Onshore Wildlife in The Maldives
Comprising a garland of 26 circular-shaped atolls formed by 1192 low-lying islands, the Maldives is a remote, sparsely populated tropical country, where islands and sandbanks are small, so 99% is water. A fragile and delicate environment, it is exquisitely beautiful, fulfilling the quintessential island fantasy. In and above coral reef systems, the Indian Ocean is teaming with marine life, sustaining a diverse ecosystem with an impressive variety of species. For those travellers interested in nature and the environment, there are also interesting animals to observe on land.
Breadfruit trees, coconut palms, with screw pines and pandanus, as well as salt-resistant shrubs, dominate the beach landscape, but the forests include over 250 species of plants that support animal life.
Indian Flying Fox
During daylight hours, these fruit bats (waha in the local dialect) can be spotted hanging from Banyan and Indian almond trees in the resorts, with their wings wrapped around their bodies and their heads tucked inwards. They have red fur and big eyes - to spot ripe fruit like banana and mangoes, plus flowers for nectar and pollen - thus playing a strategic role in pollination and in seed dispersal. Because Indian Flying foxes use their eyes and acute sense of smell to search out their food, they are unlike insect eating bats that have weirdly-shaped nose leaves for echo-location. At dusk, these flying mammals - the biggest bats in the world, with a wingspan of up to 1,5 meters - start to squeak and squabble, then swoop out of the trees in squadrons. Silhouetted against a blazing sunset, it’s a transcendent and moving sight.
Asian koel and White-breasted waterhen
Over 190 species of land birds, shorebirds and seabirds have been recorded in The Maldives. Only about 20 species live here year year round, the rest are migratory, so are visitors at certain times of the year.
The Asian koel - Dhivehi koveli in Dhivehi, the language spoken by Maldivians - is a frugivorous cuckoo endemic to the Maldives, so it is protected. Locals refer to it as ‘the alarm clock bird’ as it is noisy, making loud and repetitive ‘koo-el’ calls and cackles. The Asian koel resembles a crow, but has ruby red eyes.
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The white-breasted waterhen ( Dhivehi kan’bili), a pretty bird with reddish-brown tail feathers and a white chest, is the national bird of the Maldives. Living in pairs they are secretive, but have a harsh penetrating call. Foraging at dawn and dusk, they will dash into the undergrowth of low bushes if they are disturbed.
Other well known birds are grey heron (Maakanaa), white-tailed tropicbird (Dhan’difulhu dhooni) and whimbrel (Buhithun’bi). Addu atoll, in the deep south of the country, has the exquisite white-tern, or fairy tern (Dhondheeni). This elegant pelagic tern catches fish by hovering over the ocean before plunging into the water, but it does not submerge fully.
A strategic sign to fishermen on their dhoni boats, is when seabirds congregate to feed from the ocean. The birds are snatching crustaceans and small fish that are chased to the surface by predatory tuna below. This clue helps fisherman to locate and to catch tuna.
Reptiles: include two species of gecko, the snake skink, an agamid -the common garden lizard- and the wolf snake and non-venomous blind snake. The biodiversity on land is limited by the small landmass.
Amphibians: include short-headed Rana, a frog species and Bufo, a toad .
Ghost Crab
During an evening stroll alongside the ocean, search for scurrying ghost crab, with their stalked eyes, square carapace and sandy colouration for perfect camouflage. Digging into cool, moist burrows during the day, they scuttle out at night to feed on plankton washed onto the sand by the tides.
Other easily identifiable crabs are the swift-footed rock crab that inhabits rocky shores, and the nocturnal land hermit crab that covers its soft body with the shell of a dead gastropod, to stop it drying out during the day. Astoundingly they can live up to 40 years.
More than 67 butterfly species add to the magic of the Maldives islands. By all means revel in the snorkelling and scuba diving in the Maldives - to discover the abundance of sea life in the Indian Ocean - but be sure to keep an eye out for the fascinating onshore creatures.
Text by Gillian McLaren (@Jetset_Gillian)
Visit Maldives
Getting there:
Air Seychelles:
Travelling from South Africa to the Maldives has never been easier, with the weekly commercial flights on Air Seychelles (The Indian Ocean’s leading airline) from Johannesburg to the Maldives, via the Seychelles.
The flight onboard an A320 aircraft makes for a pleasant nine hour journey, especially considering the other long-haul routes offered by other carriers, and the best news is, these services have been confirmed in to 2022 by the airline.
After a flight with Air Seychelles to Malé, a Seaplane transfers you to your resort.
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