You probably didn't know that October is Hicatee Awareness Month - and hearing it now, you're might be thinking of how nice some Hicatee soup would be. Indeed, it's one of the most prized and rare local dishes. And that's because Hicatee cannot legally be bought or sold, it can only be caught for personal consumption.
Those laws were enacted about 20 years ago when it became apparent that Belize's Hicatee population was being eaten out.
Indeed, the Central American Fresh Water turtle as it is properly known is actually on the verge of extinction!
One local conservation group based in Toledo is raising awareness about its acute endangerment.
The Belize Foundation for Research & Environmental Education, known as BFREE is organizing awareness activities in schools and the general public. Today two of their educators came all the way form Bladden to Belize City to tell us why we should treasure this unique fresh water turtle:..
And more than just raising awareness, BFREE is actually breeding the endangered mammal. Serrano told us about their captive breeding facility - which is also unique to Belize.
The Hicatee season is open for 11 months of the year, but is limited to three turtles per person on foot or bike, and 5 per car.
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