CROCODILE ENCOUNTER
If you thought swimming with sharks at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve was thrilling and exciting, wait until you experience the new tour on Ambergris Caye by the American Crocodile Education Santuary (ACES). This is like watching Animal Planet from inside your boat, as your tour guide (wildlife expert) jumps into the water to retrieve a juvenile crocodile and bring him back to the boat. American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES), is a unique experience that has you traversing through mangrove forests at night on the back side of the island. The tour takes place at night, as this is when crocodiles are most active. Vince and Cherie, founders of ACES started the tour, but Crocodile Expert Chris Summers is the guy in charge.
This tour allows you to have the thrill of interacting with wild reptiles, at the same time helping to protect them and conserve their natural habitats. This was equivalent to a CSI experience for us, as you watch your guide traverse the mangrove forest at night on the back side of the island looking for a crocodile. Vince and Cherie, founders of ACES started the tour, with the help of their knowledgeable Crocodile Expert Chris Summers.
This tour allows you to have the thrill of interacting with wild reptiles, at the same time helping to protect them and conserve their natural habitats. This was equivalent to a CSI experience for us, as you watch your guide traverse the mangrove forest at night on the back side of the island looking for a crocodile. Vince and Cherie, founders of ACES started the tour, with the help of their knowledgeable Crocodile Expert Chris Summers.
Why should I consider taking the crocodile encounter tour?
This is not only exciting and thrilling, it's a great learning experience for just about everyone. The entire tour focuses around juvenile crocodiles and their habitats. You get to participate in tagging, naming, and performing health inspections on live baby crocodiles for study purposes. After catching a juvenile crocodile (approximately four feet in length or smaller), they bring it to the boat, and put the crocodile through a series of health checkups (taking measurements, checking teeth, checking gender, and placing an electronic tag on them, so they can be monitored). If needed, some juvenile crocodiles are relocated, to a better part of the lagoon.
This is not only exciting and thrilling, it's a great learning experience for just about everyone. The entire tour focuses around juvenile crocodiles and their habitats. You get to participate in tagging, naming, and performing health inspections on live baby crocodiles for study purposes. After catching a juvenile crocodile (approximately four feet in length or smaller), they bring it to the boat, and put the crocodile through a series of health checkups (taking measurements, checking teeth, checking gender, and placing an electronic tag on them, so they can be monitored). If needed, some juvenile crocodiles are relocated, to a better part of the lagoon.
What is the best way to experience the Crocodile Encounter?
The best way to experience this, is to sign up for a tour with ACES, headed up by Chris Summers. They can organize a tour group for you, and take you out on their boats. Note, this is a nocturnal tour. |
Where is the crocodile encounter located?
On Ambergris Caye, an island off the mainland coast of Belize. |
This is like watching animal planet, from inside a boat. One cannot help but admire the pitch black sky, dotted with millions of stars as you travel through mangroves searching for the apex predator. The serenity of the night is broken when Chris spots his first juvenile crocodile, as you see a set of glowing eyes in the distance. Chris says he can tell by the size of their (glowing) eyes, just how big the crocodile actually is. They are mainly looking for new juvenile crocodiles (up to four feet) to tag, and take measurements. It is very exciting to watch them through this process.
Note: All proceeds for this tour, go towards helping to maintain healthy habitats for Belize crocodiles.
Note: All proceeds for this tour, go towards helping to maintain healthy habitats for Belize crocodiles.
American Crocodile Education Sanctuary was founded in 2006 by Vince and Cherie Rose in Punta Gorda, Belize. The sanctuary would become home to numerous ill and/or injured crocodiles, as well as problematic crocodiles deemed to dangerous to be left in the wild. ACES, permitted by the Belize Forest Department, provides a second chance at life for crocodiles whose only other option is death, keeping both the crocodiles and communities throughout Belize safe from dangerous, unwanted conflict.
After the arson, ACES moved their operation to Ambergris Caye in 2010, where they began and continue to study the threatened American crocodile population. Once home to numerous illegal and dangerous crocodile feeding operations, ACES presence has brought a much needed positive change and awareness to the island. ACES hopes to one day rebuild the sanctuary on Ambergris Caye to further protect both humans and crocodiles throughout Belize, as well as further the research into this species.
After the arson, ACES moved their operation to Ambergris Caye in 2010, where they began and continue to study the threatened American crocodile population. Once home to numerous illegal and dangerous crocodile feeding operations, ACES presence has brought a much needed positive change and awareness to the island. ACES hopes to one day rebuild the sanctuary on Ambergris Caye to further protect both humans and crocodiles throughout Belize, as well as further the research into this species.
The Team
Chris Summers - ACES Director of Operations, Crocodile Behaviorist, Wildlife Rescuer, Expert Croc Wrangler
Summers began volunteering for the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) in 2010. With the first few months of volunteering Summers completed ACES Research and Conservation Internship Program and gained a basic understanding of humane trapping, safe handling, crocodile behavior and biology. In 2014, Summers took over as ACES Daily Operations Manager working alongside the Belize Forest Department to preserve the crocodile species in Belize and their wetland habitat plus oversees all ACES activities.
Christina Manzi - Wildlife Rescuer
ACES Education and Project Coordinator. Christina Manzi began her work with ACES in 2016 by volunteering and completion of ACES Research and Conservation Internship Program. Through Manzi’s full-time volunteer work with ACES, she now assists in all crocodile conservation activities. Manzi started ACES Clean Fill project, aimed at assisting the community in finding solutions to fill low-lying areas surrounding their homes with materials that will not cause further deterioration of the precious wetland habitats.
Ryan Ancona - First Mate, Conservationist
Ancona is a Belizean student and has been working with ACES on the Crocodile Expeditions as a first mate since July 2016. His general interest in the crocodiles turned into a love as he started learning about their biology and their complexities. Ancona accompanies Summers on the relocations of sick, nuisance crocodiles and tours.
Cherie Chenot-Rose - Published Research Biologist, ACES CO-Founder, Living Kidney Donor
Chenot-Rose has over thirty years experience with the handling and husbandry of reptiles, including venomous snakes; various lizards; exotic turtles; American alligators; caiman; and, Morelet's and American crocodiles. With a BS in Biology and Psychobiology, and extensive knowledge in crocodilian diseases, she has published numerous crocodilian works in several countries; and, thousands of hours educating interns, local authorities, the public, and school children on everything from safe and humane handling techniques, scientific data collection, tagging, and sexing, to methods of safely coexisting with these magnificent apex predators.
Vincent Rose - Crocodile Behaviorist, Wildlife Rescuer, Expert Croc Wrangler, ACES Co-Founder
Rose is one of the World’s leading experts on American crocodile behaviors. With over thirty-five years of studying, tracking, hunting, and trapping all forms of wildlife, Rose is exceptionally knowledgeable in apex predator behaviors. His behavioral studies include bears of the Rocky Mountains and Australia’s freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. With experience handling various species of crocodilians, including highly endangered Siamese crocodiles, and venomous snakes such as Fer-de-Lance, Rose has spent countless hours studying the behavior of wild, American and Morelet’s crocodiles. He has thousands of safe, live crocodilian captures, relocations, and re-releases via various humane methods (i.e. snares, traps, nets and by hand).
Summers began volunteering for the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) in 2010. With the first few months of volunteering Summers completed ACES Research and Conservation Internship Program and gained a basic understanding of humane trapping, safe handling, crocodile behavior and biology. In 2014, Summers took over as ACES Daily Operations Manager working alongside the Belize Forest Department to preserve the crocodile species in Belize and their wetland habitat plus oversees all ACES activities.
Christina Manzi - Wildlife Rescuer
ACES Education and Project Coordinator. Christina Manzi began her work with ACES in 2016 by volunteering and completion of ACES Research and Conservation Internship Program. Through Manzi’s full-time volunteer work with ACES, she now assists in all crocodile conservation activities. Manzi started ACES Clean Fill project, aimed at assisting the community in finding solutions to fill low-lying areas surrounding their homes with materials that will not cause further deterioration of the precious wetland habitats.
Ryan Ancona - First Mate, Conservationist
Ancona is a Belizean student and has been working with ACES on the Crocodile Expeditions as a first mate since July 2016. His general interest in the crocodiles turned into a love as he started learning about their biology and their complexities. Ancona accompanies Summers on the relocations of sick, nuisance crocodiles and tours.
Cherie Chenot-Rose - Published Research Biologist, ACES CO-Founder, Living Kidney Donor
Chenot-Rose has over thirty years experience with the handling and husbandry of reptiles, including venomous snakes; various lizards; exotic turtles; American alligators; caiman; and, Morelet's and American crocodiles. With a BS in Biology and Psychobiology, and extensive knowledge in crocodilian diseases, she has published numerous crocodilian works in several countries; and, thousands of hours educating interns, local authorities, the public, and school children on everything from safe and humane handling techniques, scientific data collection, tagging, and sexing, to methods of safely coexisting with these magnificent apex predators.
Vincent Rose - Crocodile Behaviorist, Wildlife Rescuer, Expert Croc Wrangler, ACES Co-Founder
Rose is one of the World’s leading experts on American crocodile behaviors. With over thirty-five years of studying, tracking, hunting, and trapping all forms of wildlife, Rose is exceptionally knowledgeable in apex predator behaviors. His behavioral studies include bears of the Rocky Mountains and Australia’s freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. With experience handling various species of crocodilians, including highly endangered Siamese crocodiles, and venomous snakes such as Fer-de-Lance, Rose has spent countless hours studying the behavior of wild, American and Morelet’s crocodiles. He has thousands of safe, live crocodilian captures, relocations, and re-releases via various humane methods (i.e. snares, traps, nets and by hand).
Interns Wanted
Interested in working with crocodiles and other local wildlife? ACES has openings for internships. Learn educational outreach, training in humane trapping and safe handling methods, animal rescue, rehabilitation of sick and injured crocodiles, care and well-being of captive crocodiles, as well as physical health analysis, and data collection. Send an inquiry or email ACES at SaveACroc@gmail.com.
Interested in working with crocodiles and other local wildlife? ACES has openings for internships. Learn educational outreach, training in humane trapping and safe handling methods, animal rescue, rehabilitation of sick and injured crocodiles, care and well-being of captive crocodiles, as well as physical health analysis, and data collection. Send an inquiry or email ACES at SaveACroc@gmail.com.
ACES is a non-profit organization permitted by the Belize Forest Department and dedicated to the conservation of Belize's critical wetland habitats and protected species, specifically Crocodilians, through scientific research and education to preserve wildlife for future generations.