ACES American Crocodile Education Sanctuary

Vince & Cherie would like to THANK our friends Ben & Joanna Popik of "Island Films" here in San Pedro. We Thank you both for voluntarily spending numerous hours with the mosquitoes filming some of our croc rescues, and then spending even more grueling hours editing the video you created "What does ACES do?". It was this video on Vimeo that caught the eye of "Wild Productions Limited" and spurred them to come to Belize to film our crocodile conservation efforts here on Ambergris Caye.

Additionally, the film crew will be traveling to Punta Gorda to film where it all started and the tragic turn of events there Sept. 2010. Any remaining crocs will be captured and transported to ACES Ladyville facility. The 36 acre riverfront, wildlife reserve on the Rio Grande is officially closed and For Sale.

Finally, Wild Productions will visit some other NGO wildlife rescue organizations on the mainland, like Wildtracks in Sarteneja, and capture the wonderful work they do for the World to see. This filming opportunity will open the eyes of the public to the awesome biodiversity and conservation efforts of Belize and the Belize Forest Department.

Thank you Ben & Joanna!

Cherie & Vince

Be sure to follow all of ACES adventures at ACES in the News 2012!

Thank you for your support,

Cherie & Vince

February 1st, 2012, Volunteers Jan Brown, Taco Girl, Debra Milstead, Robin Heywood, Gigi McCall, Ann Kuffner, Rebecca, myself, and ACES new croc research volunteer, Anthony Pine, were united through Heather Zwicker, Co-Founder of Direct Abundance, and harvested Black mangrove, Avicennia germinans, seedlings for children of Holy Cross and San Mateo, Ambergris Caye, to transplant in March as part of a Mangrove restoration project. More details and photos at Mangrove Restoration

“We were able to identify the Cuban Crocodile, but the American Crocodiles we were sampling, which were from the Caribbean — specifically the Greater Antilles — didn’t actually look like American Crocodiles,” Weaver said. Although the size and shape of the crocodiles were similar, studies found they may not have been the same species, he said. “The morphology did (show similarities),” Weaver said, “but the genetics suggested they were more closely related to Cuban Crocodiles, but that they were also distinct. That’s what led us to ask, ‘Is there an ancient hybridization event happening? Is the American Crocodile in the Greater Antilles the result of this interbreeding that appears to have happened 500,000 to 1,000,000 years ago?’”

WHAT DOES THE MEAN?  Recent population surveys of American crocodiles conducted in Cuba was putting American crocodile numbers on the rise. Now? If these crocs are not 'true' American crocodiles, Crocodylus acutus, but a new species, then American crocodiles are even less in numbers Worldwide and in serious threat of extinction.

Click here to Read the full Article

Vacation at Exotic Caye Beach and Help Keep Belize Green!

Plastic Litter Killing Crocs in Reptile Park

Please properly dispose of all trash.

Thank you,

Cherie & Vince

Be sure to check out ACES three newest videos!

Especially a look back ACES most memorable moments in 2011, captured by good friend Tamara Sniffin of the San Pedro Sun and ACES.

The American Crocodile Education Sanctuary recently earned Verification status from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. The announcement was made in a correspondence from GFAS on December 19, 2011. Click Here for the full story in the San Pedro Sun!

Press Release – American Crocodile Education Sanctuary – December 28, 2011 – The Treasurer of the Edmonton Reptile & Amphibian Society (ERAS), Ollie Meidinger, visited ACES Educational Crocodile Eco-Sanctuary in Ladyville last week, and made a site visit to the ACES Ambergris Crocodile Refuge on Ambergris Caye, and presented ACES with a generous donation of $5000USD.

Click Here for the full story!

Be sure to Click Here to view the newest videos posted by ACES and ACES's Members!

Happy Holidays!

Cherie