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As far as who’s who in Belize’s animal kingdom, we would have to say that April the tapir is Belize’s most famous mammal but she recently she’s been getting competition from Junior Buddy - the jaguar – due in no small part to the fact that Junior can do a few tricks. Junior was the cub born in captivity who was rejected by his mother but adopted by the zoo. He celebrated his third birthday today and 7News was at the zoo for the up close encounter.

Jamal Andrewin, Environmental Educator
“We use Junior to show that jaguars aren’t vicious creatures. They don’t attack humans, there has never been an attack on humans of a jaguar. So he is just used to show the importance of jaguars.”

Keith Swift,
“What do you hope these kids leave here with?”

Jamal Andrewin,
“Obviously we want them to have a good time but I want them to leave with a good impression of jaguars to take it back to their parents, their families, their friends to share the fact that jaguars are okay.”

Sharon Matola, Director – Belize Zoo
“We are doing a lot of work to draw attention to the need to conserve jaguars for the future. So it is very simple; get the kids in there, let them fall in love with Junior Buddy, and they’d want to see jaguars forever in places like Cockscomb, that wonderful place, and throughout the country where jaguars live.”

We’ll have the full story on Junior’s birthday bash tomorrow.