Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic – Privacy Policy
Effective date: 26 August 2025
Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic (“BWRC”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) operates the website belizewildlifeclinic.org and associated pages (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices you have.
This policy applies to data we collect through the Site, by email and messaging apps, and when you enquire about or participate in our programs, internships, courses, events, donations, and volunteer activities.
If you have questions or want to exercise your privacy rights, contact us at bzwildlifeclinic@gmail.com or by phone at +501 615-5159. Our postal address is: Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic, c/o Isabelle Paquet-Durand, P.O. Box 226, San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize, Central America. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
1) Who we are
BWRC is a Belizean non-profit organization focused on wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, veterinary services, and education. We are the data controller for personal data collected through the Site and in connection with our programs and services. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
2) What data we collect
We collect the following categories of data:
Contact and identity data — e.g., name, email address, phone/WhatsApp number, postal address, and similar details you provide when you contact us, request help, or apply for programs. (We publish our hotline number and email on the Site.) (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Application & enrollment data — e.g., information you submit when applying for internships, courses, or placements, which may include your résumé/CV, professional/academic background, availability, and program preferences. Some program pages note a registration/application fee. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Donation & payment data — e.g., amount paid, payment date, and transaction identifiers. Card and bank details are processed by our payment providers (such as PayPal or by wire transfer/check) and are not stored by BWRC. Some program pages allow credit-card payment via PayPal’s checkout window. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Course & community participation data — e.g., your name, email, and participation information necessary to deliver online courses and live sessions (providers may include Zoom and Thinkific; some courses use a closed Facebook group). (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Technical data & cookies — e.g., IP address, device/browser information, pages viewed, and similar usage data collected via cookies or similar technologies. Our cookie banner indicates we use embedded content that may set cookies (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps). (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal data unless you voluntarily provide it (for example, accessibility or accommodation needs for a course). Please avoid sharing more personal data than necessary.
3) How we use your data
We use personal data to:
Provide information and respond to your enquiries (including wildlife emergencies and WhatsApp messages). (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Process applications, enrollments, and participation in our courses, internships, and programs (including scheduling, fees, and logistics). (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Process donations and other payments, and send payment confirmations/receipts. (Payment processing is carried out by our third-party providers; see Section 5.) (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Deliver online course content and live sessions and administer related communities (e.g., Zoom/Thinkific sessions and a closed Facebook group where applicable). (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Operate, maintain, and improve the Site, including through embedded services (e.g., maps, videos) and cookie-based preferences. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Comply with legal obligations, enforce our terms, and protect our rights and users.
We process personal data based on our legitimate interests, contractual necessity (e.g., to deliver a course you enroll in), legal obligations, and, where required by law, your consent (e.g., non-essential cookies/embeds).
4) Cookies and similar technologies
Our Site uses cookies and similar technologies to remember preferences and to enable third-party embeds. From our privacy/cookie banner, you may encounter content from YouTube, Vimeo, and Google Maps, which may set cookies or collect data according to their own policies. You can control non-essential cookies via our on-site settings or through your browser. For details, see those providers’ privacy policies. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
5) How we share data
We share personal data only as needed to provide our services or as required by law, including with:
Payment processors — e.g., PayPal for card payments; banks for wire transfers/checks. We receive payment confirmations but do not store your full card/bank details. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Course delivery providers — e.g., Zoom (live sessions), Thinkific (e-learning platform), and an optional closed Facebook group for discussions. Using those platforms is subject to their privacy terms. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Embedded content providers — e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps, and Google Drive (for some documents). When you choose to view/allow embeds, those services may collect data. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Service providers — trusted vendors who host, maintain, secure, and support our Site and operations.
Legal/Compliance — if required to comply with law, enforce our terms, or protect BWRC, wildlife, or the public.
We do not sell your personal information.
6) International data transfers
Because we are in Belize and use global service providers, your data may be processed in countries with different data-protection laws than your own (for example, where our payment or course platforms operate). Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards permitted by applicable law (e.g., contractual terms) and take reasonable steps to protect your data.
7) Data retention
We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including to meet legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Typical examples:
General enquiries: up to 24 months after last contact.
Program applications/enrollments and donation/payment records: generally 3–7 years (or longer if required by law).
8) Your rights & choices
Depending on your location, you may have some or all of the following rights:
Access the personal data we hold about you.
Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data.
Delete your data (subject to legal/operational requirements).
Object to or restrict certain processing.
Portability of certain data.
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent (e.g., non-essential cookies/embeds).
Opt-out of direct marketing where applicable.
To exercise these rights, email bzwildlifeclinic@gmail.com. If you are in the EEA/UK, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.
9) Children’s privacy
Our programs and courses are generally designed for adults and older students. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children without appropriate parental or guardian consent. If you believe a child has provided us personal data without such consent, please contact us so we can delete it.
10) Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal data. No system can be guaranteed 100% secure, but we work to protect information against unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure.
11) Third-party links and platforms
The Site contains links to and integrations with third-party services (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, Google services, Zoom, Thinkific, PayPal). Your use of those services is governed by their own terms and privacy policies; we encourage you to review them before use. (Our Site links out to Facebook/Instagram/YouTube and includes a WhatsApp contact option.) (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
12) How to contact us
Email: bzwildlifeclinic@gmail.com
Phone/WhatsApp hotline: +501 615-5159
Mail: Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic, c/o Isabelle Paquet-Durand, P.O. Box 226, San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize, Central America
For international bank/wire details, please email us. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
13) Changes to this Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a new “Effective date.” We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.
Notes on specific Site features (for transparency)
Online courses: Some course pages state that live sessions may be delivered over Zoom, self-guided content via Thinkific, and that a closed Facebook group may be used; they also mention a small registration/application fee. We process your registration details to enroll you and coordinate sessions. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Payments & donations: Our pages describe donation/payment options via wire transfer/check and, for some programs, credit-card payments through PayPal. Card details are handled by PayPal; we receive transaction confirmations only. (belizewildlifeclinic.org)
Cookies & embeds: Our cookie banner indicates third-party embeds from YouTube, Vimeo, and Google Maps that you can allow/deny. If enabled, those services may set cookies and collect usage data according to their policies. (belizewildlifeclinic.org