Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

They successfully operated on Izzie the spider monkey today at the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic.  Daniel Velazquez was on hand to get some really detailed shots of the surgery.  Many thanks to Dr. Maas from the Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine in Bothel, Washington.

"Wildtracks Update: Izzie is out of the operating room and starting to wake up. Her bones are joined by plates, and the operation declared a success (unless there are unforeseen complications)...what a relief!"

Roni Martinez has a touching story, that was timed perfectly with the opening of the Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic.  They got a call about a captive Spider monkey that was abused, and near death.  After the ceremony, the monkey was confiscated, and Roni was there to document it.

"The Human race; A species capable of great compassion, and great destruction.  I had always seen wildlife medicine from a different angle, not knowing what ALL it entails.  Not fully understanding the hardships and setbacks, or the expense and the complications.  After the inauguration of the BWRC on Friday October 19th, I had the life changing experience of living a day with Belize's TOP wildlife vets.  This, changed forever the way I look at wildlife medicine."

A really well done video about the spider monkey that was rescued and rehabilitated at the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic.  By chance, it all started on the day of their inauguration, so Daniel Velazquez was already there to film the event.  Izzie has been at Wildtracks for a while, and has been re-evaluated at the BWRC.  She needs special surgery, and they've set up a website where you can donate money to help, where they've reached 86% of what they need.  Thanks, Wildtracks!

http://wildtracks.chipin.com/izzie-the-spider-monkey-in-belize

"So the x-rays and results are in, and Izzie does, indeed, need specialist surgery - the bones in her arm are not knitting, but in fact getting further apart.  We have been amazed by the level of support to date, from individuals, technical input around vets around the world, from Dr. Isabelle, Belize's wildlife vet, offers of specialist equipment loans and the plates and pins needed for the operation.  Now comes the final push to ensure the funds are available for the associated costs of the surgery, her travel costs and after care....we really appreciate all your help to date, and would ask you to please share the following Izzie Youtube and chipin links as widely as possible to help us meet the US$2,500 target..."

https://www.facebook.com/wildtracksbelize

Let's end the day with a great video of the Belize Zoo.

"Takes you through a kids-eye view of the zoo and it's animals and plant life."