The WCCB began as a feasibility study to determine whether confiscated parrots and howler monkeys could be rehabilitated to survive in the wild.
 
1999: The Wildlife Care Center of Belize was established under the approval of the Belize Ministry of Natural Resources and became the first sanctioned wildlife rehabilitation and release facility in the country.
 
1999 to 2008: Twenty eight howler monkeys rehabilitated and released into protected areas.
Long-term monitoring revealed that the majority of animals survived, remained with their groups and within the release areas at least one year post-release.
 
2005: A rehabilitated female, released in 2002, gave birth to a truly wild monkey.
 
Endangered: In 2001 the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) was upgraded from "vulnerable" to officially become a Red List endangered species.
The populations are still in decline, with illegal hunting for food and for the pet trade a major contributing factor.
 
With more than a decade of experience as a zoo keeper, Robin Brockett took a year off to study howler monkeys in Belize.
As a witness to the problems of the illegal pet trade, she became curious as to whether confiscated howler monkeys could be rehabilitated to survive and reproduce in the wild.
 
With the permission and cooperation of the Belize Government, Robin rehabilitated and released 28 confiscated howler monkeys into protected areas between 1999 and 2008.
Careful monitoring of troop movement and behavior produced encouraging results. The majority of animals survived. The groups mostly remained intact and within the release areas for up to one year post-release.
 
The first known birth occurred in 2005 to a female released in 2002. 
 
Following the success of the howler program, Robin is currently working toward a similar project for the black-handed spider monkey.
 
Both the black howler monkey and the black-handed spider monkey are endangered and in decline, underscoring the need for continued research, more rigorous protection and wildlife enforcement and targeted public awareness programs.
 
Experts believe that howler populations could suffer as much as a 65% decline within the next forty-five years due to habitat loss, hunting and collection for the pet trade.
 
 
In October 2009, Robin received 2 baby howler monkeys which had been  confiscated from' pet owners'. Another was delivered shortly after that and a fourth added to the growing group following a Forestry Department confiscation at a popular tourist attraction.
 
Robin has secured premises on a private reserve in the Cayo District and has already begun construction of substantial rehabilitation enclosures for howler monkeys.