BIG CAT 'GRAND SLAM'

There are no less then 5 big cat species in Belize: they are the jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay and the jaguarondi. Using 12 camera traps all 5 have been spotted within a 5-mile radius at Blancaneaux Lodge, a luxurious hideaway situated in the Mountain Pine Forest Reserve.

For the last 2 months 12 infra-red camera traps have been busy recording base line information on Felidae within a 5-mile radius of Blancaneaux Lodge. The study area covers pine ridge, broad-leaf/pine rige transition zone and the moist tropical broadleaf forest (jungle) of Noj Kax Meen Elijio Panti National Park. This data gathered by Blancaneaux Lodge will supplement the Jaguar, Puma and Ocelot density research conducted by Dr. Marcella Kelly of Virginia Tech which in turn is contributed to the WCS Jaguar Conservation Program for the Americas.
 
Images are in the process of being analysed to determine how many individuals of each species we have within our 5-mile radius study transect. Preliminary research indicates 3 or 4 individual jaguar are present. In addition to the 5 cat species (Felidae) the cameras have recorded Baird’s Tapir, Coatimundi, Kinkajou, Gibnut, Red brocket deer, Ocellated Turkey, Great Currasow and White-collared Peccary.

While on jungle treks or night walks guests at the lodge have also recently observed Mexican porcupine, Mexican Black Howler Monkey, Tapir, Agouti, Stygian Owl and a rare Red Morph Vermiculated Screech Owl. During May our guides will help Ryan Phillips of the Belize Raptor Research Institute gather information on birds of prey such as the Ornate Hawk Eagle and possibly the Solitary Eagle that are seen or nesting close to the lodge.
 
In June the guides at Blancaneaux Lodge will receive 3-days of training by Paul Walker of Wildtracks in order to participate in amphibian monitoring in the 3 distinct ecosystems that surround the lodge. The data will contribute toward the IUCN’s Global Amphibian Assessment.