Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary – the First Jaguar Reserve
You might be surprised to know that the first jaguar reserve in the world is in Belize.
Yes, it’s in Central America and the name of this marvelous reserve is called Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Established in 1990, this distinct reserve is a product of the studies made by Alan Rabinowitz.
The sanctuary is set in a lush jungle which covers 128,000 acres, with the Cockscomb Mountains as its backdrop.
At Cockcomb, you will find five types of cats existing in Belize, which includes the Jaguar, Puma, Margay, Ocelot, and Jaguarundi.
The Upper Falls — in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Stann Creek District, southeastern Belize. Photo by Pgbk87 / CC-BY-3.0
The Jaguar is the National Animal of Belize
The Jaguar is the national animal in Belize. There are 80 of them living in the sanctuary. Don’t come to Cockscomb in hopes of seeing these large cats in their natural habitat.
Go for a hiking tour that explores the Jaguar trails and lairs. The best time to spot them is during dusk or dawn.
Panthera onca -Amazona Zoo, Cromer, Norfolk, England. Photo by Russell Smith / CC-BY-2.0
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is not just a natural setting for jaguars. It also protects important upper watersheds and river systems. In fact, Cockscomb has two major basins, which are South Stann Creek.
The other is the West Basin, which goes to the Swasey River. The sanctuary’s cluster of ecosystems is home to tropical moist forests and hundreds of various plant species.
Another kind of fast jaguar.
Explore Nature Trails, Mountains, Waterfalls and more
You can explore nature trails, mountains, waterfalls and a diverse collection of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. There are also neotropical birds, deer and tapir. The animals can usually be seen when you go on hiking trails. The bank of the South Stann Creek is also a favorite hangout area for creatures like wildcats, deer and tapir.
Stanncreek south in cockscomb westbasin. Photo by c michael hogan / CC-BY-3.0
One of the main things to do here is hiking wonderful nature trails, which vary in degrees of difficulty. If you are not a seasoned hiker, you can always start with trails along the river.
Those trails last about an hour. The trail systems allow you to take in spectacular views of the lush terrain. From the trails you see the waterways and waterfalls surrounding the area.
Serious hikers can put themselves to the test by tacking the 4-day track that ends at the Victoria Peak. However, you can only hike this adventurous trail during the dry season. In addition, you will need to get a permit and a tour guide from the local communities.
Maya Mountains with Victoria Peak in the center. Photo by Pgbk87 / CC-BY-3.0 / CC-BY-3.0
The Tiger Fern and the Ben’s Bluff trails are some of the most popular tracks in the sanctuary. Both of these trails can lead you to gorgeous waterfalls. Other activities you can engage in while in Cockscomb are swimming, tube floating and kayaking at the South Stann Creek.
Camp or Spend some Time There
The sanctuary is also equipped with a Visitor Center, which offers wildlife displays and an educational conference room.
Panther Panthera onca. The jaguar can range across a variety of forested and open habitat, but is strongly associated with the presence of water.
Spend a couple of days here to fully enjoy what Cockscomb has to offer. For accommodations, you may choose to stay in camping grounds and cabins situated in key areas of the sanctuary. The sanctuary is situated off the Southern Highway, about 20 miles south of Dangriga.
You will find the entrance at the Maya Center Village. Before entering, you will need to pay an entrance fee to the Maya Center Women’s Group.
From this entrance, you need to drive or hike 6 miles along a dirt road to reach the actual park. The walk takes about 2 hours.
If you don’t feel like walking that long, you can always hire a taxi from the village. The excitement of seeing the Jaguar’s makes the effort more than worthwhile.
