of the Week!Hi everyone! We have a new animal of the week for you, a baby White-lipped Peccary, brought to us by Israel (right). He was walking with his friends in the jungle and came upon a large herd of peccaries (these guys can live in groups of up to 400 animals!!); the animals were startled and fled, leaving this little tyke behind. Israel named him Bobby and nursed him until he was 4 months old. At that time Bobby got a little too mobile, chasing Israel everywhere, including onto the highway where he was likely to get squashed. Israel heard it through the grapevine that we had a female peccary (have no idea where that came from) and he thought we would probably take a male! So along comes Bobby in a little sack on a motorcycle, straight to our fenced-in yard.
In Belize there is a big problem of people keeping wild animals as pets; it is illegal, but that doesn't stop people. What's worse is that it is very common that someone tries to sell you an animal that they have caught, which perpetuates this illegal wildlife trade. It is very sad as most of these animals are either endangered, or are very important prey for other endangered animals (like the jaguar). In fact, Israel was prompted to bring this little guy our way because his "friend" found Bobby running along the road when Israel had gone to town, and charged Israel $50 to get him back!
I was surprised and a little scared when Israel brought this peccary to us, as I assumed he was trying to sell it to us as well and I do not yet know what to do in that situation. Luckily, all he wanted to do was give it a good home. I told him that we would not keep him but instead would take him to the zoo, where he can live out the rest of his days with peccary friends. Israel was happy about that, as it was the right thing to do, and I think he understood that it is not right to keep wild animals as pets.
Bobby came to us on Easter Sunday! He was scared at first, but quickly took to his new temporary family. He loves being scratched under the chin! After a few chin tickles he flips right over to enjoy some belly rubs.
This little piggy went to Easter dinner! I was lucky enough to have my parents visit me for 10 days over Easter, when Mat went home to visit friends and family in Montreal. We bought my Dad a Rasta Man hat in Placencia, which he sported for the Easter Holidays!
In Belize there is a big problem of people keeping wild animals as pets; it is illegal, but that doesn't stop people. What's worse is that it is very common that someone tries to sell you an animal that they have caught, which perpetuates this illegal wildlife trade. It is very sad as most of these animals are either endangered, or are very important prey for other endangered animals (like the jaguar). In fact, Israel was prompted to bring this little guy our way because his "friend" found Bobby running along the road when Israel had gone to town, and charged Israel $50 to get him back!
I was surprised and a little scared when Israel brought this peccary to us, as I assumed he was trying to sell it to us as well and I do not yet know what to do in that situation. Luckily, all he wanted to do was give it a good home. I told him that we would not keep him but instead would take him to the zoo, where he can live out the rest of his days with peccary friends. Israel was happy about that, as it was the right thing to do, and I think he understood that it is not right to keep wild animals as pets.
Bobby came to us on Easter Sunday! He was scared at first, but quickly took to his new temporary family. He loves being scratched under the chin! After a few chin tickles he flips right over to enjoy some belly rubs.
This little piggy went to Easter dinner! I was lucky enough to have my parents visit me for 10 days over Easter, when Mat went home to visit friends and family in Montreal. We bought my Dad a Rasta Man hat in Placencia, which he sported for the Easter Holidays!
Here Bobby is enjoying laying between our feet UNDER rather than ON the table, NOT being the Easter Ham!
It was reciprocated love at first site when Mathieu got home, Mat picks him up and puts him on his lap, and Bobby is the happiest little piggy in the world (and Mat is pretty happy too!)
As you can see, this little guy really loves to be comfortable. We didn't even put him there, but rather found him all cuddled up in this blanket on the floor in the laundry room, using a stuffed animal as a pillow :)
Tomorrow we are taking our little peccary friend to the zoo. He will be happier there, as although he loves his human and animal companions, he needs to be with his own kind! The Belize Zoo is a great little zoo, the Best Little Zoo in the World! Their animals are very happy, and all have similar stories like Bobby's: they are all orphaned or injured animals, all native to Belize.
So it is sad for us to say good-bye, because we have become very attached to this little stinky critter. However, there is someone here who will likely not be sad about Bobby's departure: poor Eva! Bobby decided on the third day with us that Eva was likely his Mom, and he has been suckling her ever since! Eva has been a good sport, but she has barely had a moment to herself since little piggly has taken to her. Poor girl! She looks confused. She has no recollection of having this baby. How did this happen??
Good-bye Bobby! We love you and we will miss you! Thanks for giving us these wonderful memories.
It was reciprocated love at first site when Mathieu got home, Mat picks him up and puts him on his lap, and Bobby is the happiest little piggy in the world (and Mat is pretty happy too!)
As you can see, this little guy really loves to be comfortable. We didn't even put him there, but rather found him all cuddled up in this blanket on the floor in the laundry room, using a stuffed animal as a pillow :)
Tomorrow we are taking our little peccary friend to the zoo. He will be happier there, as although he loves his human and animal companions, he needs to be with his own kind! The Belize Zoo is a great little zoo, the Best Little Zoo in the World! Their animals are very happy, and all have similar stories like Bobby's: they are all orphaned or injured animals, all native to Belize.
So it is sad for us to say good-bye, because we have become very attached to this little stinky critter. However, there is someone here who will likely not be sad about Bobby's departure: poor Eva! Bobby decided on the third day with us that Eva was likely his Mom, and he has been suckling her ever since! Eva has been a good sport, but she has barely had a moment to herself since little piggly has taken to her. Poor girl! She looks confused. She has no recollection of having this baby. How did this happen??
Good-bye Bobby! We love you and we will miss you! Thanks for giving us these wonderful memories.
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