GRAND CASE:--- Naturalists, birdwatchers, artists, and other volunteers all over the island are working together to organize the first annual Endemic Animal Festival, a special day celebrating the amazing animals that live only on this island or in our region. The Endemic Animal Festival is a free, public Wildlife Discovery Event created by Les Fruits de Mer, where tourists and residents of all ages are invited to discover and learn about this most unique part of St. Martin's natural heritage. The event will feature wildlife tours guided by experts, an Endemic Animal Discovery Station, and local wildlife-themed art activities for children. The 2014 Endemic Animal Festival will take place at Seaside Nature Park in Cay Bay on Sunday, April 27th from 9am to noon.
The word "endemic" is used to refer to animals that only live within a specific range. On St. Martin, that includes animals that only live on St. Martin, as well as regional endemics that only live on a few islands or only live in the Caribbean. So what are the endemic animals on St. Martin? This island is home to a variety of locally and regionally endemic animals. The Bearded Anole and Spotted Woodslave are two lizard species that are found nowhere else in the world. Many of our other lizards are found on just a handful of islands, and many familiar birds, like the Antillean Crested Hummingbird and the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, live only in the Caribbean.
"Endemic animals are important because they literally can't be seen anywhere else on the planet. They're a living reminder of our unique heritage, and we're also responsible for making sure they can survive and thrive. If there's any group of animals that residents and visitors should know about, our endemics are at the top of the list." said Mark Yokoyama, Les Fruits de Mer co-founder and author of The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of St. Martin. Yokoyama will be hosting the Endemic Animal Discovery Station, which will showcase a captivating array of live locally and regionally endemic animals, including lizards and insects.
"This Festival is a fantastic opportunity to learn about local wildlife, important ecosystems, and history from experts," said Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. "We'd like to invite everyone to come out and have a great day celebrating the fascinating natural world of this island!"
The Les Fruits de Mer Association is currently seeking additional volunteers to help out at the event, and sponsorship for event materials including art supplies for the kids' activities, t-shirts, display supplies and drinking water. People interested in being involved can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The 2014 Endemic Animal Festival is brought to you by Les Fruits de Mer and Seaside Nature Park.
