14/09/2026
Last week, Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand, founder and director of the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic, and Godwin, our head of animal care, traveled to the Belize Foundation for Research & Environmental Education (BFREE) for the annual health assessment of the Central American River Turtle, better known in Belize as the Hicatee (Dermatemys mawii).
The Hicatee is a unique, fully aquatic freshwater turtle found in parts of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. It is the only living species in its family and plays an important role in freshwater ecosystems. Sadly, decades of hunting for its meat, habitat degradation, and other human pressures have placed this remarkable species at serious risk. Today, it is classified as Critically Endangered.
For more than a decade, BWRC and BFREE have worked together to support the health, conservation, and future of these extraordinary turtles. Each year, this partnership brings together dedicated conservationists and scientists from Belize and around the world a collaboration we are always honored to be part of.
During last week’s assessment, more than 300 Hicatee turtles, from tiny hatchlings to mature adults, received thorough health checks. Every examination provides valuable information that helps guide conservation efforts.
One particularly encouraging finding came from the adult females. Ultrasound examinations showed that 100% of the adult females assessed were reproductively active, an encouraging sign for the future of the species and the success of BFREE’s conservation program.
Healthy, reproducing females are essential to sustaining a population. Through careful husbandry, scientific monitoring, and dedicated protection, the BFREE team is helping create the conditions for these turtles to thrive and for future generations to have a chance at life in the wild.
To the entire BFREE team, thank you for the extraordinary work you continue to do for the Hicatee. And to the scientists and conservation partners who contribute to this effort, your dedication reminds us that protecting a species is possible when we work together.
