In the Heart of the Monkey Bridge: Biodiversity, Culture and Land of Belize

From mist-shrouded mountaintops to sapphire-blue seas, Belize is a landscape of varied
expressions. In contrast to its other Central American neighbors, Belize is a unique amalgam of cultures including 3 distinct Maya groups, Kriol, Garingnu, Mennonites, Taiwanese, and numerous expatriates from the USA and Canada. Along with this diversity of cultures, Belize`s interesting geographical location on the isthmus that connects North and South America, often called the "Monkey Bridge", has resulted in exceptional biological diversity for such a small area. Join wildlife biologist, Dan Dourson and his wife Judy, (part-time residents of Cedar Key) on November 17th, 2011 at 5 PM, at the Cedar Key Library as they share their experiences of living and working at a biological field station in the rainforests of southern Belize. Learn about the current research, unusual animal behavioral relationships, conservation efforts underway to protect Belize`s largely intact ecosystems all framed around a unique assemblage of cultures and landscapes.

Pictured above, two margays, the smallest native cat in Belize. The margay’s back paws can rotate 180 degrees, allowing them to crawl down the trunk of a tree like a squirrel