Inspire EdVentures Celebrates Earth Day 2023!
For Earth Day 2023, Inspire EdVentures looks back at our past year of outreach, education, and conservation! Through our projects and with our partners, Inspire EdVentures works to make a definite impact in protecting and teaching about the natural world around us.
This year saw important updates to several of our initiatives, including the Inspire EdVentures Trail Camera Project! This project first began in 2017, when we placed several trail cameras near the Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge in Belize. We have recently expanded the project to add trail cameras to the rainforest near the Aracari Maya Mountain Resort!
A wild jaguar in Belize, taken by an Inspire EdVentures trail camera in December 2022. Image by Inspire EdVentures.
What are the uses of trail camera pictures? Trail cameras offer glimpses into the world of Belize’s rainforests and the many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and more that call those forests home. By gathering information from nearly six years of camera data, we have tracked several of Belize’s wild jaguars through jaguar spot identification. Trail cameras also allow us insight into the behavior and ecology of Belize’s wild animals, including that of the Central American tapir.
A Central American tapir, the national animal of Belize, taken by an Inspire EdVentures trail camera. Image by Inspire EdVentures.
This year, we were able to resume bringing student groups to Belize for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic! In March 2023, Dr. Andy Coleman and students of Talladega College visited Belize with Inspire EdVentures to conduct research on the turtle species of Central America. Along the way, our group visited the Belize Zoo and Belize Raptor Center to learn more about the natural wildlife of Belize.
Learn more below about our efforts in conservation alongside our partner organizations, both in Belize and beyond!
BELIZE ZOO AND TROPICAL EDUCATION CENTER
The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, founded by the late Sharon Matola in 1983, has been a leader in conservation and education for nearly forty years! Inspire EdVentures is proud to partner with the Belize Zoo to offer live, interactive virtual tours, helping to bring the zoo’s message to audiences around the world.
All animal residents of the Belize Zoo are of species native to Belize. Animals may arrive at the Belize Zoo for any number of reasons; some are found injured and brought to the zoo for rehabilitation, while others may be rescued from the illegal pet trade or brought to Belize from international zoos as part of reintroduction programs for endangered species. Unable to be returned to the wild, these zoo residents become animal ambassadors, helping teach zoo visitors about their species and the threats Belize’s wildlife face.
A Yucatan spider monkey at the Belize Zoo. Image by Inspire EdVentures.
Through our virtual tours, Inspire EdVentures strives to connect audiences worldwide to the animals of the Belize Zoo. Each virtual tour supports the conservation work of the Belize Zoo, and virtual tour guests have an opportunity to increase this support by “adopting” an animal at the zoo. Recently, one such adoption took place through Inspire EdVentures guests at Appalachian Brian Estates, who now directly sponsor the jaguar Sylvia!
Sylvia, a jaguar ambassador at the Belize Zoo. Image by Inspire EdVentures.
Learn more at Belize Zoo LIVE!
BELIZE RAPTOR CENTER
The Belize Raptor Center was founded in 2013 with the purpose of conserving Belize’s birds of prey. Throughout Central America, raptors are often mistaken as threats to people or livestock and are frequent victims of persecution by humans. Many raptor species also face shrinking populations as their natural ranges are reduced through deforestation and climate change.
Through our partnership, Inspire EdVentures aims to help the Belize Raptor Center spread education and awareness for these beautiful and ecologically critical birds.
Belize Raptor Center founder Sarah Mann with Toothless, a white-tailed kite. Image by Inspire EdVentures.
Like those of the Belize Zoo, the Belize Raptor Center’s residents take the role of animal ambassadors to teach visitors about their species. One such ambassador, Maya the orange-breasted falcon, helps spread awareness of the imminent danger to Central America’s orange-breasted falcon population. Visitors to the Belize Raptor Center, both virtual and in-person, have the chance to meet Maya and her fellow raptor ambassadors and learn about the conservation initiatives to protect these vulnerable species.
TOBACCO CAYE MARINE STATION
The Tobacco Caye Marine Station, located on a small island off the coast of Belize, is a hub for scientists, researchers, and nature enthusiasts of all kinds. Situated on the Belize Barrier Reef- the second-largest reef system in the world!- Tobacco Caye allows visitors a glimpse into the vibrant world of coral reefs and the species that depend on them for food, habitat, and survival.
Through our virtual tours, Inspire EdVentures connects students, faculty, and curious visitors from any background to Tobacco Caye staff for an in-depth guide to the beauty and necessity of Belize’s coral reefs.
Snorkelers with a captured invasive lionfish. Image by Inspire EdVentures.
In July 2022, Inspire EdVentures had the opportunity to partner with Tobacco Caye Marine Station during their annual lionfish tournament! Lionfish are an invasive, predatory species causing widespread destruction to coral reef ecosystems outside their natural range. Through the lionfish tournament, Tobacco Caye Marine Station both spreads awareness of this threat and helps reduce the lionfish population jeopardizing Belize’s natural reefs. This year’s tournament, live-streamed by Inspire EdVentures, succeeded in catching and gathering data on hundreds of individual lionfish!
Learn more at Coral Reefs LIVE!
ALDERMAN LANE HONEY
This year’s newest edition to the Inspire EdVentures virtual tours is the Alderman Lane Honey apiary! Hosted by Inspire EdVentures co-founder Professor Dave Cox, our tour aims to educate audiences about the science of honeybees and beekeeping, as well as spread awareness of the dangers faced by pollinators in today’s changing world.
Through our tour, Inspire EdVentures works to teach audiences about the steps they can take to protect the world’s pollinators in their everyday lives!
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Proceeds benefit conservation and educational organizations in Belize and the United States