NTOTA is thrilled to announce that the Re-Wilding of orphaned baby ocelot, Ziggy, has been completed with her release into the wild.  Her first tentative steps into this big, wild world are captured in some video below.  If you watch all the way through, she is cautious at first, and even doubles back into her holding crate for a few seconds.  But then she gathers her courage, and I would imagine her instincts kick in.  She glides confidently away from the crate and into the brush.

To think just about a year ago she started off here:

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We will look forward to bringing you some updates about Ziggy’s whereabouts for the next year, as her Radio GPS collar give us a glimpse into her travails.  Until then, I am sure you will join us in wishing Ziggy the best of luck as she finds her way, in the wild where she belongs.  Good luck, Ziggy!

NTOTA is pleased to share the news that Ziggy, the Re-Wilded Ocelot, has been successfully fit with her GPS Radio collar, in preparation for her release into the wild.

After capturing Ziggy in her large Re-Wilding Enclosure, she was sedated and given a full medical work-up.  The GPS Radio collar was carefully adjusted to fit her petite neck, and she was re-released back into her Re-Wilding Enclosure.  It is important to keep Ziggy under close observation during these first few weeks after her collar has been fitted, to make sure it is functioning properly and that it fits her well enough to be secure, but not so tight that it is constrictive.

When everything is confirmed to be correctly working and comfortable, Ziggy will be released into the wild where the GPS Radio Collar will allow the BWRC to keep an eye on her from afar.  The collar will automatically fall off as a release mechanism on a  timer activates in about a years’ time.  At that point, Ziggy will be 100% on her own in the wild, with no watchful, caring eyes looking on from the distance.

NTOTA was glad to support the re-wilding effort of BWRC with the female Ocelot named “Ziggy” by purchasing a Telonics radio GPS collar in preparation for her release sometime later this year.

With supreme care to give her any human interactions as soon as she was weaned, Ziggy began her re-wilding path. Over the course of a year, allowing Ziggy to grow to her full-size and mature to maximum strength and abilities, the little Ocelot was first housed in an enclosure with a smaller footprint to accommodate her small size.  The above video shows her practicing her “wilding” in her small introductory enclosure. After several months Ziggy was then moved to the larger Re-Wilding Enclosure (see above photo). Ziggy made great strides in learning to hunt and forage on her own in the Re-Wilding Enclosure.

The Telonics collar will allow Dr. Isabelle and her team to track Ziggy for her first year on her own.  Through GPS and radio frequencies her movements will be monitor her whereabouts, giving researchers clues as to her activities, mating behaviors, hunting and more.

Mark Wilkins, the fearless founder of NTOTA, was asked to join the board of Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD).  Mark has always believed in the work of FCD and has been pleased to support the efforts of the Anti-Poaching Unit and the Rangers patrolling the Chiquibul National Park.  So to be asked to join the ranks of people who guide the trajectory of the non-governmental, non-profit organization that safeguards one of the last old-growth forests on the planet as well as an endangered population of Scarlet Macaws…  well, Mark was honored and excited to get going.

With board meetings every quarter. the board works hard to identify the challenges facing the courageous organization of FCD.  Together, the board and the leadership of FCD Rafael Manzanero are finding the path forward to meet whatever tasks come before them, new and old.

Even the best websites need a refresh now and again.  And when you are expanding your efforts to reach and involve more people than ever before, you need a website to help you do that, too!

NTOTA understands completely and is grateful to be able to assist FCD with their desire to have a website that serves their needs AND the needs of Belizean and world citizens both.  FCD is an incredible organization that primarily works to conserve and protect the Chiquibul National Park.  The work is long and hard, but the payoff in saving one of the last 0ld-growth forest from destruction is priceless.  Building a better website is another piece of the puzzle to helping them on this journey.  Expected date of completion is June, 2023.  We hope you’ll check it out!

(And we know this picture has nothing to do with building a website, but it is members of the FCD team doing their job… and the view is better than a photo of a computer screen…. you’re welcome!)

Mark Wilkins, the fearless founder of NTOTA, was asked to join the board of Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic (BWRC).  Mark has always been a huge fan of the tireless work of Dr. Isabelle and has been pleased to support the efforts of her animal care as well as re-wilding efforts.  It’s a select club to be asked to join, and Mark is thrilled to be part of the team behind the scenes.

NTOTA loves the Scarlet Macaws of Belize and feels an especially strong urge to nurture the chicks rescued from the hands of poachers trying to sell these vulnerable birds into the illegal pet trade.

The best way to nourish these small birds is with specially developed baby bird “formula” or food until they are old enough to eat fruit and seeds.

Our Brazilian friend, Mario Haberfeld, sent us a video of our special puma, Cacao.  She was the puma destined for a life of captivity in a zoo enclosure.  But Mario and his team at Oncafari wanted to use their jaguar tested and proven re-wilding techniques to give this puma a chance at living freely.  Seeing Cacao roaming in the brush and scrub is indeed a sight that makes our hearts happy.

NTOTA is proud to have supported Field School’s Miami Shark Project short movie highlighting their three-pronged mission.  As a women-led science team, they are gathering data that supports the idea of a baby hammerhead shark nursery in Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL.  They are also working to create a Marine Protected Area (MPA) within Biscayne Bay, to lessen the destruction of marine eco-systems and marine life due to human impact.  And their third goal is to foster the development and advancement of women in science.

Drs. Catherine McDonald and Julia Wester are the powerhouses behind this endeavor.  We are huge fans of the entire Field School Team and are excited to be a part of the Miami Shark Project.  

Please take a few minutes and watch the Miami Shark Project movie.

To learn even more, please read their recent open access publication on the identification of a great hammerhead nursery area through #ProjectBabyHammer, donate to support their research, or join their mailing list to be kept up-to-date on project progress and how you can help.

NTOTA was thrilled to be able to help FCD realize a dream of building a new Head Quarters.  These buildings will serve as a command center for all the FCD Rangers who work tirelessly to protect the Chiquibul Forest and the creatures that live there, like scarlet macaws and jaguars.