Belize Tourism Board Confirms Safe Capture of Loose Jaguar

Travelers, Residents Advised to Resume Planned Trips

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Oct 27, 2010, 05:50 ET

BELIZE CITY, Belize, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- As of 10:00 a.m. MST, Wednesday, October 27, 2010, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is confirming the safe capture of a jaguar that was at large east of Belmopan near the western highway and is declaring it is now safe for travelers and residents to resume planned trips and tours in and around the area. The BTB is issuing this latest announcement as a follow-up to the U.S. Embassy Warden Message on October 26 alerting Americans of the escaped jaguar.

The Belize Forestry Department captured the animal late Tuesday evening in one of several traps set in and around the area. The BTB has confirmed that the jaguar became loose after Hurricane Richard uprooted a tree that created an opening in its cage. The jaguar is owned by a Belmopan resident who rescues and rehabilitates animals in Belize.

SOURCE Belize Tourism Board