Saving Wildlife On The Cayes of Belize

As we say farewell to 2023, we are left reflecting on year of many achievments. Thanks to so many caring individuals all over Belize, we admitted into our rescue a record-breaking 211 wild animals of 73 different species. Each year more people are reaching out on behalf of distressed wildlife and it is to these caring people that we share our utmost gratitude. It is because of them that lives are able to be saved and second chances given. On behalf of all those animals that were offered that helping hand, we are exceptionally grateful!

One of the biggest accomplishments that we celebrated in 2023 was a rarity for San Pedro - the liberation of 3 wild animals from the illegal wildlife trade! Two fledgling White-Fronted Parrots and one juvenile White-Nosed Coati all brought to the island from the mainland. 

The parrots were being held illegally captive as pets. Despite having clipped wings, one parrot managed to escape holding, making a run for it through a neighboring yard, when she unfortunately found herself facing another life-threatening problem, this time in the jaws of an iguana. Her cries for help were heard and a caring lady came to her rescue just in time. Her leg was broken by the iguana, but she kept her life and made it to the safety of the rescue. The following week Forest Department Officers confiscated her sibling, allowing for the two nest-mates to be reunited. After surgical repair for the broken leg, the two parrots are now in rehabilitation in preparation for life in the wild. Once their cut feathers molt and a new flight-worthy set fill in, they will be able to fly free.

The White-Nosed Coati was one who was being used to attract tourists to a vendor stand on the beach of Ambergris Caye. As people passed, they saw the “cute” baby wild animal and were encouraged to hold and take pictures with it for a fee. At a glance, it might have seemed like the woman who kept the coati was treating him well as she hugged and kissed him in front of guests, but a closer look at the animal revealed that he was self-mutilating his own tail out of stress, eating sand out of hunger as he sat at the vendor stand for long hours, and was even observed being smacked in the face when he was “not behaving”.  Led by Aces director of operations along with the San Pedro Police Department, the coati was rescued from this exploitive and abusive environment and brought to our rescue. Working with one of our partner wildlife rehabilitation organizations, we managed to bond this coati with others of his species with whom he is now able to practice normal behaviors in a natural habitat and learn how to be wild in preparation for release.

While these cases only represent three animals of the 211 we treated last year, their stories stay with us and inspire our team. The work we are doing not only changes the animal’s individual lives but their stories also serve to prevent future crimes like this from occurring. Your support has the power to fuel these missions and prevent them from happening in the future, protecting the furture of Belize's native wildlife. We thank all of you who have supported us. All our achievements belong to you!

Other highlights from the fourth quarter of 2023 are:

• Snappy the Brown Pelican was released after 10 months of rehabilitation healing a broken wing
• The Ales & Tails Dinner Fundraiser brings in $10,000 USD for Aces Wildlife Rescue
• New state-of-the-art raptor barn and large flight aviary constructed thanks to Foundation Brigitte Bardot
• Blind Robinson’s Mouse Opossum gets a forever home at Aces’ Sanctuary
• Largest Boa Constrictor in Aces’ history rescued and relocated after being found swimming through a yard in height of rainy season. She was a whopping 43 pounds and 10 feet in length!