…while Edgar Hill, to be used for research studies

Another jaguar, Edgar Hill, was caught in a trap within the Mennonite village of Pine Hill, in the Toledo District.  The predator cat had attacked a horse and buggy and was taken into the Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program at the Belize Zoo. Well today, Founding Director of the Zoo and environmentalist, Sharon Matola, spoke about the progress on Edgar Hill. She says that the he will be used for research studies.

Sharon Matola, Founding Director, Belize Zoo

Sharon Matola

“Big change…you saw the change. He is now out on the run rolling around like a playful cat, which he is. And he’ll jump at us which is a playful type of behavior because he knows we have treats for him, but he is obviously enjoying his life. We did find out that he is blind in his right eye after a medical exam which probably explains why he was a problem jaguar. But he is one of the cats that are being used for research studies now. So he went from having a very bleak future to having a nice life in captivity where he is leading a joyful life, but also contributing to the scientific world about jaguar ecology. So it is a happy, happy story.”

Belize currently has the best population of jaguars in Central America with the count at approximately eight hundred. Fourteen of them are currently at the Zoo.