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Nature Lover's Paradise : Belize Sun Tips : Belize News
NATURE LOVER'S PARADISE
Tiny Belize contains a large variety of plants and animals that are still unclassified. In fact, some 90% of the land is still covered by either rainforest, pine forest or mangrove swamp. With over 4000 types of flowering pants, 250 varieties of orchids, 700 kinds of trees and hundreds of other plant types, this is a great location for the avid nature lover!
Some of the trees that can be found include:
The sapodilla which produces a gum called chicle used in chewing gum
Mahogany trees, which can grow up to 100 ft tall and spread up to 20 feet across the base.
Mangrove trees, which are found along the coast, can also grow to about 100 feet and provides a natural habitat for creatures like crocodiles, crabs & manatees. Belize retains over 90% of its original mangrove forests unlike the rest of the world which has approximately 10% of it's mangrove trees left.
ANIMALS ABOUND
You can find more than just plant life in Belize; there are many animals to discover. For example, there is the spider monkey and the "howler" monkey (called "baboon" by the locals). The howler is a large monkey with strong arms & shoulders that uses it's strength for swinging from the high reaches of the forest. It gets it's name from the sounds it makes to ward off intruders and mark it's territory.
Some other mammals include the dolphin, tapir, and, of course, the jaguar. The tapir is also known as the "mountain cow". It's a large plant-eating animal that resides in the highland forests of southern Belize. Shy and peaceful, these mammals can weigh up to 650 pounds but are surprisingly agile. The most famous tapir is called April and you can find her at the Belize Zoo.
BIRDS OF PARADISE
There are also hundreds of birds & reptiles to be found in Belize. There are about 540 known bird species alone. Among them are the Jabiru Stork with it's 10 foot wingspan. There are only about 30 nesting pairs known in Belize. Other local birds are the Scarlett Macaw, Parrots, and colorful Toucans. Reptiles include lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodiles.
There are many jungle adventures you can find yourself on when you come to visit Belize, it's a true nature lover's paradise!
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