Sixteen-year-old Raises $22,000 for the Belize Zoo

December 1, 2011

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce an event to honor the achievement of Yuvraj Duggal, who raised over BZ$22,000 for the Belize Zoo.  

Yuvraj is a 16-year-old American who visited Belize last summer.  At the suggestion of the U.S. Ambassador’s wife, he decided to volunteer at the Belize Zoo. He came away from the experience deeply impressed by all the good work the Zoo does, particularly its Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program.  When Yuvraj returned to his hometown of Chicago, he decided to raise money to support the Zoo.   Among other projects, he participated in a local vegetarian food festival “Veggie Fest 2011,” where he manned a booth to collect contributions and raise awareness about the Belize Zoo and its jaguar program.   He was extraordinarily successful, and has returned to Belize to deliver in person the money he raised.  

The Belize Zoo will use the funds towards its Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program.  The program offers a home for jaguars which have come in conflict with local residents as their natural habitat is being developed and used for raising livestock.  The program offers these endangered animals “another chance.”  It also aims to educate the public about these large cats through outreach to schools and communities around Belize. 

The event takes place on Friday, December 2, at 3:30 p.m. at the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center at 29.5 Miles Western Highway.  This is for a celebration of Yuvraj Duggal’s remarkable achievement, the Belize Zoo, and its Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program