09 Rare wildlife
Although not known for its wildlife tours, St. Lucia is full of species of flora and fauna endemic to the island. Deforestation in the past nearly devastated some species of birds and reptiles, but environmentalists have introduced breeding programs in attempts to preserve rare species native to St. Lucia. One example is the Jacquot or St. Lucia Parrot. In 1975, only 100 of these colorful majestic birds existed. Today, you can hike through the rainforest and possibly see one flying overhead. The Maria Islands, a nature reserve established in 1982 and located in southern St. Lucia, is home to both the rarest snake in the world, the ornate ground snake, and one of the rarest lizard species, the Vanzo's whiptail. An iguana reserve is located on the northeast coast of the island.
