred University.

On the Cortland end we've been busy preparing for Sharon's visit, and will soon do a post about the schedule of events that are open to the public during her end-of-October visit. In the meantime, new readers of TBZblog might want to check out some older posts from our archives, especially the profiles of favorite Belize Zoo animals such as Junior Buddy the Jaguar, or the descriptions of the all the exciting things there are to do in Belize if you stay at TBZ's Tropical Education Center.


In case you can make it to the Harpy Eagle Release, here are the details:

¨ A MAGICAL EVENT IS PLANNED FOR SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER TO CELEBRATE THE UPCOMING “RELEASE INTO THE WILD” OF “HOPE” THE HARPY EAGLE

¨ RENOWNED MAGICIAN GRAHAM JOLLEY IS COMING TO KICK OFF THIS SPECTACULAR RELEASE!

¨ JOIN US AND SHARE THE JOY OF OUR BELIZE HARPY EAGLE RESTORATION PROGRAM’S CONSERVATION MAGIC!!!

WHEN: SUNDAY 18TH OF OCTOBER 2009
WHERE: JAGUAR PAW RESORT
TIME: 6:00 PM
FOOD AND DRINKS AND MAGIC!!!!!

¨ Sponsored by Jaguar Paw and the Belize Zoo in an effort aimed at calling attention to the issue of Climate Change.
¨ The negative impacts of Climate Change can be reduced if our forests are saved, not destroyed….AND “HOPE” THE HARPY EAGLE AND HIS SPECIES NEED HEALTHY FORESTS TO SURVIVE INTO THE FUTURE TOO!!

The Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center
P.O. Box 1787
Belize City
Belize, Central America

Bruce Barcott Wins Literary Activism Prize

Reposted from: Mediabistro.com

"Bruce Barcott Wins Literary Activism Prize
By Jason Boog on Sep 24, 2009 12:23 PM

Author Bruce Barcott has won the inaugural, bi-annual Gene E. & Adele R. Malott Prize for Recording Community Activism. Barcott will receive a $1500 prize and an additional $1,000 will be donated to support community activism.

According to the release, Langum Charitable Trust, an Alabama-based private operating foundation, gave the prize for Barcott's book, 'The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird.' The trust also administers two other writing prizes: the David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction and the David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Legal History or Biography.

Here's a statement from David J. Langum, Sr., from the release: 'Barcott's book exemplifies the journalistic values which Gene and Adele Malott wanted to encourage and recognize. The book gives the reader a deeper understanding of the spirit of the activist, and the dedication it takes to fight for a cause.' "

Pat the Cat

From Sharon: Pat the Cat in his Milwaukee Zoo Exhibit

Pat the Cat, a former cattle killer in Belize is now happy at home in the Milwaukee Zoo and bringing a huge amount of attention to the plight of jaguars! This jaguar was a very successful "problem jaguar Rehab" graduate, who was then transferred to the Milwaukee Zoo where he has become part of the important captive-jaguar breeding program within USA zoos. Pat the Cat has become a "rock star" in Milwaukee! Newspaper articles and television coverage have served well our objective to bring into the international arena, the important work being done through TBZ programs on behalf of this magnificent predator.

Sharon Matola, Belize Zoo founder, reunites with Pat the Cat. His recognition of her is obvious as she visits him at his new home in Milwaukee.

young Scarlet Macaws to be in TBZ very soon!

Meet "Charlie" and "Hilario," two Scarlet Macaws who hatched right here at TBZ in mid-May. They are "people-loving parrots," and we are fixing a beautiful enclosure just for them and also, planning to have them accessible to the public. In this way, "close up and personal" experience with the birds will enhance the education impact.

albino coatis soon to be at TBZ!

Albinism is very rare in nature, and we were totally surprised to see the "normal" coloured Coati Mom taking care of her albino babies. The father is albino, and his recessive genes must be strong ones! This will be a wonderful addition to TBZ clan of critters, and provide an opportunity, too, for a bit of education to our public about the biological occurance of albinism.

Indy the Tapir now at TBZ for all to see!

Indy the Tapir entered his new life at TBZ on September 4th! What a fun day for the little guy! He immediately took to his new surroundings, and seemed pleased to meet his tapir-neighbors! Forest Department officials, Rasheda Sampson and Andre Lopez, who brought the baby Mt. Cow to TBZ in June, did the honours of opening the door of his "mobile home," so that "Indy" could trundle on in to his new home.

Indy at three months!

"Indy" the tapir comes into the main zoo!! On Thursday 3 September, Forest Department officers Rasheda Sampson and Andre Lopez, opened the door of his "travel kennel," and "Indy" became acquainted with his new quarters at the zoo. He is still being bottle-fed, along with a diet of browse and bananas. He is sure to be a "people-pleaser!"

Indy the Tapir is Growing!

Indy has lost all of his "camo markings' from his head and nose. He never refuses his formula and has astonished us all with his increasing weight gains and energetic personality. It's impossible not to be an Indy fan! We plan on introducing him into the main zoo during the first week of September..

Update on Young Scarlet Macaw Chicks

Our Scarlet Macaw chicks, as of 22 August, are now three and a half months old! This is "Charlie" and "Hilario," named after our two zookeepers who raised them from featherless nestlings to the vibrant young macaws they are right now. We provide lots of TLC to these two pretty parrots, and will be sharing them with our zoo visitors for "Close Encounter" activities.

Bye Bye Bat Falcons!

From Sharon . . .

Many times, at The Belize Zoo, if possible, we release animals, fit for a life in our forests, back into the wild. Recently, an Anteater (antsbear) received was safely introduced into a happy Anteater habitat. In the past, TBZ has released Coatis and even a Jabiru stork.

Not that long ago, two Bat Falcons were given to the zoo. Initially, it was thought that a dedicated training period would result in their being a wonderful addition to the zoo’s exciting education program. However, the nature of the Bat Falcon is that they simply must fly!

Yes, they do perch, but their “falcon profile” sees that they soar high and dive quickly after prey. Favourite food items are bats, other birds, and insects. These little birds-of-prey are found in every habitat in Belize. Bat Falcons are often recorded here around the zoo, and considering all factors involved, it was decided to release the falcons into the surrounding wild habitat.

The zoo is located in the middle of a very large tract of forest, and this same forest is becoming known as an important “Jaguar Corridor”. What does this mean for the Bat Falcons? Simply, lots of territory to establish a home, and lots of prey available for them to keep fit and happy!

And how about when it is time to nest? Since the Bat Falcon is a common species in Belize, finding a mate won’t be a difficult task. Nesting sites include tree cavities, crevices in rocks, and even building ledges. Usually two Bat Falcon chicks are hatched, and leave their nestling-nest within a month.

The release of the two young Bat Falcons went very well. Gradually, the young birds were given prey outside of their holding enclosure. It was quick and remarkable! Taking the prey in their talons, off the falcons flew! Zoo staff continued to leave prey for them on their outside feeding platforms as a gradual measure of guaranteed dinner.

However, it appears that they have taken to the wild with ease. One of the falcons returns in the afternoons, and not every afternoon. When we hear the bird call, it is a happy addition to our day here.

Watching a bird-of-prey soar and dive in the wild is always an exciting event, and we are happy to add two more “raptor wonders” into the Belizean wilds!

We are in AWE!!! It's a BABY MACAW!!!

From Sharon . . .

THE BELIZE ZOO BECAME HAPPILY OVERWHELMED IN MID-MAY WHEN THE RESIDENT SCARLET MACAWS HATCHED 3 HEALTHY BABIES!!! The parents were bred in captivity about a decade ago. From the start of their love affair, it was clear that they were clueless about the process of Macaw-Mating.

Scarlet Macaws nest high off the ground, and the loving pair was provided with a four-star nestbox. But a high-rise honeymoon suite was not to their liking. These two raucous red parrots chose, instead, to nest on the ground.

TBZ keepers were frantic at their nest choice. Possums and foxes were possible unwelcome visitors, putting the birds and their eggs, at high risk. This happened during a time of unseasonable wet weather, and a drenched nest would easily result in a “no hatch situation.” But the Big Reds insisted that it would be on-the-ground or no love nest at all for them.

We did our very best to counter-act their risky nesting regime, and our efforts worked! Mid-May was a special spring event, when three Scarlet Macaws hatched! Due to Mom and Dad not knowing how to raise young, the babies were carefully taken and put under the care of TBZ keeper staff. Every two hours they were fed a baby bird formula, and tending to the birds on “Macaw Night Watch” turned TBZ staff into first class Scarlet Macaw infant caregivers. Day by day, the featherless tiny birds gained weight, and have grown to love their zookeeper buddies.

In the wild, the nestlings will remain in the nest for 3 months. After that, Mom and Dad Macaw will urge them to fledge, and then teach them the ways of being a wild Scarlet Macaw. Breeding these rare birds in captivity is not difficult. Seeing them return to the wild is not possible, because they do not know the necessary survival strategies for a safe existence “out there.”

Our baby Scarlet Macaws will eventually be joining Mom and Dad in their home roomy enclosure. located at the entrance of The Belize Zoo. Since they have been lovingly raised by TBZ keeper staff, the young macaws will enjoy the company of all upcoming human admirers. We haven’t named them as yet! But their names will reflect how very special they are to TBZ, and to Belize!!!!

At The Zoo and Still in the Wild! Our Yellow Headed Parrot

From Sharon . . .

One of the most popular birds in Belize is our yellow-headed parrot, Amazona oratrix belizensis. The last part of this parrot's scientific name tells us something important. Our yellow-headed parrot is unique to Belize! With far more yellow on the bird's head, a distinct white eye-ring, and pale bill, the Belize yellow-headed parrot is truly special to our country.

Unlike other species of parrots in Belize, the yellow-headed parrot lives exclusively in the pine savanna habitat.. In the overall profile of our ecosystems, pine savanna makes up less than 15% of our lands. So, right from the start, the home ofr our yellow-headed parrots is limited in range. The actual status of this parrot, as noted in BIRDS OF BELIZE, is "Globally Endangered."

Yellow-headed parrots eat fruits and seeds, and are particularly fond of the craboo found growing in the pine savaana. They "hang out" in flocks, and can usually be heard before they are seen. The call of the yellow-headed parrot is unlike any of the other parrot-calls. Experienced (and not so experienced) bird-watchers can readily recognize this loud squawking.

A major threat to the yellow-headed parrot in Belize, is their being hunted for pets. So many people want a "Polly". Unfortunately, the way the hunting occurs, is that chicks are taken from the nest, and this contributes greatly to the reduction of the species population in the wild.

The yellow-headed parrot, like all members of the parrot family, live long lives. A life span of over 40 years in captivity, is not uncommon. What IS common is that these birds make noise every morning and evening, and that noise level is very loud! So, owning a "Polly" means that not only are there less in the wild (where they belong), but that your long-term "house-guest' is likely to wake you up and bring a close to your day, with its parrot screams and squawks!

It is no accident that all of the yellow-headed parrots at The Belize Zoo are former pets. Their owners grew weary of their noise as well as the responsibility of caring for the birds. So now, their "home sweet home" is The Best Little Zoo in the World! But remember, the happiest yellow-headed parrots, so rare and so special, are the "Pollys" living in the wild here in Belize.