The BWRC, located in Cayo, at Central Farm, has their new website up and running. There are some cool videos on the site of some of the exotic animals they've saved. They'll be having their grand opening next month, on the 19th of October. They are using the x-ray machine, which they got after winning the Heska grant earlier this year, all the time now. Thanks, BWRC!
"The Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 with the help of a host of partners and friends. After many years of assisting wildlife without a clinic facility and only basic medical equipment, the BWRC can now offer on-site x-ray and gas anesthesia; for both wildlife and domestics. This is a first in Belize, and world class by any measure. We're now seeing wildlife patients on a regular basis, and we are establishing veterinary associates for our domestic referral services. Our main focus is making the clinic fully operational, and of course the clinic fundraising."
Pre-clinic days� the one case that started it all. See this touching video to better understand the need for a Wildlife Medical facility for Belize.
...a short art documentary of a baby Howler monkey, that is found one rainy night crying under a tree with his left hand nearly ripped off.
A new wildlife and referral Clinic has been established in the Cayo district. The facility, which was inaugurated on Friday, is located at the Tiger Run farm in Central Farm. The clinic is designed primarily to offer veterinary care to imperiled wildlife. Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand is the founder and director of Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic.
The establishment of the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic was assisted greatly by a twenty five thousand US dollar grant from the Colorado-based HESKA organization, which supports technology and services for veterinarians around the world. Through the grant, Durand says the bulk of the equipment and medication needed to start the clinic were purchased. And while the priority emphasis will be on wildlife treatment, Durand says that domestic animals will also be provided with veterinary care; but only on an appointment basis.
Durand told Love News that under the guidance of the Forestry Department the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic will also work to improve the welfare of captive wildlife in an effort to decrease hunting pressures on the wild population. A further objective, she says, is to offer a world-class teaching facility right here in Belize.
Guest speaker at last Friday's inauguration of the new veterinary clinic was the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development Lisel Alamilla who pledged government's support for the work being carried out by Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic and other wildlife entities in the country that assist in protecting and providing care for imperiled wild animals.
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!
"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..."
Izzie improves by leaps and bounds...she's mastered one-armed climbing! Roll on Sunday and her operation. A BIG thank you to Dr Maas for being willing to fly all the way here from Bothell, Washington!!
Wildtracks Update: We are starting to prepare for tomorrows drive to the Belize Wildlife Clinic with Izzie. Dr. Maas, who will be conducting the surgery, should have landed in Belize about an hour ago, and be on his way with Dr. Isabelle to Cayo, discussing surgical subjects as they go. And Izzie? She's hanging upside down by her completely recovered tail from the curtain rail...I'm looking at her and wondering how I'm going to get her down! Her climbing has improved exponentially over the last few days, since she discovered her tail!!
The operation is ongoing, and apparently going well! Degenerating bone has been removed and plates are being fitted to hold the healthy bone in place...so while we are waiting, here's a picture from Molly of Izzie just "hanging around". What you can't see is the bit where she gets up and tries to open the sliding lock on the gate (having watched Molly do it each time they go into the rehab area). For the other five spider monkeys out in the forest rehab cages, we used to use carabiners... until Duma worked out how to unscrew them - so now we use padlocks. These monkeys are super-smart!
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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!
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