In Memory of Sharon Matola

Sharon Matola
Founder of The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center
Director from 1983-2021

Sharon Matola, an experienced big cat trainer, was hired to manage 20 animals for a wildlife documentary film in 1982 in Belize. When filming ended, Sharon was left to take care of the animals with limited resources. Sharon put a “Belize Zoo” sign by the road, hoping people would pay to visit the animals.

As people began to show up, Sharon learned of many myths and superstitions surrounding the wild animals in her care. She also realized that many Belizeans had never seen them in the wild before.

One elderly man, while looking at the jaguars, was brought to tears, and remarked that he had spent all his life in Belize and this was the first time he’d seen his country’s animals. "They are so beautiful."

These early experiences motivated Sharon to transform the makeshift, “backyard” zoo into a living classroom; an educational facility where Belizeans could learn about wildlife, their natural heritage. Sharon said "How are we to expect people to appreciate their natural resources, their own animals, if they do not know these animals?” Thus, her life’s work began.

In keeping with the origins of the Belize Zoo, Sharon ensured that only native animals that had been rescued, orphaned, injured, or abandoned were housed at the Zoo. Thanks to generous international and local support, in 1991, the Zoo moved to a new facility which included a visitor center, gift shop, and offices; gravel paths leading to spacious animal enclosures with natural vegetation; and a commissary for food preparation and  veterinary care.

Sharon's gift for interacting with and caring for animals enabled her to transform many of them into “ambassadors” for their species. Additional guided programs offered visitors extraordinary experiences; night tours, small group encounters up close with the animals, and VIP tours.

Sharon began by educating children. “I remembered what fun it was going to the zoo when I was a child. If we can reach the children, we've won half the battle. Zoo Outreach brought presentations to schools unable to visit the Zoo. Today, thousands of school children visit the Zoo annually and they can tell you about Belize’s animals, like owls, macaws, jaguars, and tapirs, which feature in Sharon’s many children’s books. Education staff gave presentations to schools unable to visit the Zoo, while Sharon developed radio programs and wrote newspaper columns. She was exemplary in leading intervention programs to address human-wildlife conflict for iconic species such as jaguars, harpy eagles, crocodiles, and owls.

Sharon led efforts to document Belize’s biodiversity and advocated for establishing nature preserves. Sharon co-founded the Belize Association of Conservation NGOs (BACONGO) the first formal association of conservation organizations in Belize. Under her direction, the Belize Zoo’s mission also expanded to protecting habitat for wild populations, becoming involved in efforts to establish the Maya Forest Corridor.

Sharon was one of those persons who appears once in a lifetime. Her fighting spirit defined her over the years and earned her accolades such as: conservation hero, visionary, champion, and warrior. She would do whatever it took to protect Belize’s wildlife and wildlands, even if unpopular or controversial, like her fight against the Chalillo Dam, and a proposed landfill near the Zoo.

Sharon made the most of opportunity, and cultivated collaboration. When Hurricane Richard (2010) crushed most of the Zoo's structures, they were rebuilt stronger. Enthusiastic supporters replaced gravel paths with cement, making them fully accessible, and rebuilt the Commissary to include a proper clinic.

Her accomplishments over almost 40 years gained international recognition  and awards, and have had long lasting impacts on the conservation field, both in Belize and abroad.

As Sharon had hoped, many Belizeans, inspired by their childhood experiences at the Zoo, support conservation, and some with careers in conservation have taken up her torch. As Sharon would often say: color her happy!