Welcome back to a conservation blog series on Belize! I recently returned from spending 10 days in the diverse Central American country as part of a Master’s program through Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Here I will be highlighting some of the conservation projects going on throughout the country in hopes to connect our Houston community with the global conservation community.

After spending some time at the Belize Zoo we traveled further East to the Community Baboon Sanctuary. Don’t let the name of this community-based conservation organization fool you.  The local Creole word for the Black Howler Monkey is baboon.

Howler monkey doing what he does best-eating lots of leaves!

 This organization started in 1985 with the idea that local landowners in villages where black howler monkeys live could voluntarily pledge to conserve and practice sustainable land management practices. 27 years later, the organization is still going strong, and is led by a group of women called the Women’s Conservation Group. Over 200 people in 7 small communities across 20 square miles have pledged to conserve their land for the black howler monkey. The Women’s Conservation Group has representatives from each community. These women attend monthly meetings and bring news back to their communities to share in the conservation effort. They are also in charge of tourism at the sanctuary, educational efforts, managing the museum, lodging, tours, and the list goes on and on.

Look at that prehensile (gripping) tail-great for holding on while snacking!

We had the privilege of sitting down with some of the members of the Women’s Conservation group to pick their brains about all things-conservation. They are a wonderful example of perseverance and dedication to a cause. The communities in the CBS struggle with providing their children with backpacks and writing utensils to attend school, yet they remain focused on saving one of their country’s most charismatic species.

After learning about the sanctuary, we were taken into the rainforest by a very knowledgeable guide who taught us all about the local flora and fauna. We saw leaf-cutter ants, blue morpho butterflies, agouti, mahogany trees, cohune palm trees, termite mounds, and of course-black howler monkeys! There was a group of about 6 individuals (including a mom and offspring) that we observed eating in a small patch of rainforest right alongside someone’s home. It’s amazing to see wildlife and humans co-existing, and these black-howler monkeys serve as proof that is it not too late to conserve the wild places that surround all of us.

Look at those TEETH!

More Posts Like This!

• I got to work with Howler Monkeys in Belize! By Primate Keeper, Rachel Vass The Houston Zoo’s Primate keepers, Rachel Voss  and Helen Boostrom recieved funds from  the Houston Zoo Staff Conservation Fund to go to...
• Watching reintroduced Howler Monkeys in Belize, by Primate Keeper, Helen Boostrom This post is written by Houston Zoo primate keeper, Helen Boostrom, who is in Belize right now.  She is being supported...
• Houston Zoo Primate Keeper Doing Howler Monkey Field Work in Belize This post is written by Houston Zoo primate keeper, Helen Boostrom, who is in Belize right now.  She is being supported...
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• The Wildlife Care Center of Belize The black howler (Alouatta pigra) monkey of Belize, Guatemala and Mexico is an endangered species under the IUCN Red List. ...