{"id":33015,"date":"2023-10-25T12:39:57","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T10:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a0cfdc0d-1a6b-4e36-8bca-a22418355e4e"},"modified":"2023-10-25T13:35:48","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T11:35:48","slug":"what-wildlife-can-i-see-in-cuba","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/what-wildlife-can-i-see-in-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"What wildlife can I see in Cuba?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Visit the vibrant island of Cuba to see over 20 endemic bird species, explore a swampy wilderness and dive on magical offshore reefs. <\/p>

By BBC Wildlife Magazine\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 25 October 2023 at 10:39 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Part of the Cuba-Cayman Islands Freshwater ecoregion, the narrow island of Cuba is a Caribbean island biodiversity hotspot – with a huge variety of animals and plants.<\/p>

Cuba wildlife illustration. \u00a9 Dawn Cooper<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Six species to spot in Cuba. \u00a9 Dawn Cooper<\/em><\/p>

With such a wide range of species, it was hard to choose just six when we originally wrote about Cuba for the Wildlife Travel column in BBC Wildlife Magazine<\/em>.<\/p>

For example, 368 bird species can be found in Cuba – 25 of which are endemic! In our list, we’ve highlighted the bee hummingbird<\/a> and Cuban parakeet, but we could’ve easily chosen the Cuba’s national bird, the Cuba trogon, or the Cuba kite, which is the island’s rarest raptor and considered to be Critically Endangered.<\/p>

Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata<\/em>, Cayo Largo del Sur<\/h3>
\"A
A hawksbill turtle. \u00a9 Dave Fleetham\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Hawksbills arrive at Cayo Largo to lay their eggs between April and September. There is a turtle <\/a>conservation project here whereby eggs are taken and hatched, giving hatchlings a better chance of survival when they are released.<\/p>

This turtle species<\/a> is found through the tropical waters of the world, and in some subtropical waters. With such a wide range, and due to it being a long-lived species, it is difficult to ascertain population abundance and declines.<\/p>

IUCN Red List status:<\/strong> Critically Endangered<\/p>

Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus<\/em>, Humedal R\u00edo M\u00e1ximo-Cag\u00fcey<\/h3>
\"A
A group of manatees in Portillo near Saman\u00e1, Dominican Republic. \u00a9 Marvin del Cid\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Also known as the Caribbean manatee<\/a> or West Indian manatee, the Antillean manatee is a subspecies of the American manatee.<\/p>

This subspecies can be found around a number of Caribbean islands<\/a>. They were once hunted and although they are now protected, they still face a number of threats including pollution, collisions with boats and entanglement in fishing gear.<\/p>

IUCN Red List status (subspecies):<\/strong> Endangered<\/p>

Bee hummingbird Mellisuga helenae<\/em>, Guanahacabibes Peninsula<\/h3>
\"Bee
Bee hummingbird feeding at a flower in Cuba. \u00a9 Glenn Bartley\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

You can’t visit Cuba and not see the world’s smallest hummingbird. The bee hummingbird weights in at about 2g, which is less than a sugar lump, and is only 5.5cm long.<\/p>

Also known as the Helena hummingbird, and locally as the zunzun, the bee hummingbird is culturally recognised as a symbol of love.<\/p>

IUCN Red List status:<\/strong> Near Threatened<\/p>

Cuban parakeet Psittacara euops<\/em>, Finca La Bel\u00e9n, Camag\u00fcey<\/h3>
\"Cuban
Cuban parakeet perched on a branch in Cuba. \u00a9 Glenn Bartley\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Part of the parrot family, the Cuban parakeet was once considered a common species, but now has fragmented populations.<\/p>

South of the town of Najasa, on poor roads, Finca La Bel\u00e9n is both a working ranch and a government-run hotel. You can see plenty of endemic bird species here, such as giant kingbirds and Cuban parakeets.<\/p>

IUCN Red List status:<\/strong> Vulnerable<\/p>

French angelfish Pomacanthus paru<\/em>, Playa Pesquero<\/h3>
\"A
A pair of adult French angelfish over the Caribbean coral reef. \u00a9 Eco UIG\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Renowned as one of the best snorkelling sites in Cuba, Playa Pesquero is a good location to see a huge variety of reef fish, including the beautiful French angelfish.<\/p>

Found throughout the Caribbean and the eastern coast of South America and south-eastern coast of North America, the French angelfish is common in coral reefs, usually in pairs.<\/p>

IUCN Red List status:<\/strong> Least Concern<\/p>

Cuban crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer<\/em>, Zapata Peninsula<\/h3>
\"A
A Cuban crocodile dives down to the bottom of the swamp. \u00a9 Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Zapata National Park is important for its extensive wetlands that provide the best habitat in Cuba for this endemic crocodile.<\/p>

The species has seen a decline greater than 80 per cent in the last three generations, and is threatened by poaching for its meat, hybridisation with the American crocodile, and declines in habitat quality.<\/p>

IUCN Red List status:<\/strong> Critically Endangered<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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