ACES - American Crocodile Education Sanctuary - Ambergris Caye, Belize
We came to Ambergris to get married at the Eco Resort, Ak'Bol, and because of the owners - Kirsten and Milio, we were able to be introduced to whom they called, Chris Croc. Chris works for a nonprofit called ACES, American Crocodile Education Sanctuary. He is usually assisted by his lovely GF and partner, but she was off on the mainland being educated in medical rehabilitation from other local Belizean sanctuaries. (She is SO awesome, I'm super bummed we didn't get to meet).
After meeting with us one evening at Ak'Bol, and discussing our love for wildlife and, specifically Crocodiles, I guess Chris deemed us worthy of assisting himself and his genuinely likable intern, Gary.
In this video we get to meet Phineas, the hefty male croc. His enclosure is in need of fresh water due to his pump getting all clogged up. So, while we wait for the water truck to arrive, Chris has us all assist him in getting Phineas weighed and measured. We could barely contain our excitement!
Please visit their website and donate, if you can! Or, even better, go see them in person to take an educational crocodile night-time tour in the lagoon!
**Please excuse the shaky filming, most of the shots were taken by our 10 yr. old daughter who has never done this before! I mean, come on, she does pretty darn good!
Crocodile Hatchling Leva Rehabilitated & Re-Released
April 18, 2011, Shelby Lave of Boca del Rio, Ambergris Caye, gave back to Mother Nature a hatchling crocodile that was rehabilitated by ACES/American Crocodile Education Sanctuary. The little croc was discovered during one of ACES eye-shine expeditions as part of its Ambergris Caye crocodile population survey. It was found nearly dead from starvation and overheating in a ditch, created by development, that was once mangrove habitat.
While Isla Bonita succumbs to the pressures of growth, vital mangrove habitats are being destroyed at an alarming rate. These wetland habitats are not only the breeding grounds for crocodilians, but are also natural nurseries for fish, shrimp and crab, including Belize's snappers and groupers. Recent studies now prove that mangroves, which have declined by half worldwide in the last 50 years, are now considered a bulkhead against climate change, published in Nature Geoscience.
ACES persistent crocodile conservation in Belize includes reaching out to the local communities through education and participation. Locals see us catch crocodiles and sometimes relocate them. It is important for the populace to understand that we do not wish 'to be taking their crocs away,' and only do so when we are called by someone reporting a problem croc and it is confirmed to be problematic and dangerous, usually from being illegally fed. It is ACES goal to help the environment regain its balance by protecting the keystone species, the apex predator. ACES primary goal is education on how to safely live with these giant reptiles, but conservation measures, such as re-releasing the rehabilitated hatchling, need to be taken in order for the species to return to a self-sustainable population. ACES croc conservations goals include protecting the Red mangrove habitats that are being destroyed and fragmented needlessly. Otherwise, within Shelby's lifetime he may witness the extinction of species, including American crocodiles.
You too can now be a part of Belize's history and crocodile conservation while helping to save threatened species in danger of extinction. ACES/American Crocodile Education Sanctuary is now leasing property at Caribbean Shrimp Farm, Ltd. in Ladyville, Belize City District, for the implementation of ACES New Educational Crocodile Eco-Sanctuary that will be open to the public for an educational crocodile experience. ACES needs 1000 people to donate $65US in 65 days! Your $65.00 USD Tax-Deductible Donation thru ACES USA 501(C)(3) charitable partner BEEDFund.com (The Belize Economic & Ecological Development Fund) will go to the construction of the New ACES Facility in Ladyville. With a Tax-Deductible Donation of $65.00 USD, Donors Receive a FREE Life-time Transferable Pass to the New ACES Educational Crocodile Eco-Sanctuary. Donors' names will be permanently on display in ACES Educational Visitors' Center. Please Donate Today & Invite All Your Friends to Assist in being Part of Building a Crocodile Sanctuary for Wildlife Conservation and Belize.
For more information go to americancrocodilesanctuary.org
By Research Biologist, Cherie Chenot-Rose, and published by The San Pedro Sun.
Reef Village Crocs - Part 2
This 9' 3 problematic, male, American crocodile was frequenting an area very close to residents at Reef Village in Ambergris Caye. Originally caught in the San Juan area this past March, the croc was initially reported chasing children as they passed the water's edge on their way to and from school. This croc was 8' 8 when it was first tagged and re-released.
My records show that this croc has been relocated 3 times prior to this weekend and has grown 5 inches in the past 8 months, typical of a healthy croc of this size.
Large apex predators, like this croc, that have no fear of humans and seek us out for food need to be in captivity, or else euthanized. ACES pleads to the community of San Pedro to support croc conservation and help ACES complete a mush needed educational croc sanctuary on the island for the humane captivity of problematic and ill/injured crocodiles. The sanctuary would be an exceptional Eco-tourists attraction and would teach people about this incredible endangered species that has survived millions of years. Go to: to find out how you can help take a bite out of extinction today!
ACES Property
Created by ACES Volunteer Anthony Pine, founder of the Tomistoma Fund TomistomaFund.org. Anthony had contact us about coming to ACES in PG just weeks prior to the fire. Here now on Ambergris Caye he had the unique opportunity to travel to PG with us and the film crew of Wild Productions Limited from the UK who documented the rescue and relocation of a croc that survived the attack on the sanctuary resulting in the arson of it and our home. We relocated the crocodile to ACES new facility at Caribbean Shrimp Farm, Ltd. in Ladyville. Tony made this in memory of ACES for us and those who shared time with us there. Thank you Tony! Cherie & Vince AmericanCrocodileSanctuary.org