Wildlife Care Center

The “Wildlife Care Center of Belize” has recently moved it’s operations to the Boden Creek Ecological Reserve, property owned by Belize Lodge & Excursions and located in the Toledo District of Southern Belize. The Boden Creek Ecological Reserve is a 13,000 acre private reserve surrounded by nearly 1.2 million acres of protected areas.

Working in collaboration with the Belize Ministry of Natural Resources for the past ten years, the founder and director of the Center, Robin Brockett, has focused on the rescue, rehabilitation, release and research of monkeys and parrots species confiscated from the illegal pet trade market.

Strongly research-based, the project has developed successful methodology for howler monkeys and released twenty-seven monkeys since 1999. Long-term monitoring revealed that the majority of the released monkeys are known to have survived at least one year post-release and the first noted birth occurred in 2005 to a female released in 2002.

Identified as an ideal location for the rehabilitation process, the Boden Creek Ecological Reserve’s extensive protected property contains abundant natural food sources, and is isolated from human populations to protect the health and behavioral fitness of release candidates. Two spider monkeys and three howler monkeys are currently undergoing rehabilitation in two large, separate enclosures located deep in the jungle.

The process of rehabilitation can take up to two years to fully prepare animals for release. Following established guidelines, pre-release surveys are conducted to identify suitable release sites. To be considered for release, animals must undergo a period of quarantine and health screenings, demonstrate species-appropriate behaviors and accept a natural diet.

A number of wild howler groups reside on the Reserve’s extensive protected lands and one of the immediate goals is to identify the areas these groups use. This information will not only help to determine if the rehabilitated howlers can be released elsewhere on the property, but will enhance visitors’ experiences by providing reasearchers and guides with the knowledge of likely locations to find the monkeys.

The potential future release of the Spider Monkeys into the reserve will actually be the reintroduction of the species into the region. Spiders Monkeys were indigenous to the area but costal populations were wiped out in the late 50’s by a primate yellow fever epidemic that decimated the costal populations. Only populations isolated in the Maya Mountains survived the epidemic.

Strongly research-based, the project has developed successful methodology for howler monkeys and released twenty-seven monkeys since 1999. Long-term monitoring revealed that the majority of the released monkeys are known to have survived at least one year post-release and the first noted birth occurred in 2005 to a female released in 2002.

Identified as an ideal location for the rehabilitation process, the Boden Creek Ecological Reserve’s extensive protected property contains abundant natural food sources, and is isolated from human populations to protect the health and behavioral fitness of release candidates. Two spider monkeys and three howler monkeys are currently undergoing rehabilitation in two large, separate enclosures located deep in the jungle.

The process of rehabilitation can take up to two years to fully prepare animals for release. Following established guidelines, pre-release surveys are conducted to identify suitable release sites. To be considered for release, animals must undergo a period of quarantine and health screenings, demonstrate species-appropriate behaviors and accept a natural diet.

While the monkeys are not on display to guests, video cameras installed near the two enclosures will provide a view of their natural behaviors and twenty-four hour monitoring.

A number of wild howler groups reside on the Reserve’s extensive protected lands and one of the immediate goals is to identify the areas these groups use. This information will not only help to determine if the rehabilitated howlers can be released elsewhere on the property, but will enhance visitors’ experiences by providing reasearchers and guides with the knowledge of likely locations to find the monkeys.

The potential future release of the Spider Monkeys into the reserve will actually be the reintroduction of the species into the region. Spiders Monkeys were indigenous to the area but costal populations were wiped out in the late 50’s by a primate yellow fever epidemic that decimated the costal populations. Only populations isolated in the Maya Mountains survived the epidemic.