Hicatee Conservation & Research Center

Hicatee Initiative

BFREE is home to the Hicatee Conservation & Research Center, a captive breeding facility to help save the Central American River Turtle from imminent extinction.

Hicatee turtle with it's head turned in one direction.

Since 2014, over 1400 hatchlings have been born at the Hicatee Conservation & Research Center (HCRC) with over 1,000 released back into the wild.

BFREE acts as the catalyst for conserving the species in Belize, focusing on research, policy, and educational outreach. In addition, hundreds of classrooms and thousands of people have been connected through a targeted Save the Hicatee awareness campaign.

Further Details

The Central American River Turtle, Dermatemys mawii, is a large, aquatic freshwater turtle found along the coastal lowlands of southern Mexico, northern Guatemala, and Belize. Locally known in Belize as the Hicatee, D. mawii has been intensely harvested for its meat. It has been virtually eliminated from much of its former range in southern Mexico, while its status in Guatemala remains unclear.

In addition, the lone surviving representative of the family Dermatemydidae, D. mawii, has a unique evolutionary lineage. Classified as Critically Endangered (facing an extremely high risk of extinction) by the IUCN Red List, it is listed in the report, “Turtles in Trouble: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles – 2018,” by the Turtle Conservation Coalition.

The Focus
on Hicatee

A close-up of a baby hicatee turtle, also known as a hatching

After a country-wide survey conducted by Dr. Thomas Rainwater to determine the status of the Hicatee in Belize in 2010, the BFREE and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) partnership began to launch a multi-prong conservation effort to halt the decline of the species.

The Creation
of the HCRC

An upward shot past trees to the solar tower that powers the pumps at the Hicatee Conservation & Research Center

Construction on the HCRC began in 2011, by 2014 ponds were stocked with adult and sub-adult turtles. It is the only ex-situ facility in Belize maintaining Dermatemys mawii (Hicatee turtle) in captivity for the purpose of studying aspects of its biology and behavior.

The Goal of
the Initiative

A male fellow at BFREE holds a Hicatee River Turtle with the bottom of it's shell facing the camera.

The goal was to create an assurance colony and investigate the reproductive biology, nesting ecology, and feasibility of breeding Hicatee in captivity. The HCRC includes three ponds, – two breeding ponds for adults and one rearing pond for captive-born hatchlings.

Hicatee resources delivered during outreach

Captive-hatched turtles released into five water bodies in Belize

Schools reached with messaging and materials

Conference & Professional Presentations

Local and international magazine and newspaper articles

More on the Hicatee Initiative

Why Captive Breeding?

Captive-breeding offers the potential to produce offspring for release and repatriation into areas that have experienced widespread declines or extirpation.

Further Details

Additionally, specimens maintained in captivity provide valuable opportunities for studying aspects of the species’ reproductive biology, diet and behavior that would otherwise be difficult to observe or study in the field. This information, in turn, can help further inform and influence conservation strategies and actions. Research and activities at the HCRC combined with partner efforts will contribute to comprehensive conservation and recovery effort for D. mawii in Belize.

Is there a Hicatee Awareness Month?

October 2017 marked the first-ever Hicatee Awareness Month! This month-long celebration helps raise awareness for the national treasure, so mark your calendar for October 17th! That is National Hicatee Day, a global day to recognize this incredible species.

Further Details

In 2017, a toolkit was created for participants to take part in various activities to support hicatee conservation. In 2018, a national poster contest was held with more than 25 participants competing. Additionally, in 2018 and 2019, over 200 pre and primary schools in Belize received hard copies of educational packets curated by BFREE including fact-sheets and activity pages to inspire educators and students to learn more about the hicatee. Digital copies of all resources were shared with every school in the country.

Are there educational opportunities with the Hicatee Initiative?

BFREE hosts high school and college student groups from Belize, the US, Canada, and the UK. Recent visitors to the Hicatee Conservation & Research Center have participated in the national #SaveTheHicatee awareness campaign by signing a petition banner thereby pledging their commitment to the conservation of the species.

Further Details