Belize Zoo

We really enjoyed visiting the Belize Zoo. All the animals are local and all have been rescued. We paid for a private behind the scenes tour so we got to hear the stories behind all the animals and even got to feed a few of them. We wouldn't have gotten such good views without our guide to call them over. Unfortunately, most of the enclosures had heavy mesh walls so I didn't take as many photographs as I would have liked.

The Howler monkeys were the most cooperative. They were feeding in the trees right beside the walkway. (One of the advantages of native animals is that they eat the local plants.)

The Spider monkeys are always fun to watch but they move too fast to get good photographs.

Until he outgrew it, the crocodile used to like to lie on the bench to sun himself. In my imagination I could see someone sitting down and getting a surprise :-)

He came to get a chunk of meat thrown into his pond.

A closeup of a second crocodile.

I always like to see the Javalinas (Collared Peccaries) in the southern US. At first it looked like there were only a few here, until they all came running to see if they'd get fed. Apparently a wild one comes to visit the captive ones occasionally.

They had quite a few Brown Pelicans with various injuries that prevented them from being released. (e.g. damaged wings)

Of course, there were also a few unofficial residents. I spotted this Gray Cracker butterfly when we first entered the zoo.

This Black Pondhawk dragonfly was hanging around the crocodile pond.

A group of Chachalacas were sharing the tapir's dish of fruits and vegetables.

The best sighting was this venomous but beautiful Coral snake which crossed the path in front of us. I was too slow to get a photo of it on the path, only this shot as it disappeared into the undergrowth.

Whereas I got up close and personal with the Boa. (photo thanks to Shelley)

See all 24 photos in this batch