THE COCKSCOMB BASIN - JAGUAR SANCTUARY
JAGUAR PRESERVE - Established in 1984 & declared a preserve in 1986 by the Belize government
The land rises gradually from the coastal plains to the Maya Mountains; driving south on the Souther Highway, you'll see the highlands a way to the west and flatlands to the left, mostly covered by orange and banana groves. The highway passes through a few villages and soon delivers you to the area's prime attraction; Maya Center Village and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Heavy raiin along the peaks of the May rainge (as much as 160 inches a year) runs off into lush rainforest thick with trees, orchids, palms, ferns, abundant birds, and exotic animals, including peccaries, anteaters. armadillos, tapirs, and jaguars.Also commonly called CBWS or simply the "Jaguar Preserve", this is one of the best undisturbed natural centers in the country, and easily one of the most beautiful. A large tract of approximately 155 square miles of forest was declared a forest reserve in 1984, and in 1986 the government of Belize set the region aside as a preserve for the largest cat in the Americas, the jaguar. The area is alive with wildlife, including the margay, ocelot, puma, jaguarundi, tapir, deer, paca, iguana, kinkajou, and armadillo (to name just a few), hundreds of bird species, and some unusual reptiles, including the red-eyed tree frog. And though you probably won't spot large cats roaming during the day (they hunt at night), it's exciting to see their prints and othe rsigns - and to know that even if you don't see one, you'll probably be seen by one.
Just past the entrance gate into the part is a gift shop and office where you'll be asked to sign in. Visitor facilities include a small museum, picnic area, and outhouse. You'll also find an "office" of the World Wildlife Fund, an important sponsor of the park, along with the Belize Audubon Society (www.belizeaudobon.org) and the government, who manage the protected area. Entrance is $5.00 USD for non-Belizeans (pay back at the highway, at the Maya Center Women's Group craft shop located at the head of the access road, immediately off the Southern Highway), and the park is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
LOOKING FORWARD: THE JAGUAR'S FUTURE
The first scientist to research the jaguar population in Belize, Dr. ALan Rabinowitz, thought it would take several generations to see any ecological or cultural benefits of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary's creation - but they occurred much more quickly. This was, he admits, partly due to luck: The formation of a protected area based on the jaguar's natural habitat (which was the first of its kind in the world) happened at a foruitious time in Belize history, basically at the very beginning of the country's efforts to attract more touritss. Cockscomb helped set the stage for the local preservation movement, giving a cruicla boost to the country's fledgling ecotourism efforts.
Jaguar research continuous in the Cockscomb Basin, only now the animals are tracked using infrared-triggered camera traps. Current data supports original density estimates that were based on radiotelemetry, which necessitated the invasive, sometimes harmful practice of physically capturing and collaring the cats and then tracking them from dangerous, low flying airplanes. The jaguar's prey are back reports Rabinowitz, from behind a tiny, cluttered desk in his cramped office at New York's Bronx Zoo, where he is no Director of Science and Exploration for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). There are peccary all over the place and the jaguars are eating alot, but their population densit has stayed level - its maxed out - even after 20 years. Also, we've found that the more protected area you give the jaguar, the less complaints there are on jaguars coming out after dogs and cattle - the opposite of what you'd expect.
Rabinowitz also notes that the Maya of the Cockscomb area now show natural curiosity about the big cats, instead of fear. Whereas before locals never entered the bus without a rifle, today they carry binoculars, pointing out jaguar tracks and exotic birds to groups of tourists. Now I go back to Cockscomb and I see these young adults - sons of people I worked with - working as tour guides. They've known Cocksomb as a rotected area since they were children and they realize how important it is, both econimicalyy and ecologically. Plus, the women are empowered, with the money tfrom their crafts sales, and you don't see children walking around with parasites and swollen bellies.
Rabinowitz tracked the area's cat population while living in a small clearing o fjungle (now the site of the park's visitors center) for nearly two years in the early 1980's and recounted his story in his fascinating "ecomemoir" Jaguar: One Man's Struggle to Establish the World's First Jaguar Preserve (reprinted by Island Press in 2000). He has traveled extensively since then, stying jaguars, clouded leopards, tigers and other large mammals species in Boreno, Taiwan, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma).
And while he has moved on from Cockscomb, the restless biologist does not see the Belizean park as a mere thing of the past. Quite the contrary. His ambitious goal now is to save jaguars throughout their entire range - from Mexico to Argentina - by creating and securing a natural unbroken corridor of wild land on both public and private lands where jaguars can thrive into the future. "We've already made tremendous strides toward that objective." he says. "with jaguars surveys and rancher outreach programs."
The Save the Jaguar project is dependent on private and corporate donations (Jaguar Cars has been extremely supportive). You can learn more about current studies and project - and about how to help by visiting www.savethejaguar.com and also by checking out WCS's Adopt a Jaguar Project at: www.wcs.org.
Just past the entrance gate into the part is a gift shop and office where you'll be asked to sign in. Visitor facilities include a small museum, picnic area, and outhouse. You'll also find an "office" of the World Wildlife Fund, an important sponsor of the park, along with the Belize Audubon Society (www.belizeaudobon.org) and the government, who manage the protected area. Entrance is $5.00 USD for non-Belizeans (pay back at the highway, at the Maya Center Women's Group craft shop located at the head of the access road, immediately off the Southern Highway), and the park is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
LOOKING FORWARD: THE JAGUAR'S FUTURE
The first scientist to research the jaguar population in Belize, Dr. ALan Rabinowitz, thought it would take several generations to see any ecological or cultural benefits of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary's creation - but they occurred much more quickly. This was, he admits, partly due to luck: The formation of a protected area based on the jaguar's natural habitat (which was the first of its kind in the world) happened at a foruitious time in Belize history, basically at the very beginning of the country's efforts to attract more touritss. Cockscomb helped set the stage for the local preservation movement, giving a cruicla boost to the country's fledgling ecotourism efforts.
Jaguar research continuous in the Cockscomb Basin, only now the animals are tracked using infrared-triggered camera traps. Current data supports original density estimates that were based on radiotelemetry, which necessitated the invasive, sometimes harmful practice of physically capturing and collaring the cats and then tracking them from dangerous, low flying airplanes. The jaguar's prey are back reports Rabinowitz, from behind a tiny, cluttered desk in his cramped office at New York's Bronx Zoo, where he is no Director of Science and Exploration for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). There are peccary all over the place and the jaguars are eating alot, but their population densit has stayed level - its maxed out - even after 20 years. Also, we've found that the more protected area you give the jaguar, the less complaints there are on jaguars coming out after dogs and cattle - the opposite of what you'd expect.
Rabinowitz also notes that the Maya of the Cockscomb area now show natural curiosity about the big cats, instead of fear. Whereas before locals never entered the bus without a rifle, today they carry binoculars, pointing out jaguar tracks and exotic birds to groups of tourists. Now I go back to Cockscomb and I see these young adults - sons of people I worked with - working as tour guides. They've known Cocksomb as a rotected area since they were children and they realize how important it is, both econimicalyy and ecologically. Plus, the women are empowered, with the money tfrom their crafts sales, and you don't see children walking around with parasites and swollen bellies.
Rabinowitz tracked the area's cat population while living in a small clearing o fjungle (now the site of the park's visitors center) for nearly two years in the early 1980's and recounted his story in his fascinating "ecomemoir" Jaguar: One Man's Struggle to Establish the World's First Jaguar Preserve (reprinted by Island Press in 2000). He has traveled extensively since then, stying jaguars, clouded leopards, tigers and other large mammals species in Boreno, Taiwan, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma).
And while he has moved on from Cockscomb, the restless biologist does not see the Belizean park as a mere thing of the past. Quite the contrary. His ambitious goal now is to save jaguars throughout their entire range - from Mexico to Argentina - by creating and securing a natural unbroken corridor of wild land on both public and private lands where jaguars can thrive into the future. "We've already made tremendous strides toward that objective." he says. "with jaguars surveys and rancher outreach programs."
The Save the Jaguar project is dependent on private and corporate donations (Jaguar Cars has been extremely supportive). You can learn more about current studies and project - and about how to help by visiting www.savethejaguar.com and also by checking out WCS's Adopt a Jaguar Project at: www.wcs.org.