Belize's Wildlife: Where To Spot Them

Belize is a nature lover's dream, with its dense biodiversity, both on land and in the water. The country is committed to conservation, and there are many places to visit to see wildlife.

The Belize Zoo is a great place to start, with its native species including jaguars, tapirs, crocodiles, monkeys, toucans, and more. The zoo is distinctive for housing displaced animals, providing acres of natural, untouched habitats for the animals to roam.

For those looking for a more wild experience, the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve is the world's first park designed for jaguar preservation. While spotting jaguars is difficult, the preserve is also home to other wildcats like pumas and ocelots, as well as tapirs, peccaries, and deer.

Belize is also home to the Community Baboon Sanctuary, a community-run conservation operation that has successfully increased the population of endangered black howler monkeys.

With its lush rainforest and abundant coastal waters, Belize offers numerous national parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries to explore. So whether you're spotting birds, swimming with whale sharks, or observing crocodiles, Belize has something for every wildlife enthusiast.

The Belize Zoo

The zoo is located roughly 47 kilometres (29 miles) west of Belize City on the Western Highway. It is set in 12 hectares (30 acres) of land and is home to over 160 animals, representing 43 native species. The zoo is accessible to persons with physical disabilities and employs over 45 Belizeans.

The animals at 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 home to a Tropical Education Center (TEC), an 84-acre site set on tropical lowland savanna adjacent to the zoo. TEC serves as a lodge, learning centre, and training facility.

The zoo also features several species of parrots, owls, and raptors, as well as a wetland aviary. Some of the birds on display include scarlet macaws, keel-billed toucans, jabirus, harpy eagles, and king vultures.

In addition to the daytime tours, visitors can arrange night tours to observe the activity of crepuscular and nocturnal animals, such as tapirs, jaguars, and howler monkeys. The zoo offers interactive tours where visitors can get one-on-one supervised time with the animals.

Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve

The preserve is located in the Stann Creek district and is easily accessible from the Southern Highway. It is renowned for its diverse wildlife and bird populations, boasting up to 300 recorded bird species, including the Macaw, the Great Curassow, and the Keel-billed Toucan. Other wildlife includes ocelots, pumas, margays, jaguarundis, peccaries, howler monkeys, and tapirs.

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary offers a range of hiking trails, from flat and easy to steep and strenuous, allowing visitors to explore the diverse plant and animal life. The Ben's Bluff trail, for example, offers spectacular views of the Cockscomb Basin and a secluded jungle swim, while the Rubber Tree trail, the Wari Loop trail, and the Green Knowledge trail are favourites for their unique characteristics.

The best time to visit the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve is during the dry season, from February to May, when the weather is slightly cooler and drier. Bird migrations also occur from September to March, increasing the number of bird species in the sanctuary.

The cost of a guided hiking tour to the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve is typically around $85 USD per person, including transportation, an experienced guide, park entry fees, refreshments, and in some cases, lunch and swimming gear.

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary

The best way to explore the sanctuary is by canoe or boat. You can get up close to the flora and fauna and spot crocodiles, iguanas, turtles, coatis, and if you're lucky, the jabiru stork. The dry season, from November to May, is the peak time for birdwatching, but you're likely to see 20 to 40 different species on any given day.

The village of Crooked Tree, located within the sanctuary, is one of the oldest Creole communities in Belize. It offers a unique cultural experience, eco-tours, outdoor activities, and essential amenities for tourists such as accommodations, meals, and transportation.

There are several lodges and bed-and-breakfasts within the sanctuary, offering comfortable accommodations with amenities like swimming pools and complimentary water. Rates range from $35 to $120 per night, with some places charging additional fees for air conditioning or extra guests.

Getting to the sanctuary can be challenging without a rental car. A taxi will cost you about $75 each way, but rental cars are available for around $50 per day, making it a more economical option. The main highway to Crooked Tree is paved, and driving during the day is generally safe.

Green Iguana Conservation Project

The Green Iguana Conservation Project, located in the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, is a favourite among locals and travellers alike. The project was created in 1996 by Mrs Mariam Roberson and Daniel Velasquez to protect the endangered Green Iguanas in Belize, whose survival was threatened by overhunting and the destruction of their natural habitat.

The Green Iguana, known locally as "bamboo chicken", is one of the largest lizards, reaching up to 6 feet in length (including its tail). Its flesh and eggs are considered a delicacy in Belize, especially during specific religious months like Easter. The conservation project aims to educate visitors about the ecological importance of these reptiles and offers interactive exhibits and programs to create awareness. Visitors can learn about the entire life cycle of the Green Iguana, from incubation and hatching to rearing and releasing them into the wild.

The project offers a daily tour that starts in the hotel lobby, with a discussion about the animals of Belize. As visitors walk down the path to the enclosure, they can spot toucans and other birds in the nearby trees. The guide explains the goals of the project, the care provided to the animals, and the release program. The tour ends with an opportunity for visitors to interact with and feed the iguanas. Some iguanas are friendly and used to human company, while newer ones might be more reserved.

The Green Iguana Conservation Project also offers the "Adopt an Iguana" program, which raises funds for the project and provides scholarships for local children. Visitors can contribute to the conservation efforts by participating in this program and the Iguana Kids Club. The project is entirely self-sustained and relies on contributions and donations from patrons and visitors.

The San Ignacio Resort Hotel is within walking distance from downtown San Ignacio, and the nearby Cahal Pech Archaeological Site is also worth a visit.

Community Baboon Sanctuary

The Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS) is a Black Howler Monkey Sanctuary located in the village of Bermudian Landing in the Belize district. It was established on 23 February 1985 and is the first community conservation project of its kind. The CBS is a Non-Governmental, community-based organisation managed by the Women's Conservation Group, comprising local women from the area.

The sanctuary is unique in that there are no cages anywhere. The howler monkeys and their troops are completely free and live in the surrounding area that is designated a protected zone. The CBS spans over 20 miles, with over 200 private landowners in seven villages who have voluntarily pledged to conserve their land for the protection of the Black Howler Monkey habitat. The landowners have signed a voluntary pledge to abide by a sanctuary-generated land management plan.

The CBS is home to more than 3500 howler monkeys and over 250 species of birds, as well as crocodiles and other wildlife. The sanctuary offers a range of tours, including nature hikes, night tours through the rainforest, and river tours. The CBS also has a small natural history museum, Belize's first museum, with an education centre built in 2003. There are locally owned bed and breakfasts, local guide services, and a restaurant run by the Women's Conservation Group.

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