Wildlife
On land. The undisputed star of the national park is the raccoon. It is the animal symbol of the zoological park. Much sought-after by poachers, it has found refuge in the heart of the island of Basse-Terre. You'll also see tortoises, various species of iguana, agoutis (large rodents) and mongooses (introduced into plantations to control rats).
Birdlife is particularly interesting in the nature reserve. The forest is home to a large number of insectivores, including the black woodpecker(Melanerpes herminieri), a species endemic to Guadeloupe. You'll also find the crab-eater (or big-headed crab-eater), a bird that has become rare in the Caribbean, as well as the blue woodpigeon and the red-legged partridge, as well as land birds (passerines), both sedentary and migratory. There are also seabirds (terns, frigate birds, brown pelicans) and freshwater birds (moorhens, kingfishers). The largest colony of brown pelicans (a protected species) was recorded in 2007 on the cliffs below the town of Gosier, which has made it its emblem. A statue of the brown pelican stands at a crossroads. Around a hundred nests were counted here up until 2017, but the behavior of some residents (disturbed by the presence of these birds) has led to the breeding site being completely abandoned by the birds to this day. In June 2022, the French authorities were asked by an American NGO (Birds Caribbean) to take action to raise public awareness and ensure the tranquility of the archipelago's other nesting areas. Only three colonies remain, representing a total of around one hundred nests (two in Les Saintes and the third on islets in the heart of the Grand Cul-de-Sac marin). These three sites, located in the Guadeloupe National Park, benefit from greater protection, as it is forbidden to approach within 60 meters by boat. As for the pelicans of Gosier, they can now only be seen occasionally in the port of Saint-Félix.
In the marine environment, there are numerous species of fish (diodon, mombin, butterflyfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, etc.) and invertebrates (sea urchins, lambis, starfish). Hunting and poaching have led to the disappearance of the pink flamingo and the manatee, a herbivorous marine mammal. An attempt to reintroduce two manatees in 2016 proved unsuccessful, with the death (from a kidney infection) of one of the two animals. The second manatee flew to the Vincennes zoo in 2018. The project is currently on stand-by and could, it seems, now only be envisaged by releasing semi-wild manatees directly into the wild.
The lionfish, native to the Pacific Ocean, was first observed in Guadeloupe waters in 2010, and its population has been growing ever since. This carnivorous species, with its venomous spines, poses a threat to underwater fauna. One of the solutions envisaged to reduce its proliferation is fishing, as its flesh is fine and delicious, with the slogan "Manjé'y an tout sòs" (Eat it with every sauce).
The Archipelago is home to several species of turtle: the loggerhead, olive ridley, green and the beautiful leatherback, which feeds on jellyfish. Some choke on floating plastic bags, mistaking them for their favorite meal. Mangroves and seagrass beds are their preferred feeding and sheltering grounds. Since 1991, all turtles in the Guadeloupe archipelago have been protected by French legislation: a total ban on the capture, transport and sale of turtles or their eggs. They are becoming rare in the waters of the Caribbean, which are nevertheless a prime site. After being hunted for their meat, slaughtered for their shells and sought after for their eggs, it was finally realized that the species was in danger of extinction. Beaches identified as egg-laying sites are monitored and some are marked.
Mosquitoes. When it comes to the tiger mosquito Aedes aegypti, their bites are no laughing matter, as they can transmit dengue fever. In 2024, Guadeloupe faced a very active epidemic. It's important to protect yourself against bites. Mixed essential oils (citronella, geranium, lavender) have a certain effectiveness, but only DEET-based repellents (30 or 50%) keep mosquitoes away for long. Long, light-colored clothing at dusk is recommended. Dengue fever is recurrent in the archipelago, with waves of varying intensity depending on the period. Outbreaks occur particularly after the rainy season. At this time, the population is urged to remain vigilant by removing all containers that might harbor stagnant water, a preferred nesting place for mosquitoes.
The tiger mosquito is also the vector of chikungunya (which appeared in the West Indies in 2013) and Zika (which appeared in 2016). While no cases have been documented in the French West Indies in recent years, the virus is still present in some countries.
Other widespread but harmlessinsects are emerging from the shadows: the ravet and the American cockroach. Beware, however, of the scolopendre, a variety of millipede with fangs and venom glands, whose sting is painful and even dangerous, depending on its size. Disinfect the bite and go to a pharmacy or doctor, especially if you're a child or someone allergic to the venom.
The flora
On the Côte-sous-le-vent, the peripheral zone of the Nature Park, a forest of halliers, thorn trees and cactus bushes has developed. More than 300 species of trees with roots that sometimes form buttresses (country chestnut, acomat boucan) or stilts, lianas and epiphytic plants hanging from branches or clinging to trunks... These different species are described along botanical trails and in exhibitions (free admission) organized by the Maison de la Forêt, located on the Route de la Traversée, near the Cascade aux Écrevisses.
At altitude, the forest is saturated with humidity. Water runs off everywhere, soaking the ground and digging ditches. Streams eventually disperse into marine creeks and swamps.
Around La Soufrière, mosses, lycopods and wild pineapples cover the ground, as do numerous ferns, palmetto, sweet chestnut, white mahogany, white gum and mountain oleander... In the swamp forest, the vegetation is dominated by the mangle-medilla. The yellow mangrove with its large visible roots (which give it the impression of moving), the webbed roots of the acomat boucan (behind which the Caribs hid and barbecued), the bois-côtelette with its superbly symmetrical leaves, or the bois bandé or bois rouge (used for the parquet flooring of old Creole houses and whose powdered bark is used, like mandrake, as a powerful aphrodisiac) are all amazing plant species to discover.
Near the coast, particularly around the inlet that separates Basse-Terre from Grande-Terre, the mangrove swamp, typical of tropical swamps, is home to mangrove trees, red mangle and white mangle. Other tropical species can be found near the coast, such as coconut palms, of course, which originated in Asia, but also the royal palm, the cheese tree, the frangipani, the flamboyant tree dear to poets (with its bright red flowers), the grape tree... Finally, let's not forget the mancenillium, which is dangerous because it is highly corrosive; when it rains, this tree releases an acid that can burn your skin. It is usually indicated by a red marking on its trunk.
Guadeloupe is home to a multitude of tree and shrub species. Many of them were imported to the archipelago in the past.
Country apricot (Mammea americana). This American rainforest tree loves light, plains and clearings. In the wild, it produces a table fruit endemic to the Caribbean basin. The apricot, which has nothing in common with its hexagonal cousin, has a large edible stone and sweet orange flesh.
Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis). Native to the Pacific zone, it was imported to Tahiti by the English at the end of the 18th century. It is one of the most famous trees of the colonial period. Highly prized, it was shipped to other regions for replanting. Today, there are almost 40 varieties.
Avocado (Persea americana). Native to Central America, its name comes from the Aztec ahuaguatl. Both the tree and the name were made famous by the Spanish in the 16th and 17th centuries. There are over 200 varieties. It is assumed that it was already known to the first Caribbean peoples.
Banana ( Musa type). Native to Asia, it is without doubt, along with coconut palms, one of the most representative symbols of the tropical world, in the broadest sense of the term. A staple food for local populations, its fruit, the banana, is divided into some fifty wild and cultivated species. In the banana plantations of the West Indies, the massive spraying of the carcinogenic pesticide chlordecone is one of the most striking environmental scandals of our time.
Cacao (or cacao tree, Theobroma cacao). Introduced from South America (Amazonia) by the Amerindians. It spread to Guadeloupe from the mid-17th century.
Calebassier(Crescentia). Very common in tropical countries, its origins are not precisely known (tropical America, Asia?). Its fruit was used by Amerindians to make a variety of everyday objects, a practice that continued into colonial times.
Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum). Native to the Indian peninsula, this plant has literally circled the globe. It's the most widely cultivated plant in the world! It was introduced to the Caribbean by Christopher Columbus, who brought it back from the Canaries (1493).
Cinnamon. Native to southern India, it has acclimatized well in the humid tropical West Indies. Cinnamon is a world-renowned spice and medicinal plant. The leaves of the cinnamon tree are also highly aromatic.
West Indian chestnut. Not to be confused with the French chestnut. Its kernel is eaten like a chestnut, hence its name. It has the same origins as the breadfruit tree.
Soursop (Annona muricata). Native to South America (probably Peru), its fruit is enjoyed as juice and sorbet. Also known as annone (or anone) after the Swiss Jean-Jacques Annone.
Flamboyant (Delonixregia). Native to Madagascar, this is a widespread plant of great beauty, with shades of yellow to red. Its blooming season (between June and August) on the coast is a feast for the eyes!
Guava (Psidium). Native to Central and South America and the Caribbean basin, it has adapted perfectly to the tropical environment. Its name comes from the Arawak word guajava. The fruit is attractive, but the tree much less so, as it is invasive, resistant and likes to grow at the expense of its environment.
Cassava (Janipha manihot). This shrub is native to South America. The Amerindians of the Caribbean must have brought it with them, as it formed the basis of their diet. They processed its roots into patties (cassava).
Papaya (Carica papaya). Its origins are a little hazy, as it is found in Central and South America as well as in the Pacific islands. The Caribbeans, who probably introduced it to the region, named it ababai. It grows very fast (up to 10 m per year in good conditions), but has a very short lifespan (4 to 5 years on average).
Chillies (Capsicum). Native to South America, they are grown in the Caribbean. There are several varieties (bird, Bondamanjak, vegetarian, etc.).
Peyi currant(Hibiscus sabdariffa). Originating in Asia, the peyi currant appeared in Africa and then on the American continent in the 17th century. It is a bushy hibiscus, around 3 m high. It produces red fruit once a year, which open when ripe (between October and February). The redcurrant is the star fruit of the Christmas season.
A zoo and gardens to plunge into the heart of this biodiversity
The zoological and botanical park of Guadeloupe (40 minutes from Pointe-à-Pitre and 1 hour from Basse-Terre) offers a representative range of island flora and fauna. In the heart of the Basse-Terre massif, this zoo devotes 4 hectares of tropical forest to the conservation of rare or endangered animal species. The zoo is home to some 85 animal species from the Caribbean and French Guiana, including mammals, birds, reptiles and arthropods. All these species can be found in a luxuriant setting boasting over a thousand plant species. Several gardens on the lusher island of Basse-Terre reveal the exceptional richness of the local flora(Valombreuse garden in Petit-Bourg, botanical garden in Deshaies, Beauvallon park in Basse-Terre...). Parc de la Source offers an immersion into the heart of the mesophilic forest (a forest zone that is both dry and humid, with temperatures between 25 and 30°C), with over 150 varieties of plants and access to an attractive 20 m high waterfall.
