Encompassing more than 2,600 acres of land around The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, the Sharon Matola Wildlife Sanctuary is Belize’s newest protected area! Officially declared during a sitting of the House of Representatives on June 3, and further endorsed by Government of Belize officials during The Belize Zoo’s first Founder’s Day celebrations on June 4, Sharon’s legacy in wildlife conservation in Belize continues. Larger than life, Sharon loved Belize with every fiber of her being—both its wildlife and wild spaces—and with her love for protecting our furry, feathered and scaly friends, Matola inspired others’ conservation for these animal ambassadors. More than just a woman, Sharon Matola wore many hats: author, biologist, fierce wildlife advocate, and sometimes, even songwriter. Now, she’s the catalyst for Belize’s newest protected area.
A Growing Legacy
TBZTEC Director, Celso Poot, with Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. John Briceño.
Photo courtesy: Ministry of Sustainable Dev. Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management
Today, that best little zoo in the world welcomes over 75,000 visitors every year, all because of one woman’s commitment to safeguarding Belize’s wildlife.
Photo courtesy: Ministry of Sustainable Dev. Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management
“Ѕhе іѕ nоt оnlу thе fоundеr оf Тhе Веlіzе Zоо & Тrорісаl Еduсаtіоn Сеntеr but wrоtе mаnу bооkѕ аbоut thе flоrа аnd fаunа оf Веlіzе,” Рrіmе Міnіѕtеr Јоhn Вrісеnо nоtеd аѕ hе соmmеmоrаtеd thе оvеr 2,600 асrеѕ оf lаnd аt thе Веlіzе Zоо nоw knоwn аѕ thе Ѕhаrоn Маtоlа Wіldlіfе Ѕаnсtuаrу.
Ваldеrаmоѕ-Gаrсіа nоtеd thаt Маtоlа wаѕ а frіеnd оf thе Веlіzе Rurаl Сеntrаl соnѕtіtuеnсу аnd еѕресіаllу thе vіllаgе nеіghbоurіng thе Zоо, Lа Dеmосrасіа, whеrе Маtоlа lіvеd аnd whоѕе ѕсhооlсhіldrеn ѕhе аnnuаllу hоѕtеd аt Веlіzе Zоо еvеntѕ. “Ѕhаrоn’ѕ lеgасу wіll аlwауѕ bе lоvеd іn оur соuntrу fоr аll thаt ѕhе hаѕ dоnе fоr wіldlіfе соnѕеrvаtіоn,” ѕаіd Ваldеrаmоѕ-Gаrсіа, nоtіng thаt ѕhе еmрlоуеd аnd bеfrіеndеd mеmbеrѕ оf hеr оwn fаmіlу аnd brоught Веlіzе’ѕ flоrа аnd fаunа tо аll.
Оn Мау 10, 1988, Wаltеr Міѕсhеr, Раul Ноwеll, thе lаtе Ѕіr Ваrrу Воwеn, аnd Тhе Соса-Соlа Соmраnу gіftеd 1,725 асrеѕ fоr thе uѕе оf thе Zоо аnd thе еnјоуmеnt оf thе реорlе оf Веlіzе but thе соnvеуаnсе wаѕ nоt fоrmаlіzеd. Тhе Zоо рrеѕеntlу оссuріеѕ 925 асrеѕ, аnd thіѕ аnd thе 1,725 асrеѕ wіll bе јоіnеd tо fоrm thе ѕаnсtuаrу whісh еnсоmраѕѕеѕ thе Zоо аnd Еduсаtіоn Сеntеr іn Маtоlа’ѕ mеmоrу аnd hоnоur, thе Міnіѕtеr оf Нumаn Dеvеlорmеnt ѕаіd.
Founder’s Day + the Sharon Matola Scholarship Fund
June 4, 2022, was held as the Zoo’s first Founder’s Day at the TBZ in celebration of Sharon’s birthday, hosting free entrance for all with requests of in-kind donations of fresh fruit, veggies, and meat. Not to mention, plans are also underway to formalize the Sharon Matola Scholarship Fund. The fund aims to provide support for young Belizean women seeking tertiary education in Natural Resources Management, Biology, Veterinary Technology, and associated fields. An anonymous donor has pledged US$5,000 as a matching seed fund for the scholarship.
Sharon Matola's legacy lives on at The Belize Zoo © CCL/Leonardo Melendez Photography
© CCL/Leonardo Melendez Photography
© CCL/Leonardo Melendez Photography
© CCL/Leonardo Melendez Photography
“I would like anyone reading this to know that they are reading an interview given by one of the happiest people on the planet. Me. I am so proud of The Belize Zoo and what it has given to so many people. I am reinforced daily about the significant impact this facility has had: for the wildlife of Belize, and for the wonderful people of this extremely special nation. Colour me happy.”
Sharon and April for her birthday celebrations. Image via The Belize Zoo (TBZ)
Born and bred in Baltimore, MD, Matola first arrived in Belize on a temporary job assignment in 1982 as a film assistant to the late Richard Foster, a renowned documentary filmmaker. That is, after her colorful career that included a stint with a Romanian lion-tamer and even a circus tour through Mexico. Hired as a caretaker to the 20 animals used in the documentary, Matola recalls in a 2006 interview by Belize Magazine how one project skyrocketed into the best little zoo in the world, and ultimately, her life’s work. “Rather than explore ways to see their exit, I thought, well, Belize doesn’t have a zoo, so I’ll hang up a few signs and let the word out that there is now a place where people can come to view the animals of Belize.”
Image via The Belize Zoo (Facebook)
A newly unveiled, permanent plaque recognizing Sharon as the visionary and driving force behind “The Best Little Zoo in The World” is now on display in the Zoo’s entrance corridor for all to see. Those interested in matching donations to the Sharon Matola Scholarship Fund can contact The Belize Zoo for more information.
