Paca is its formal name, however Paca also goes by many other names, depending on its regional location. In Belize, the Paca is most often known as the Gibnut. Interestingly, however, Belize has another name for the Paca: the ‘Queen’s Rat’ or the ‘Royal Rat of Belize’. The name Queen’s Rat or Royal Rat of Belize does not go against her Majesty, her name was derived when she was served this prized delicacy on one of her trips to Belize.

There are two species of Paca: the Mountain Paca and the Lowland Paca. Both species can be found in the rain forests, lowlands, swamps, and along riverbanks in Central and South America. Both species of Pacas are found from southern Mexico south to northern Argentina and even on the island of Trinidad.

Prized as game, pacas are widely hunted in Belize. High in calories, the meat of the paca was so prized that, according to ancient legend, only the Mayan kings could raise and eat it. Mayan servants were severely punished if they were caught eating a paca. Even today, paca meat can be sold at a good price and is still a luxury. However, due to their rapid reproduction, Pacas may soon be bred commercially.

Due to hunting and their high price as meat, Pacas have been susceptible to poaching. Although the Paca is still quite abundant as a whole, some areas, for currently unknown reasons, have seen declines in Paca populations, with the Mountain Paca being the main one at risk.

Both the mountain paca and the lowland paca have a diet consisting primarily of fruit. However, Pacas are known to have slightly different diets depending on their location and time of year. Other foods pacas are known to eat include roots, seeds, leaves, flower buds, and flowers. Being raised in the wild versus captive is also an important factor in a Paca’s diet. In the wild Pacas are only herbivorous, semi-inversely Pacas in captivity are omnivorous as they are also known to eat fish, raw meat, lizards and insects.

If you are ever in Belize, be sure to try this delicious delicacy: Queen’s Rat. Gibnut meat is white and does not taste like pork, rabbit or chicken. Gibnut meat has its own unique flavor – it tastes like gibnut! Eating a delicious meal of Belizean gibnut stew with rice and beans is sure to be a memorable cultural experience that you will have for the rest of your life.