APRIL THE TAPIR CELEBRATES HER 30TH BIRTHDAY!

From Sharon . . .

April Enjoying Birthday Cake!

And what a celebration it was! Over 250 people came to the zoo and big smiles were seen everywhere. Education Officer Jamal Andrewin led the way, and proudly introduced our brand new tapir poster and also, another delightful tapir-friendly broadcast: A bumper sticker to commemorate April’s 30th birthday. However, this sticker also carries with it an important story. A contest was held for school kids to come up with a slogan to celebrate April’s 30th year here in Belize. The winners, Angela, Tanya, Ruth and Aba from Buena Vista school in the Cayo District, were the creative force behind a new bumper sticker, spelling out “APRIL”….A ppreciation. P rotection. R espect. I ntegrity. L ove. 

Janet Gibson with "then and now" poster of April and Claire

Another important story involved Wildlife Conservation Society biologist Mrs. Janet Gibson. Mrs. Gibson gave the zoo a charming photo of her daughter Claire, taken in 1983, with the then “toddler” April the tapir. Thirty years later, Claire Gibson, now thirty-two years old, visited the zoo again with her Mom and sought out her old friend, April. We merged the two photos together, and they tell a visual and profound story. Claire is an example of many children and adults, too, who have known this wonderful mountain cow, our significant representative National Animal, over the years. For three decades, April the tapir has brought the magic of her species, the Central American tapir, to thousands. Our nation has grown up with April. As a result, a greater understanding about her unique species, which, yes, is Endangered, has come about. And check out this important tapir-fact: April the tapir is the oldest female tapir in captivity!

Belize City Tumblers

April’s birthday celebration, meshed with National Tapir Day,( which was officially approved and declared by our Government last year), had the joy of music, too. The Panerrifix Steel Band Jr. Division from Belmopan, entertained everyone. And on the subject of entertaining…... Out tumbled the Belize City Tumblers to add a dash of acrobatic talent and awe to the big day.

Jamal wisely planned the presentation of four birthday cakes for our beloved April. This gave all of the visiting school children a chance to view April happily devour a cake with pure glee as they sang the birthday song to her. She certainly did not mind having four small cakes instead of one big one.

April the tapir stands for so much at The Belize Zoo. For thirty years, she has brought a ton of joy and pride to the people of Belize. Without a doubt, it can be strongly stated that this one special animal, rescued as an injured baby thirty years ago, has opened the eyes and hearts of so many. April the tapir! Happy Birthday! You are a gift to our special nation. And a joy to us all. Many happy returns!

Then and now poster "up close"

[REMEMBER TO CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT]

Post Script from Jamal:

TBZ got superb media coverage from the 3 leading media stations. Our Facebook page blew up with hundreds of new fans overnight because of that iconic photo merge of April and Claire Gibson in 1983 and 2013.  I can’t tell you how overwhelmed we felt with such positive energy running through the zoo all of Friday. Here are the news piece links if you’d like to see some more about the day:

http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/84749

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=25359

http://www.lovefm.com/local_news.php?item=1640

ROSE GLOWS!

From Sharon . . . 

A beautiful new-arrival to the zoo is “Rose,” a baby salt water croc.  Her story is a bit of a giggle, but are we ever glad she is with us.   A crocodile egg was given to a Forest Department official months ago, as an “education resource.”  The egg was thought to be infertile.   But surprise!   A short time after the egg was handed over, out came a baby croc.   Not knowing how to really care for the babe, “Rose” was handed over to croc-loving Tony Garel at The Belize Zoo.

At the zoo, she immediately had lots admirers.  We fell in love with her.  It was decided that a good amount of “croc care” and training should come her way, so that she would retain a love for her human caretakers, and become a very fine ambassador for her species.   Crocodiles are often persecuted, and most of the time, negative attitudes towards these handsome reptiles

are due to a lack of knowledge and understanding.

Yes, they live in salt water, and salt water crocs especially like habitat around mangroves.  These prehistoric-looking reptiles are fond of lagoons, too.  They will often make their way up rivers, leaving their salt-water home behind.  What is on the menu for a salt water croc?  Baby “Rose” loves to chomp down on cockroaches and crickets.  In the wild, they eat insects and little fish.   As they grow, they will dine on turtles and larger fish and also birds.  If they can snatch a small mammal, that works, too!

Mama croc will build a nest, and eighty days later, the eggs will crack open and out will poke a baby croc.   If the nesting temperatures are on the consistently warm side, female crocs emerge.  Cooler temperatures produce males.   After hatching, the Mama croc will then gently take each baby and carefully place in the water.  She will guard over them.  Crocodiles, including the salt water crocodile, are very protective and caring towards their young.  This type of maternal-care behavior is usually associated with mammal species.  But crocs show affection and parental-bonding..…..as the sign says by the crocodile exhibit at The Belize Zoo, “Someone forgot to tell ‘um…We crocs have a cerebellum”…What the sign goes on to cheerfully explain is that this part of the brain is where our emotional side is formed and kept live and active.  A cerebellum provides the brain space for feelings and emotions.    Crocodiles have feelings just as we humans do.  Very amazing!

Baby “Rose” is fond of a snout-rub and a back scratch.  She is shown to visitors who learn about crocodile natural history, and as she grows and remains tame and friendly, we know that she will bring a great deal of important information to zoo visitors about her special and Endangered species here in Belize:  The Salt Water Crocodile.  “Rose” truly Glows!!