The Belize Zoo: A Legacy Of Wildlife Conservation

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center was founded in 1983 by Sharon Matola. It is a non-profit organisation that started as a backyard zoo, housing a handful of wild animals that had been used in a documentary film. Over forty years later, the zoo has become a world-renowned wildlife education centre, spanning 29 acres of tropical savanna and housing over 150 animals, all native to Belize. The zoo is committed to conservation, education, recreation, and research, providing an immersive educational experience for its visitors.

The Belize Zoo was founded in 1983 by Sharon Matola

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center (TBZTEC) was founded in 1983 by Sharon Matola, who was caring for a handful of wild animals that had been part of a natural history documentary called "Selva Verde". When the filming was completed, Matola was left with these animals and decided to start a zoo. The zoo was initially a "backyard zoo", but forty years later, it has become a world-renowned wildlife education center.

The Belize Zoo is the oldest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility in Belize. The animals in the zoo are either rescued, confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, or transferred from other rehab and zoological facilities. The habitats designed for the animals reflect their natural settings, providing an immersive educational experience for visitors. The zoo is also accessible to persons with physical disabilities.

The zoo is home to more than 160 animals representing 43 native species. It is located on a 30-acre facility at Mile 29 on the George Price Highway, roughly halfway between Belmopan and Belize City. The natural environment of Belize is left entirely intact within the zoo, with dense vegetation separated only by gravel trails through the forest.

The Belize Zoo focuses on educating visitors about the wildlife of Belize through encounters with the animals in their natural habitat. The aim is to instill appreciation, pride, and a desire to protect and conserve Belize's natural resources. The zoo has won awards for its educational impact, including the Belize Tourism Board's 9th National Tourism Award for "Educational Award of the Year" in 2009.

It is home to over 150 animals

The Belize Zoo is home to over 150 animals, with some sources stating the number is even higher, at 160 or 175. The animals are all native to Belize and include about 43 to 48 species. The zoo's residents include mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Mammals

Belize is home to five wildcat species, and the Belize Zoo houses all of them: jaguars, pumas, ocelots, margays, and jaguarundis. Other mammals include white-tailed deer, red brocket deer, collared peccaries, white-lipped peccaries, Yucatan spider monkeys, black howler monkeys, Central American agoutis, lowland paca, gray foxes, neotropical otters, coatis, kinkajous, and tayras.

The zoo is also home to Belize's national animal, the Baird's tapir.

Birds

The zoo features several species of parrots, owls, and raptors. Some of the birds at the zoo include scarlet macaws, red-lored amazons, yellow-headed amazons, keel-billed toucans, jabiru, harpy eagles, king vultures, great black hawks, ornate hawk-eagles, barn owls, mottled owls, crested guans, and great curassows.

Reptiles

Reptiles at the zoo include American crocodiles, Morelet's crocodiles, boa constrictors, fer-de-lance, green iguanas, and black spiny-tailed iguanas.

The Belize Zoo's commitment to wildlife education and conservation is evident in its focus on native animals and their natural habitats. The zoo provides an immersive educational experience for visitors, instilling a sense of appreciation and pride in Belize's unique natural heritage.

The zoo is located 29 miles from Belize City

The Belize Zoo is located 29 miles from Belize City, in the heart of the Maya Forest Corridor. It is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1983 by Sharon Matola, who was caring for a handful of wild animals that had been used in a natural history documentary. When the filming was completed, she was left with these animals and decided to start a zoo.

The zoo is set in 12 hectares (29 acres) of tropical savanna and is home to more than 150 animals, representing over 40 native species. The zoo's focus is on educating visitors about the wildlife of Belize and instilling a sense of appreciation and pride in the country's natural resources. It is the first nature destination in Belize that is accessible to visitors with physical disabilities.

The zoo is located on the George Price Highway, roughly halfway between Belmopan and Belize City. It is a 30-acre facility, with the animals housed in habitats that reflect their natural settings, providing an immersive educational experience for visitors. The zoo is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with last admissions at 4:00 pm.

The Belize Zoo is not just a place to see animals but also a dynamic wildlife education centre. It offers a variety of experiences, such as the "Lindo Link," where visitors can get up close and personal with a rescued jaguar named "Lindo". The zoo also offers nocturnal tours, allowing visitors to observe the activity of crepuscular and nocturnal animals, such as tapirs, jaguars, and howler monkeys.

The Tropical Education Center, located a mile up the road from the zoo, provides accommodations and meals for visitors. It is an 84-acre site set on tropical lowland savanna, serving as a lodge, learning centre, and training facility.

The zoo is wheelchair accessible

The Belize Zoo is a world-renowned wildlife education centre and the oldest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility in Belize. It was founded in 1983 by Sharon Matola, who started the zoo to care for a handful of wild animals that had been used in a natural history documentary.

Wheelchair Accessibility

The zoo is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. It is the first and only nature destination in Belize that is accessible to persons with physical disabilities. All pathways are designed to allow for the use of wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers. The zoo also provides an accessible bathroom facility on-site and offers a limited number of wheelchairs for complementary use.

The zoo's commitment to accessibility also extends to its tours and experiences. They offer a variety of unique tours, including an Accessible Belize Zoo Experience, specifically designed for visitors with physical disabilities. This fun and exciting tour welcomes over 50,000 visitors annually and allows guests to connect with Belize's unique natural heritage and wildlife.

The zoo's location is also easily accessible for all. It is located roughly halfway between Belmopan and Belize City and is just a half-hour drive from the international airport. The public bus system conveniently stops at the zoo's entrance, with buses running roughly every half hour from either direction. Additionally, taxis from the international airport offer chartered transport to and from the zoo.

The Belize Zoo's dedication to accessibility ensures that all visitors can enjoy the immersive educational experience it provides. With its accessible facilities, tours, and convenient location, the zoo welcomes guests of all abilities to explore and learn about Belize's diverse wildlife.

The zoo is a non-profit organisation

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center (TBZTEC) is a non-profit organisation founded by Sharon Matola in 1983. Matola was working as an assistant and animal caretaker for a documentary film crew. When filming was completed, she was left with 17 animals, including an ocelot, a puma, a jaguar, and several exotic birds. With no funds to care for the animals, and unable to release them into the wild, Matola decided to start a zoo.

The Belize Zoo is the oldest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility in Belize. The zoo's focus is on educating residents and visitors about native wildlife, with the aim of fostering appreciation and pride, and inspiring a desire to protect and conserve Belize's natural resources. The zoo is home to over 150 animals, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, all native to Belize. The habitats designed for the animals reflect natural settings, providing an immersive educational experience for visitors.

The Belize Zoo is committed to the conservation of Belize's wildlife and its habitats. The zoo generates funding through admission fees, tours, donations, and adoption and membership programs, as it receives no financial support from the Government of Belize. The zoo has become a world-renowned wildlife education centre, welcoming over 43,000 visitors annually.

The zoo's commitment to accessibility is also notable, as it is the first and only nature destination in Belize that is accessible to persons with physical disabilities. The Tropical Education Center, located adjacent to the zoo, serves as a lodge, learning centre, and training facility, providing a variety of accommodations and meals for visitors.

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