Over the years, we’ve shown you April the tapir’s extravagant birthday parties at the zoo. And while she’s still the main attraction, the 25 year old mountain cow is getting up there in years, she’s 25 and so now, there’s a new kid on the block. His name is Buddy the Jaguar and he celebrated his second birthday today. Jacqueline Godwin stopped in for some “jaguar cake.”
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Because she was raised as a cub by the Belize Zoo staff after being abandoned by her mother it was obvious that all the love and attention given by her adopted human parents has made her friendly to visitors and that is why junior buddy who turned two years old today is valuable in educating the public especially children about the beauty and importance of her species.
Most of the children who were invited to Junior Buddy’s birthday at the Belize Zoo live in communities where these might magnificent animals roam freely. So it is hoped that their invitation to Junior’s birthday party will give them a better appreciation of the jaguars.
Celso Poot, Education Director - Belize Zoo
“One of the things is that we have jaguars roaming wild right around the zoo. We are in the middle of a corridor that helps the jaguar move from the northern part of the country to the southern part of the country. Bringing the kids from the neighbouring communities to see the jaguar and understand the role that their activities in the neighbouring forest play will help the jaguar survive into the future.
What we are trying to do is we’re trying to increase awareness of the plight of the jaguars. Belize has one of the highest deforestation rates in Central America and as a result of that the jaguar population in Belize is facing serious problems. Every so often you hear reports of jaguars predating on people’s livestock; they are killing sheep, they are killing cattle, they are taking away dogs and even chickens. What we are trying to do is creating an awareness where the students can take back the conservation message home to their parents, to their peers, and to people in the community to understand that the activities they are doing is affecting the wildlife of Belize seriously.”
In spite of the dangers jaguars confront in Belize, fortunately there is still a healthy population of these large cats in the country. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.
Research is presently being conducted to find out exactly how many jaguars are in Belize.
