Wildlife
Belize is home to amazing variety of wildlife including five species of cats and over 500 species of birds. Belize is also home to a large number of threatened and endangered species, so tread lightly. Below are a few examples of Belize's famous inhabitants.
Jaguars
The jaguar is the largest feline in the Western Hemisphere and the third largest in the world after the tiger and lion. It is a near threatened species and enjoys protected status in Belize. Weighing as much as 350 pounds, the jaguar is a stalk-and-ambush preditor rather than a chase preditor, so it is very rare to spot one in the wild (although they might be watching you). If you do see a jaguar up close, you better hope it is at The Belize Zoo. However, unlike other species in the Panthera genus (Panthers), attacks on humans are very rare.
Macaws
Belize is home to the Scarlet Macaw. It is thought that only about 200 of these beautiful birds still live wild in Belize, so you have to know where to look. They are known to frequent the area around the village of Red Bank, but most birders should hire a guide to aid their search.
Toucans
The Keel-Billed Toucan is the national bird of Belize and is found throughout the country. Even though they are abundant, they can be hard to spot because they generally stay in the treetops.
Manatees
Weighing as much as 1,200 pound, this herbivore has earned the nickname sea cow. Considered vulnerable to extinction, these gentle creatures need our help if they are going to survive. Although they have a few natural preditors, it is humans that pose the greatest threat to their survival. Make sure that you only use reputable guides if you choose to take a Manatee watching tour. Manatees are thought to be the origin of the mermaid myths, but anyone that has seen one of these creatures will agree that the sailors of old were drinking way too much grog.
Gibnut
The Gibnut, also known as the Lowland Paca, is a large rodent weighing up to 26 pounds that is highly prized as a game animal in Belize. It is plentiful in protected areas and in not in danger of extinction. It is often viewed an agricultural pest, and is generally considered to be quite tasty. When Queen Elizabeth II visited Belize in 1985, she was served Gibnut, leading to headlines in Britain like "Queen served rat." This infamous meal led the Gibnut to be dubbed the "Royal Rat."
Jaguars
The jaguar is the largest feline in the Western Hemisphere and the third largest in the world after the tiger and lion. It is a near threatened species and enjoys protected status in Belize. Weighing as much as 350 pounds, the jaguar is a stalk-and-ambush preditor rather than a chase preditor, so it is very rare to spot one in the wild (although they might be watching you). If you do see a jaguar up close, you better hope it is at The Belize Zoo. However, unlike other species in the Panthera genus (Panthers), attacks on humans are very rare.
Macaws
Belize is home to the Scarlet Macaw. It is thought that only about 200 of these beautiful birds still live wild in Belize, so you have to know where to look. They are known to frequent the area around the village of Red Bank, but most birders should hire a guide to aid their search.
Toucans
The Keel-Billed Toucan is the national bird of Belize and is found throughout the country. Even though they are abundant, they can be hard to spot because they generally stay in the treetops.
Manatees
Weighing as much as 1,200 pound, this herbivore has earned the nickname sea cow. Considered vulnerable to extinction, these gentle creatures need our help if they are going to survive. Although they have a few natural preditors, it is humans that pose the greatest threat to their survival. Make sure that you only use reputable guides if you choose to take a Manatee watching tour. Manatees are thought to be the origin of the mermaid myths, but anyone that has seen one of these creatures will agree that the sailors of old were drinking way too much grog.
Gibnut
The Gibnut, also known as the Lowland Paca, is a large rodent weighing up to 26 pounds that is highly prized as a game animal in Belize. It is plentiful in protected areas and in not in danger of extinction. It is often viewed an agricultural pest, and is generally considered to be quite tasty. When Queen Elizabeth II visited Belize in 1985, she was served Gibnut, leading to headlines in Britain like "Queen served rat." This infamous meal led the Gibnut to be dubbed the "Royal Rat."