Home News 2019 February Experience The Cayman Islands’ Unique

Experience The Cayman Islands’ Unique

United Kingdom 5 February 2019

This week’s episode of BBC4’s ‘Britain’s Treasure Islands’ with Stewart McPherson’s insight into the Cayman Islands’ unique wildlife will give UK visitors the inspiration to experience their own wildlife adventure on this beautiful collection of islands.
Indigenous to the Cayman Islands, the Blue Iguana was once threatened by virtual extinction, but numbers have increased significantly thanks to a successful recovery programme run by conservationist, Fred Burton. These unique and distinctive reptiles grow up to 1.5 metres long and can now be seen roaming freely at the Grand Cayman Island’s Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
The spectacular shellfish, the Queen Conch which can grow up to 30cm long and weigh up to two kilos can be seen in the shallow waters against a sandy seabed or among the coral reefs. Visitors to Little Cayman can see these incredible spiky large shells at Point of Sand and Owen Island.
Grand Cayman’s North Sound in the Caribbean Sea is the best place to see wild stingrays, where the sandbar is the perfect place for visitors to stand and witness these large, diamond-shaped flat fish swimming in the clear water shallows.   Boat excursions leaving from Rum Point offer expert commentary and a wonderful afternoon to see these extraordinary creatures.

The Cayman Islands are home to three sea turtle species, the green, loggerhead, and the hawksbill, which again due to conservation efforts are increasing in numbers. From May to September, female turtles crawl up the beach to lay their eggs, and from July to September the eggs hatch with each nest producing 100 baby sea turtles. The distinctive Hawksbill turtles can be seen whilst snorkelling or scuba diving in the Cayman Islands.
Home to over 230 different species of birds, with seventeen endemic subspecies, the Cayman Islands offer the opportunity of seeing a high number of spectacular birdlife. These include the Caribbean Dove, Cuban (Cayman) Parrot, West Indian Whistling-Duck, Northern Flicker, Caribbean Elaenia, Loggerhead Kingbird, Red-legged Thrush, Thick-billed Vireo, Yucatan Vireo, Vitelline Warbler, Bananaquit, Stripe-headed Tanager, Cuban Bullfinch and Greater Antillean Grackle. Indigenous to the Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are colonies of Brown Booby, Red Footed Booby, Magnificent Frigatebird, and the Brac Parrot.
Wildlife lovers can take advantage of British Airways’ direct service to Grand Cayman from London Heathrow with four departures weekly, and a choice of well-appointed beach-front hotels. A seven-night stay costs from £975 per person to include return flights and seven nights room only accommodation.
Visit www.ba.com
For more information visit www.visitcaymanislands.co.uk.

Experience The Cayman Islands’ Unique

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