Seeking those elusive jungle animals?

Heed the call of the wild and feast your eyes on the Caribbean’s magnificent wildlife

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We know all about Trinidad and Tobago’s turtles, and we’ve even tasted the call of the wild with trivia, testing our knowledge of the Caribbean’s rare and diverse wildlife. But what about those elusive jungle animals we’ve seen in National Geographic documentaries? Do they exist in the Caribbean? For those who don’t know, the Caribbean is much more than sandy beaches, palm trees, blazing sun, and powerful hurricanes. It’s also a haven for diverse wildlife (not to worry – the African lion doesn’t roam freely in the Caribbean islands)!

Many mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, aquatic species, and land invertebrates exist in the Caribbean islands. Consider for a moment that you’re likely to find sloths, iguanas, monkeys, flamingos, margay, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, jaguarundi and the like. That’s just a small sampling of the scores of animal species inhabiting the majestic Caribbean islands. They abound in territories like Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia, St Kitts, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Antigua, St Marten, Barbados, Turks and Caicos.

From the moment you dock at the harbour in the Caribbean islands, it’s go, go, go. Whether by boat, ship, helicopter, or plane, the tropical islands of the Caribbean are extraordinary. To get you into the jungle spirit, you may wish to brush up on all the wildlife you’re likely to encounter on your expeditions. Panthers, parrots, monkeys, snakes, and the like are ubiquitous. You may even want to play jungle slots and feast your eyes on an extravaganza of entertainment before planning out your daily travel and tourism roster.

Where to See Exotic Jungle Animals in the Caribbean?

Granted, the black panthers and leopards are some of the most elusive jungle creatures – but you get to see them up close and personal with top titles like Panther Moon and Panther Pays slots. Once you familiarise yourself with these majestic creatures, you can plan an unforgettable sojourn on your Caribbean island hopping expedition. Consider the following jungle adventures in your upcoming trip:

  • Belize is part and parcel of the economic and social Caribbean community. It is a member of CARICOM – commensurate with what the EU stands for in Europe. In Belize, there are many national parks where you can see the thriving populations of jaguars. Although elusive, these animals exist and are well hidden in the jungles of the territory. You may wish to frequent the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, St Herman’s Blue Hole National Park, The Rio Bravo Conservation Area, or Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Preserve.
  • San Juan, Aruba and Cozumel are exotic locales for seeing the best Caribbean wildlife. Jungle expeditions are abundant in places like Nassau, George Town, and Yucatán. The rainforest and national parks are teeming with wildlife, a veritable panoply of excitement for everyone to enjoy.
  • Dominica enjoys the moniker of the nature island of the Caribbean. This densely populated jungle is bustling with wildlife. Dominica is near Martinique and south of Guadalupe. Since it’s an island, you’re likely to see scores of fish and birds with the unique jacko parrots in abundance. It’s a great place to see exotic animals, including agoutis, hummingbirds, and other wild animals. It’s not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, where there are rattlesnakes, stingrays, black widow spiders, lionfish, puffer fish, jellyfish, manatees, rhinoceros iguanas and two national zoos.
  • Puerto Rico is teeming with wildlife. You can find these creatures on Mona Island. This protected reserve features 100+ endangered species and hundreds of fish varieties too. Some of the top attractions include the Mona iguana and leatherback sea turtles too. Venues include the Caribbean National Forest, the Bosque Cambalache National Park, and Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge.

Funding provided by the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme Direct Support Grants Programme.
The views expressed on this website are those of the the authors and do not reflect those of the Direct Support Grants Programme.

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