History Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

1 history

1.1 mayan
1.2 19th century
1.3 20th century

history
mayan

throughout of foothills of eastern slopes in southern belize, there evidence of mayan habitation since @ least 10,000 bce. pearce ruin first mayan site have been catalogued in modern history archives in report british museum in 1931; however, ruin not re-sighted until 1995 dunham surveys. @ late date 2 other mayan sites documented: hun tul mo (one macaw) , xa yul ha (many rivers).

19th century

the first modern explorations led recorded features of cockscomb basin conducted british in expeditions of 1888 , 1889. these adventures began river excursions south stann creek , resulted in attainment of these explorers thought victoria peak, highest point in belize; in fact, later reconstructions showed mounting of nearby peak victoria had been scaled.

20th century

further exploration of cockscomb basin did not transpire until 1927, when further british expeditions launched assess timber reserves; subsequently, logging began occur until year 1984, extraction of cedar (cedrela odorata) , mahogany (swietenia macrophylla). @ same time exploitation of these resources virtually complete, nationwide study of jaguar initiated. scientific investigation led alan rabinowitz, recent recipient of phd degree university of tennessee, found cockscomb basin particularly important habitat jaguar, not in belize, central america perspective.

in 1986, rabinowitz , archie carr iii convinced government of belize establish no hunting zone respect jaguars in portion of cockscomb basin. 1990, after further convincing, belize government expanded sanctuary substantially, , in 1995 160 km² added connect holding bladen branch nature reserve.

in 1988, iucn declared cockscomb basin wildlife sanctuary major achievement in cat conservation triennium . in year, prince philip president of world wide fund nature—wwf, honoured ignacio pop work in encouraging creation of reserve. in 1998, victoria peak national monument area established embracing 19.59 km² of protected land.