BZNC collaborated with the Milwaukee County Zoo (MCZ), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ), the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM) and the American Association of Zookeepers-Milwaukee Chapter to send US zookeeper/trainers and a veterinary technician to Belize to work with and train zookeepers at the Belize Zoo.

Belize Zookeeper workshops: The workshops began in 2016 with a fact-finding mission. Two zookeepers from the Milwaukee County Zoo (MCZ) met with Belize Zoo staff to determine how MCZ staff could be of assistance. They all agreed that the workshops would be of benefit so the first workshop was planned for 2017.
  • 2017: First Zookeeper Workshop included:
    • lectures on the basic duties and knowledge of zookeeping
    • techniques in animal husbandry, medicine, diets, safety and animal training and enrichment
    • hands-on work with lab techniques
2017 US trainers: 4 zookeeper/trainers and one veterinary technician from the MCZ and one zookeeper/trainer from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ).
  • 2018: Zookeeper Workshop focused on:
    • work with the Belize zookeepers to teach them to train the animals to participate in their own healthcare
    • additional training on animal husbandry and enrichment techniques
    • information sessions on laboratory diagnostic techniques
2018 US trainers: 2 zookeeper/trainers from CMZ and a zookeeper/trainer and veterinary technician from the MCZ.
  • 2019: Zookeeper Workshop included:
    • training in animal behavior, animal enrichment, nutrition and emergency response
2019 US trainers: 3 CMZ representatives and 3 MCZ representatives.
  • Also in 2019:
    • One of the conservation aspects of the program began with research on wild tapirs at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve
    • The beginning of the zookeeper exchange program where MCZ and CMZ will host one Belizean zookeeper each for two weeks in August
The Zookeeper workshops have been a huge success. Comments from the 2018 US trainers: “We would all agree that the Belize zookeepers really ran with the training that was provided. We have been updated routinely with the progress that has been made with many of the animals. “From the Belize Zoo Newsletter: “Our eager zookeepers warmly welcomed a team of colleagues from Milwaukee County and Cheyenne Mountain Zoos. All agreed that the week training and knowledge exchange was a life-changing experience.”

How you can help:

The best way for you to help is with a donation. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated and will go towards additional zookeeper workshops and conservation research which benefit the wild animals of the Americas.