Exciting Tour Guide Training

With endorsement provided by the Belize Tourism Board, a very special workshop occurred recently at the Zoo. TBZ Education Director, Jamal Andrewin, took the lead role to provide a dynamic session for 25 licensed tour guides.

Participants learned more about raptor adaptations by dressing up as a Harpy Eagle!  With big wings and huge talons, all could appreciate the “animal adaptation” portion of the day.   A common question from tourists, “What do these huge birds of prey eat in the wild?”  After the Harpy Eagle session, these eager-to-learn men and women now know the answer …. Coatimundi!

Jamal made sure that part of his lesson plan included the role which our natural resources play in the country’s history, culture and economy.  Tour guides sharing this information with visitors will contribute to their guest’s perceptions about the unique profile of our nation.

Handsome black Jaguar, “Lucky Boy” was very happy to meet his tour guide visitors.   And while he stood there in his big cat majesty, it was explained why it is that “Lucky Boy” is so much larger than our “home grown Belize jaguars” at the zoo…His ancestry is South American.   In that part of a Jaguar’s  geographical range, they are over twice as large as the jaguars roaming in Central America.

A highlight, too was the section, “Meet and Greet the Misunderstood”.  Zoo Director Sharon Matola shared with all, famous and fantastic, barn owl, “Happy the Owl”.   The myth attached to our barn owls, that they are the “bird of evil and misery” was known by every participant in the workshop .  “Happy” unraveled this barn owl myth to zero, and the guides were reminded all that these beautiful birds eat more rice and rats than any other animal on the planet!

 

To the delight of all, “Rose” the American  crocodile, also made an appearance.  She was photographed and stroked, and left behind a positive impression for her tour guide friends.  Too often crocodiles are persecuted in Belize.  However, like all animals, they serve an important purpose and have a role to play in our Belizean ecology.

Snakes and their biology were discussed.   And of course, all had the opportunity to hold Bal Boa, the resident boa constrictor at the zoo.   “Rocky”, a big Jaguar who once fed himself by preying upon cattle, is a star graduate of the zoo’s “Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program”.  Everyone had the fun opportunity to get inches away from this big fellow.

The day was full of exciting education, and was, indeed, a special day of training for everyone involved!

THE ENTIRE BELIZE ZOO IS NOW ACCESSIBLE!

News from Sharon and Jamal!

After two years of fund-raising and design work and then actual on-the-ground work, the zoo is now 100 percent accessible.  The rose-coloured pathways no longer stop and go, they simply GO!   And lots of happy moments are to be had for anyone with diverse abilities.  Some of the zoo animals come close up to see their wheelchair visitors.  Not used to seeing kids or adults in “moving chairs," the animal curiosity is also fun to observe.

Our help has come from various sincere and kind sources.  No words can fully serve to sufficiently thank the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland, who not only raised funds for this important project, but then their students and instructor all came to Belize to assist in building the pathways.  Pathway construction supervisor, Mr. Max was skeptical seeing his young female assistants come on board.  However, he quickly changed his initial “first opinion” when these young ladies eagerly pushed wheelbarrows and shoveled cement, day after day!  “Girl power” to the max, Mr. Max!

Local business contributions also assisted our efforts.  As did a superb gift from Mr. Peter Hughes and his colleagues at the British High Commission.  Our area representative,  Hon. Dolores Balderamos,  kindly made a contribution to show her support of this work.   Last December, while still not fully finished, the Belize Assembly for People with Diverse Abilities (BAPDA) came to the zoo to celebrate World Disabilities Day.  Smiling kids in wheelchairs glided down the pathways and saw our jaguars and toucans.  “Rose” the crocodile made an appearance to add to the magic of the celebration, while officials from BAPDA excitedly spoke about returning  so that all could experience the fun and excitement  again.

Each week, our zoo crew sees more and more wheelchair using visitors.  And visitors who do the “walk about” frequently comment on the pathways, too.  “It’s fun to walk on," - we often hear that statement.  Due to the pathway construction technique, perfected by long-term zoo employee, Tony Garel, the air and gravel mixture with just the right amount of cement, provides a bit of a “cushion” for all of our zoo visitors.  And for parents with strollers, a zoo visit is an easy visit, and a delight for stroller-passengers, too.

At this time, The Belize Zoo is the only nature destination in Belize

which is accessible.  We are proud and happy about this accomplishment!   Good Zoo?  We have always been a very good zoo.  However, now we truly are, “The Best Little Zoo in the World."

Happy Holidays from The Belize Zoo!

(click to enlarge)

A Magnificent Celebration on International Disability Day

News from Jamal and Sharon...

Joy and excitement rang through the air recently at The Belize Zoo, as we held a special celebration to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities.   

BAPDA at The Belize Zoo

The Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities, BAPDA,  had inquired about celebrating this important day at the Zoo.  BAPDA manager, Eva Middleton, organized the early December visit.  She had been following the Zoo’s progress over the past year, as we have diligently been working to see that this superb facility become accessible to all Belizeans.  Rose-coloured pathways, which are wheelchair and stroller friendly, wind their way past jaguars and tapirs, toucans and monkeys.  The Best Little Zoo in the World can be enjoyed by everyone now in Belizean society.

Ms. Middleton said that the Zoo was perfectly aligned with the theme for 2013:  “Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all”   It had been over twenty-five years since Eva Middleton last passed through the zoo.  She was joyfully astounded.  “Before I lost my leg, I could go into the rain forest.  Today, I felt like I was back in the forest again.” 

A group of about fifty guests from BAPDA and Stella Maris School joined educators Jamal Andrewin and Johanna Pacheco on an exciting Zoo highlights tour. “Lucky Boy” the black jaguar and jaguar ambassador “Junior Buddy” seemed to know that this was a special day.  They wasted no time coming up to greet their guests, and their guests were visibly thrilled.  Everyone had the opportunity to enjoy close up meetings with our national animal, the Central American tapir, and our beautiful national bird, the keel-billed toucan!

BAPDA Guests Meeting Rose the Croc

The excitement did not end with a zoo tour.  As the group gathered at the front of the Zoo for refreshments, Zoo Director Sharon Matola joined Jamal Andrewin to make a special presentation for the group.  A new colouring book, THE ABC’S OF WILD AND WONDERFUL BELIZE, was given to all of our special guests.  Having received support from the State University of New York  at Cortland (SUNY Cortland), SUNY Cortland’s, Inclusive Recreation Resource Center, this activity oriented colouring book, dedicated to children with disabilities, is the Zoo’s newest and proud resource.  Students and professors from SUNY Cortland will be assisting the Zoo in raising much-needed funds to fully finish the accessible walkway.  We are currently 80 percent complete, and look forward to seeing the entire Zoo accessible!

Being so special, the colouring book deserved a special intro! Providing that moment of exciting introduction was a job for a zoo ambassador.  “Rose” the crocodile took on the task with reptilian delight.  As the books were passed out, “Rose” assisted with photo and petting opportunities, adding an element of learning and surprise which was unexpected by all.

Past president of BAPDA, Jerome Flores, who was the Zoo’s expert consultant on the accessible walkway, joined current BAPDA president, Marshall Nunez and manager Eva Middleton, as kind and heartfelt thanks were given.  No one wanted to leave!  The Belize Zoo looks forward to more visits from BAPDA folks, Stella Maris children, and to all with disabilities.  Transforming our beautiful animal sanctuary into an accessible destination, has added a big and shining star to the profile of The Best Little Zoo in the World.