Community Baboon Sanctuary is a protected area in Belize. It was established in 1985 to help address the threats of agriculture, logging and hunting of the black howler monkey (‘baboon”) and to educate locals and visitors about the importance of biodiversity, sustainability, and to promote the economic development of the Bermudian Landing community.
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History
On February 23, 1985, the Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS) was founded by Dr. Robert Horwich an American primatologist and Fallet Young, a landowner on the village of Bermudian Landing along with the participation of 12 other landowners. In 1998, the Women's Conservation Group was formed with women from the 7 villages in the Belize River Valle, which is directed by Jessy Young from 1998.
Location
Community Baboon Sanctuary is located 31 miles northwest of Belize City on the Northern Highway. CBS includes 7 villages form the Belize River Valle: Big Falls/ St. Pauls Bank, Willow's Bank, Double Head Cabbage, Bermudian Landing, Isabella Bank, Scotland Halfmoon and Flower's Bank Village.
Goals
Community Baboon Sanctuary not only protects the black howler monkey but, many other species of flora and fauna within the Belize River Valle region, with their main goals being to: conserve, educate, research and tourism.
About howler monkeys
Howler monkeys are found only in the rainforests of the Americas ranging through eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil and Paraguay, and northern Argentina. They are the largest monkey in Latin American rainforests growing as high as up to three feet tall when standing and weigh from eight to twenty-two pounds. They have big necks and lower jaws, where their super-sized vocal cords are housed. They live high in the trees and hang from branches by their tails who tend to move in troops of about 18 monkeys deep; spending most of their time sleeping and grooming each other. In order to mark their territory, the howlers make loud vocalizations. They are the loudest animal in the New World, with howl's that can travel for three miles through dense forest.