ACES American Crocodile Education Sanctuary

Click ere to See Why Americen Crocodiles in Belize Need Your Help!

ACES / American Crocodile Education Sanctuary is permitted by the Belize Forest Department and rescues problematic, and inhumanely and illegally kept crocodiles country-wide. These rescued crocodiles currently need a larger habitat. These problematic 12 foot crocodiles cannot be re-released, because they have been fed by humans. Just like bears, these apex predators now seek out humans as a food source and their only other alternative is to be killed. ACES houses these large reptiles to help save this threatened species from extinction and in hopes of aiding researchers in finding cures for diseases. In laboratory studies, Crocodilian blood kills HIV and Herpes simplex. So contact ACES today and learn how you can help 'Take a Bite Out of Extinction!

Click here to see the video!

This one year old American Crocodile was rescued from sure death. Found injured and starving on the Rio Grande River in Belize, TIDE Rangers caught the little hurt croc and transported it to Belizes first and currently only Crocodile Sanctuary, ACES / American Crocodile Education Sanctuary in Punta Gorda. Ace was treated for its injuries and force fed till it regained strength and began eating on its own. Every evening Vince & Cherie sit outside with Ace and watch the croc attempt to try to catch shrimp. Completely blind in one eye, Ace is only successful as long as the prey are in a contained area small enough that the croc doesnt have to expend too much energy to finally have a successful catch. Then one evening while sitting outside with Ace, our friend Maya started making hatchling noises. To everyones surprise, Ace began to talk back to her! Their croc talk went on for hours through the evening. Now, every evening while we set outside to watch the sunset over the Rio Grande and Vince & I start talking about our day, Ace joins right in on the conversation.

Truly an amazing little croc Ace is very special and about to make history. Not only does Ace chat with you, but Ace has been chosen to travel to the USA to become and Ambassador of Crocodilian Conservation in Belize. The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm in Lake Forest, Illinois, has agreed to welcome Ace to their fabulous educational facility. Currently, CITES permits are in progress for the extraordinary animal to be shipped across country and state boarders.

More information about Ace can be found at this years Reptile Rampage held by WDC at Lake Forest Recreation Center Gym, 400 Hastings Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045, on Sunday, March 14th. You can continue to follow Ace, the baby American Crocodile, on its courageous journey from Belize to the USA through ACES website at www.americancrocodilesanctuary.org. If you would like to help Ace or other rescued crocodiles, contact Cherie at acesnpo@hughes.net. You can even visit and chat with Ace this coming spring at the Wildlife Discovery Center.

Click here to hear 'Ace' the Talking Crocodile

This video is for audio only. Crocodiles are extremely vocal; however, this little croc's behavior is unusual. Every evening as the sun goes down, Ace starts to chat. Vince and I, mimic it's sounds and Ace seems to reply. It really is hilarious!

'Ace' is a rescued hatching American Crocodile that was found injured and starving. Totally blind in one eye, Ace's fate in the wild would have been sure death. The founders of ACES in Belize, Vince and I rehabilitated the little crocodile.

Ace is being adopted by The Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, Illinois. Thanks to Rob Carmichael, the curator at WDC, Ace may become the first International Crocodile Ambassador. Pending the permission of CITES, Ace will make the journey by plane and be escorted by myself into the USA. We will land in Atlanta where the USFW will inspect Ace.

Ace will be on display at WDC for you to visit and maybe you can even chat with the little crocodile. Although Ace will remain the property of the Belize Forest Department, the croc's presence at WDC will raise awareness and funding for Crocodile Conservation in Belize. Way to go Ace!

Ace, the crocodile that was found injured and starving, is eating shrimp and insects galore. Barely able to hold up its own head a few weeks ago, the hatchling (now about 7 months old) is fiesty as ever. Although it will never be able to see out of its right eye, the injury is healed with no further signs of infection.

Paperwork and permit applications are in the hands of the BFD and CITES to hopefully transport this American Crocodile to the Wildlife Discovery Center in the USA. The Wildlife Discovery Center is a combination of a zoological institution that specializes in reptiles and raptors/birds, nature center, museum and biological station all wrapped into one of the most unique facilities of its kind.

Rob Carmichael, the Curator, is currently raising funds to transport the rescued croc, named Ace, from ACES in Belize to the Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farms in Lake Forest, Illinois. ACES is really excited about this International partnership. Once in the US, Ace will be on display to raise awareness about crocodile conservation in Belize and the importance of these apex predators in the World's ecosystem.

To learn more about the Wildlife discovery Center check out Rob's interview on the news!

The 2010 results are in for the Audubon's Christmas Bird Count in Punta Gorda!  ACES is so excited to be part of this yearly tradition! Make your reservations now for next year before the Croc-Cabanas are full.

More information on the birds of Belize can be found at the Belize Audubon Society webpage.

This helpless little American Crocodile, named 'Ace,' was rescued by TIDE Rangers and is currently being rehabilitated here at ACES.  Due to the extent of the croc's injuries, having been completely blinded in its right eye and paralyzed in its right nostril which restricts its breathing, Ace's only hope of survival is in captivity. ACES’s newest partner, The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm in Illinois, has offered to adopt and care for Ace. Recognized as one of the top Wildlife Conservation Education Facilities by the USA National Wildlife Federation, the Wildlife Discovery Center (WDC) is run through the City of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department. With CITES import and export permits already applied for, WDC is trying to raise funds to cover the costs of Ace’s trip to the USA. Once Ace safely arrives at WDC, this highly threatened animal will help teach children and adults the importance of apex predators, like crocodiles, in the World's ecosystems while raising funds for crocodilian conservation efforts in Belize. So check back here at ACES’s Croc Blog and ‘Follow Ace’ as ACES and WDC work together in efforts with the Belize Forest Department to raise International awareness of the importance of Saving Our Species (SOS)!  Join the efforts by contacting ACES or WDC and help take a bite out of extinction!