Staff Members at Runaway Creek

Cindy Law

President, The Foundation for Wildlife Conservation

“The first time that we stepped foot at Runaway Creek we knew it was special and needed to be protected. Larry and I decided that it was our turn to make a commitment and after many years of negotiation, we were able to form The Foundation for Wildlife Conservation in Washington state, our home, and purchase Runaway Creek Nature Reserve.”

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Wilber Martinez

National Coordinator, The Foundation for Wildlife Conservation

“It’s my passion to protect wildlife and its habitat. Where I used to live in northern Belize, much of the forest has been cut down for sugar cane production. In central Belize there are still many forests that can be protected though they too are being threatened.”

Wilber’s career at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve began with the Birds Without Borders program for avian research, begun at the Reserve by Dr. Gil Boese.

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Reynold Cal

Manager of Runaway Creek Nature Reserve

In charge of day to day field operations and maintaining the security of Runaway Creek Nature Reserve so that it continues to stay as a model wildlife haven. “My favourite part working with Runaway Creek is that everyday in the field is very exciting! There is peace and serenity with Nature. For me – Runaway Creek Nature Reserve is like a zoo in the wild. I am still in so much love with my job and Runaway Creek!”

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Stevan Reneau

Director of Environmental Education

Working at Runaway Creek Nature Preserve for 15 years, Stevan’s knowledge of birds, primates, plants, caves, and his intimate familiarity with the Reserve, have made him a respected source of information and support for researchers and visitors to Runaway Creek Nature Preserve. Stevan has just launched an important Environmental Education Program sharing his knowledge with local villages and schools.

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Kayla Hartwell, PhD

Research Director

I first started doing research on primates at Runaway Creek in 2008. I was recruited by two professors at the University of Calgary to start a research project on the behavior and ecology of wild spider monkeys. This became the first long-term study of spider monkeys in Belize. I fell in love with observing the wild animals in their natural environment and after years of doing research, I went on to complete my PhD. My favorite part about working at Runaway Creek is the unpredictability of the job.

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Gilroy Welch 'Nico'

Director of Health & Safety

Gilroy Welch is originally from Gales Point Manatee, Belize district. He is affectionately known as Nico by his peers. He grew up in a fishing community close to the Caribbean Sea overlooking at the Sibun river karsthills landscape. His career in conservation started at Runaway creek during the primate research with the University of Calgary. He worked with the team as the main field guide of postgraduate students doing data collection. He learnt techniques of primate behavioral observations, data collection and navigational skills. He was hired part time at FWC in 2018 and due to his good working ethics and passion for conservation he became a permanent staff in 2020. Currently he holds the post of director of health and safety. His hobby is creole drumming learnt from his African ancestors who were the first modern inhabitants of the Sibun watershed area. Nico’s passion is being out in nature collaborating in wildlife research and ensuring that the mandate to conserve endangered species and its habitat at RCNR is passed on to the next generation with a renewed approach of being inclusive of adjacent villages in protecting and benefiting from the environment.

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Dr. Gil Boese (1937-2018)

Founder of Runaway Creek Nature Reserve

“For conservation to work you’ve got to get involved with the local people,” Dr. Gil Boese, founder of Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, once said. “We set out to train Belizians to be conservation leaders because in the long run, conservation projects need to be initiated and sustained locally.”

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