Central American River Turtle
Reflections on announcing the Hicatee Conservation and Action Plan
Rocento Pau spoke on behalf of BFREE last week at the Belize Climate Symposium to announce the Hicatee Management and Action Plan. Watch Rocento address the symposium. By: Rocento Pau, BFREE Office and Hospitality Coordinator Attending Climate Week in Punta Gorda was a meaningful and inspiring experience for me, both professionally and personally. As the…
Read MoreEvery Turtle Has a Story: My Volunteer Experience with NAFTRG at BFREE
Ashira Rancharan recently wrapped up her contribution to the North American Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise Research Group (NAFTRG) turtle survey of BFREE. Ashira participated in five days of the study, and was particularly intrigued by the nuances between the different turtle species she came across.
Read MoreVolunteering at BFREE
By Kiyana Reynolds Volunteering with the North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (NAFTRG) at BFREE was a truly life-changing experience that deepened my love for nature and strengthened my commitment to conservation. From the moment I arrived, the BFREE team was incredibly welcoming, creating an atmosphere of support, curiosity, and shared purpose. The journey to…
Read MoreCelebrating the 8th Annual Hicatee Awareness Month
Hicatee Awareness Month began in 2017 to draw attention to the status of Belize’s only critically endangered reptile, the Central American River Turtle locally called “Hicatee”. Eight years later, BFREE and our NGO international and local partners including Turtle Survival Alliance, Zoo New England, Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic, WCS Belize, Community Baboon Sanctuary and Savannah…
Read MoreStudent Advocate Workshops for Earth Day
As part of Earth Day festivities, Heather Barrett, Deputy Director, and Jaren Serano, Dermatemys Program Coordinator with the support of Wildlife Education Fellow, Samih Young, delivered workshops at Sacred Heart Junior College and University of Belize. Over 60 students in Natural Resource Management and Biology as well as four educators participated in the workshops held…
Read MoreIntroducing Samih Young – BFREE Wildlife Education Fellow
By Samih Young and Heather Barrett This month, Samih Young joined the team and is taking on a brand new role within the BFREE Science and Education Fellowship Program. She joins as the Wildlife Education Fellow and will be collaborating on outreach programming and communications while also supporting work taking place at the Hicatee Conservation…
Read MoreDisney Conservation Hero – Thomas Pop
BFREE and our international partner in turtle conservation, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), are extremely proud to announce that Thomas Pop, manager of the Hicatee Conservation and Research Center was chosen as a Disney Conservation Hero. Tom has been recognized for over twelve years of tireless efforts to conserve the critically endangered Central American River Turtle,…
Read MoreCelebrating Seven Years of Hicatee Awareness Month
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we are waiting for. We are the change we seek.” Barack Obama Hicatee Awareness Month was born out of a need – as are many things. The Hicatee turtle was on the brink of extinction. Belize…
Read MoreThe Importance of Involving Local Communities in Conservation
By Jaren Serano I vividly recall my first time on the Belize River, navigating a canoe while assisting in population surveys for a Hicatee assessment. Despite my Belizean upbringing, my familiarity was primarily inland, leaving the fishing communities’ way of life somewhat foreign to me. Engaging in river-based research marked my initial exposure to the…
Read MoreJaren Serano returns to BFREE as Dermatemys Program Coordinator
By Jaren Serano During my first stint at BFREE, I had the privilege of witnessing the positive impact that organizations like this have on land conservation, wildlife protection, and the conservation efforts among the local communities in Belize. When I joined as BFREE’s first Science and Education Fellow in 2017, I was immediately drawn to…
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