An exuberant flora shaped by human activity
Benefiting from a warm climate and a good level of rainfall, Barbados' flora is lush and it seems that everything grows here: ferns, palms, fruit trees, orchids... Unfortunately, logging and sugarcane cultivation have devastated most of its primary forest, but some places, such as Welchman Hall Gully, are home to endemic species including the only surviving species of native flowering plant: Phyllanthus andersonii, known locally as " Broom Weed ". Another endemic species, Metastelma barbadensa, has not been seen for at least twenty years. Most of the flora is designated as "native" (arriving in a place by natural process) or "introduced", such as mahogany, which enjoys special protection.
Land mammals
Among land mammals, the stars of Barbados are the green monkeys, which were introduced to the island centuries ago. Brought over from Africa by ships engaged in the slave trade, these little primates have adapted very well to their new environment and can be particularly mischievous. Most of the other mammals found on Barbados (mongooses, rodents, etc.) were all introduced to the island by the various populations that inhabited it. Only bats are native to the island.
The world's smallest snake!
Reptiles are well represented on the land, including the world's smallest snake species, the Barbados thread snake(Tetracheilostoma carlae), which measures just a few centimetres, the lizard-likeAnolis extremus and the Leaf-toed gecko ( Phyllodactylus pulcher ).
At night, you'll undoubtedly be lulled to sleep by the songs of Johnstone's hylodes, small whistling frogs native to the Lesser Antilles.
A bird's paradise
Birdwatchers will not be outdone on the island: there are over 200 species of birds in Barbados, both permanent residents and migrants. Hummingbirds, mockingbirds, flamingos, parrots, sandpipers and birds of prey fill the island's skies. Despite such diversity, Barbados is home to only two endemic bird species: the Barbados frogbird and the Barbados warbler. The peregrine, a plump little passerine with gray and brown plumage and a melodious song, is even the country's national bird. To observe all these birds, you need to get lost in the woodlands, mangroves or various botanical gardens... and bring a good pair of binoculars!
Rich and diverse underwater life
As an island, it's the marine environment that seems to be the richest: coral reefs, tropical fish of all colors swimming in ancient shipwrecks... Fans of snorkeling and scuba diving will be delighted! In waters as clear as those of an aquarium, it's a delight to see various species of parrotfish, butterflyfish, gramma loreto or flying fish, one of Barbados' emblems. As for lobsters, they are also a delight in restaurants on land.
From December to April, humpback whales spend the winter in Barbados' warm waters. You can watch them, usually in the morning, from the north and east coasts.
Helping sea turtles
Among Barbados' most protected species are the sea turtles. Since 1967, the Barbados Sea Turtle Project has been working to preserve various species present in Barbadian waters, particularly green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles, all three of which are endangered species (for the last two, the situation is particularly critical), by protecting nesting sites and relocating them if necessary, flying to the aid of turtles in difficulty or, more broadly, monitoring the population of these marine reptiles. This policy has made Barbados one of the main hawksbill turtle habitats in the Caribbean.
The smaller green turtles are found mainly on the south and west coasts. In fact, you won't be able to miss the signs warning motorists to watch out for passing turtles on the coastal road.
Hawksbill turtles are most often seen on the east side of the south coast (near Silver Sands), but also on the diving spots of Bright Ledge in Speightstown and Dottins and Johnson's in Holetown.
The most difficult turtles to spot are the leatherbacks, which tend to nest on the rougher east coast.
Several operators offer catamaran trips to catch a glimpse of them, but the turtles will undoubtedly accompany you on a diving, surfing or bodyboarding session.
A few recommendations: turtles are rather placid animals, but give them room to swim freely. If you swim over a turtle, don't follow it for too long, as it will tend to run away from you without daring to surface to breathe. A sea turtle may spend most of its time underwater, but it still needs to come up for air regularly.
If you come across a turtle in trouble, call the Barbados Sea Turtle Project's rescue line: +1 246 230 0142.
The fish of discord
Climate change has very real consequences, not only for animals but also for humans. Take the case of the flying fish. For Barbadians, this small pelagic fish is a national symbol. Not only does it feature on the daily menu, it is also present on the country's coat of arms and even on coins. However, climate change is said to have shifted the migration route of these fish further south, off the coast of Trinidad & Tobago, forcing Barbadian sailors to seek them out further afield, even if it means doing so in the territorial waters of their neighbors. The Trinidadians accuse the Barbadians of overfishing, while the Barbadians assert their inalienable right to harvest "their fish". Despite a truce following a compromise arbitrated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2006, this 20-year-old conflict resumed in 2023.
