The Belize Zoo Shore Excursion

The Belize Zoo, is affectionately known as “the best little zoo in the world”, is located 29 miles west of Belize City on the George Price highway. Sitting upon 12 hectares (29 acres) and home to more than 175 animals of about 48 species, all native to Belize. The natural environment of Belize is left entirely intact within the zoo. The dense, natural vegetation is separated only by gravel trails through the forest. The Belize Zoo opened in 1983 when Sharon Matola started caring for the formerly wild animals that had been featured in a movie documentary and were now tame. No zoo animal has ever been taken from the wild. Zoo residents were either people’s pets, donated to the zoo, abandoned, injured, removed from illegal pet trade, orphaned and brought in for healing and rehabilitation, born at the zoo, or sent to the zoo from another zoological facility. Keeping to its goal of bringing visitors closer to Belize’s natural heritage, the zoo only houses native animals. Unlike the vast majority of Zoos across the world, the Belize zoo is also a Sanctuary rather than a zoo as the animals are kept in their natural habitat, which makes the little zoo a very unique place to visit while you’re in Belize. Now, it is primarily used as an educational facility to promote wildlife conservation efforts.