Belize Ecosystems, Parks, Preserves and
Reserves
Learn what the indigenous birds and animals of Belize
look like, and how to spot them in their natural habitat. The
Belize Zoo
was originally founded as a retirement home for old "movie stars." Today,
however, the Zoo has become a refuge and rehabilitation center for injured
wildlife and home for abused and abandoned wild and domesticated pets. Wildlife
that can be rehabilitated and considered able to survive naturally are
reintroduced to the environment. Animals which cannot be reintroduced to their
environment are maintained in a natural setting at the zoo.
The Zoo is located 291/2 miles west of Belize City
on the Western Highway, and is open daily from 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Admission for non-Belizeans BZ $16.00.
Belizeans
pay significantly less.
The Blue Hole National Park is a
popular recreational spot, where water on its way from a tributary to the Sibun
River, emerges from a collapsed karst sinkhole. The pool, from which the park
receives its name, is a beautiful sapphire blue that is about twenty-five feet
deep. After a short run through a natural jungle setting, the stream disappears
into a large underwater cavern.
The Blue Hole National Park contains 575
acres of primary and secondary forest. Located twelve miles southeast of
Belmopan on the Hummingbird Highway.
St. Herman's Cave is within the boundaries
of the Blue Hole National Park. This cave has archaeological importance because
the Maya used the cave during the Classic Period. Pottery vessels, spears, and
torches are among some of the artifacts that have been recovered by the
Department of Archaeology.
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
and “Jaguar Preserve” is situated within the shadows of the Maya Mountains,
the sanctuary encompasses some 100,000 acres of tropical moist forest that rises
from 300 feet above sea level to approximately 3675 feet at the summit of
Victoria Peak. Established to protect a large jaguar population, the sanctuary
is home to numerous members of the cat family, as well as a large population of
mammals and birds
Located at Maya Centre, at Mile 15 of
the Southern Highway in the Stann Creek District. The Cockscomb Basin
Headquarters is located some 6 1/2 miles west of the visitors' entrance to the
sanctuary.
BZ$10.00
The Community Baboon Sanctuary, on
the banks of the Belize River, consists of some eighteen square miles of
subsistence farms. The sanctuary exhibits the spirit of coexistence that
Belizeans have with nature. Through a grassroots effort, the villagers and
landowners are committed to preserving the habitat necessary to insure a healthy
population of Black Howler Monkeys.
With assistance from the World Wildlife
Fund and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County, a small natural history
museum and visitor's center has been erected in Bermudian Landing, the most
central location in the sanctuary. Since all lands in the sanctuary are
privately owned, it is necessary to check with the Sanctuary Manager at the
visitor's center and to use a guide before following any of the trails.
The Community Baboon Sanctuary is located some thirty miles west of Belize City
off of the Northern Highway in
Established for the protection of resident
and migrant birds, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary consists of a large
network of inland lagoons, swamps, and waterways. The sanctuary provides both
the abundant food sources and the safe resting area that is necessary to support
a large and diverse population of birds.
The most notable migratory resident is the
Jabiru Stork. With a wingspan of 10-12 feet, it is the largest flying bird in
North America. Luckily, Belize has the largest nesting population of Jabirus in
Central America. They begin arriving in November to nest in the lowland pine
savannahs. After the young fledge and during the months of April and May, the
birds from northern and central Belize congregate at Crooked Tree and Mexico
Lagoons. When the rains come, the birds leave to return again in November.
Besides birds, Black Creek on the eastern
boundary of the sanctuary provides a home for Black Howler Monkeys, Morelet's
Crocodiles, Coatimundis and several species of turtles and iguanas.
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is
located thirty-miles northwest of Belize City off of the Northern Highway in the
Belize District.
BZ$8.00
Five blues Lake National
Park
Five blues Lake National Park is
located in a most impressive setting in the forest-covered foothills of the Maya
Mountains. It is a pristine tract of karst terrain, honeycombed with unexplored
cave systems and teeming with spectacular wildlife. The park was established in
1992 as a showcase for the region's amazing biological diversity and rich
cultural heritage. It encompasses over 4,000 acres of prime tropical forest and
preserves a wealth of natural and archaeological features.
Five Blues is a single lake, but it
displays a variety of vibrant blue hues. The lake is a cenote, a collapsed cave
system also known as a blue hole. It's cool waters run 200 feet deep and cover
approximately 10 acres.
Five blues Lake National Park is
located in the forest-covered foothills of the Maya Mountains.
Guanacaste National Park is a fifty
acre parcel of tropical forest. The park is named for the giant
guanacaste(tubroos). In addition to the guanacaste tree, there are numerous
other species of trees throughout the park.
Although the mammal population is small,
over one hundred species of birds have been identified within the park.
Guanacaste Park offers a relaxing introduction to the tropical forests of Belize
because it is easily traversed, it has well marked and maintained trails, and
many of the trees and plants have been identified with their own name tag.
Guanacaste National Park is located on
the north side of the Western Highway at the junction of the Hummingbird Highway
in the Cayo District.
BZ$5.00
Mountain Pine Ridge
The Mountain Pine Ridge is 300 square miles of forest reserve. Access to
the reserve is via the Chiquibul Road from Georgeville or via the Cristo Rey
Road from Santa Elena Town, just east of San Ignacio Town.
The Mountain Pine Ridge is home to the
Hidden Valley Falls (1,000 Foot-Falls), the Rio On River, the Rio Pools, and the
Rio Frio Cave and Nature Trail, as well as numerous small streams and
waterfalls. Besides offering magnificent vistas, the cooler temperatures, along
with a refreshing swim, can provide a welcome respite to the travel weary
tourist. The Mountain Pine Ridge is located south of the Western Highway
in the Cayo District.
Rio Bravo Conservation and
Management Area
The Rio Bravo Conservation and
Management Area consists of some 202,000 acres. The area is managed for
conservation, scientific research, sustainable yield timber harvesting,
non-timber forest product extraction, eco-tourism, and educational purposes by
the Programme for Belize, a private nonprofit Belizean organization.
The area consists of broadleaf forest,
swamp forest, palm forest, savannah, and marsh. Due to its remote location and
the elimination of hunting, many endangered species - Black Howler Monkeys,
Central American Spider Monkeys, Jaguars, Pumas, Ocelots, Margays, Jaguarundis,
Tapirs, Peccarys, Ocellated Turkeys and Brocket Deer- have found refuge within
its borders. A bird watcher's paradise, ornithologists have recorded over 355
species of birds. Over forty Maya Ruins have been discovered within the area.
The largest center is La Milpa ranking only below Caracol and Lamanai in size.
The Rio Bravo Conservation and
Management Area is located in the northwest corner of Belize in the Orange
Walk District.
Off the coast
The "Blue Hole" is located in the
center of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Originally a cave, the roof fell in some 10,000
years ago, as the land receded into the sea. Almost a perfectly circular hole,
it is 1,000 feet in diameter, and it is 412 feet deep.
Popularized by a Jacques Cousteau
television special, this has become the most famous dive site in Belize. Many
dive operators provide day and overnight dive trips from Ambergris Caye, Belize
City or other offshore Cayes and Atolls.
The "Blue Hole" is located
approximately 50 miles due east of Belize City.
BZ$8.00
Half Moon Caye, located at the
southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, was the first reserve to be
established by the Natural Parks System Act of 1981. One of the main reasons
that the natural monument was created was to protect the Red-footed Booby bird
and its rookery. The Magnificent Frigatebird shares the rookery with the
Red-footed Booby, and both species coexist in apparent harmony. Some
ninety-eight species of birds have been recorded on the Caye, of which some
seventy-seven are migrants. Regular winter migrants include Ospreys, Mangrove
Warblers, and White-crowned Pigeons.
The Iguana, the Wish Willy, and the Lizard
are permanent residents on the island, while the Loggerhead Turtle and the
Hawksbill Turtle come ashore annually to lay their eggs.
The waters surrounding Half Moon Caye are
abundant with life, and snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities are excellent.
Half Moon Caye, is located
approximately 50 miles due east of Belize City.
BZ$10.00
Hol
Chan Marine Reserve
The Hol Chan Marine Reserve focuses
on the Hol Chan (Mayan for "little channel") Cut on the barrier reef, some four
miles southeast of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. Established in 1987, the
reserve, the first of its kind in Central America, includes a five square mile
area of three distinctive zones.
Zone A includes the reef, both
inside and outside, Zone B includes the seagrass beds inside the reef,
and Zone C includes the mangroves of southern Ambergris Caye. All three
zones are closely linked, and they are interdependent.
Buoys have been installed to mark the
boundaries of the Reserve and to provide anchoring points for dive operators'
boats. Since it is illegal to fish and/or collect coral within the reserve, the
marine life is flourishing once again.
Laughing Bird Caye
Laughing Bird Caye was named for
the original large number of laughing gulls, the birds have virtually abandoned
their rookery because human encroachment. In an effort to assist the birds in
reestablishing their presence, the government is taking steps to minimize the
disruption of the caye.
Since, Laughing Bird caye is a shelf atoll
with deep channels, the scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities are
outstanding. Fortunately, these activities can be enjoyed without bothering the
bird life on the caye. Meanwhile, the concerned eco-tourist has the opportunity
to observe the bird life from offshore, during and after diving.
Laughing Bird Caye is located
thirteen miles southeast of Placencia Village in the Stann Creek District.
Shark/Ray Alley
Located to the south and to the inside of
Hol Chan Marine Reserve, this dive site is becoming one of the hottest marine
attractions in the Caribbean. Here, dive parties can witness dozens of Southern
Stingrays and Nurse Sharks swirl and dance gracefully while being orchestrated
by a dive -master's bag of snacks. While resting on a sandy bottom in about
ten-feet of water, divers can take advantage of this unique opportunity to watch
and photograph an awesome display of grace and beauty as only mother nature can
provide.
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