Happy Hicatee Awareness Month!
Every October, we celebrate Hicatee Awareness Month with our partners in Belize, the Belize Foundation for Environmental Research and Education (BFREE).
The “Hicatee” is the Belizean name for the Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii), a critically endangered species that we support through conservation initiatives such as habitat protection, field surveys, riverside community outreach, captive release, and a tri-national Conservation Action Plan. Every October, BFREE hosts educational opportunities in local schools, virtual webinars, and outreach events to raise awareness of the Hicatee and the plights it faces. In continuation of last year’s theme, we are celebrating not just the Hicatee, but all nine freshwater and inland turtles of Belize.
Want to get involved? You can print your very own Hicatee & Friends coloring book and learn about the turtles of Belize! We’ll be sharing about these species throughout Hicatee Awareness Month, and you can follow along at home.
