| While most people would expect a tropical | | | | which nest on the islands. However, widespread |
| paradise to contain large variety of land animals, | | | | collection of eggs and reduction in the number of |
| this just isn't true of the Maldives. There are a | | | | nesting sites means these turtles are in serious |
| number of different bats, most memorable of | | | | trouble. |
| which are the large fruit bats that roost in the | | | | Coral is probably the single most important |
| trees at night. There are also many species of | | | | organism in the Maldives, as it is responsible for all |
| lizard and gecko that are pretty ubiquitous and | | | | of the reefs surrounding each island. The coral |
| can be seen crawling on most walls and even | | | | reefs are particularly beautiful, creating habitats |
| ceilings. | | | | for hundreds if not thousands of tropical fish. It is |
| There is one important point to make about the | | | | these reefs that pull the thousands of tourists |
| land animals in the Maldives, and that is that they | | | | that visit the Maldives every year. If you are |
| are relatively safe. There are very few animals | | | | interested in tropical fish it might be worthwhile |
| that will do you harm, and even mosquitoes are | | | | taking a field guide with you as they are very |
| rare. There are ants centipedes and even | | | | easy to find and most are easy to identify with |
| scorpions but these are generally not a problem | | | | the right guide. |
| unless you go about intentionally annoying them. | | | | Sharks! There are of course many different |
| There are as can be expected a large number of | | | | species of shark in the Maldives, from the white |
| seabirds, most of which are migratory or | | | | tipped reef shark, through to hammer heads and |
| introduced, as the land mass in the Maldives is | | | | even the occasional whale shark. However, this |
| just not big enough to support large populations | | | | should not put you off diving in the Maldives as |
| of many different species. However, there are | | | | there is such an abundance of food in the waters |
| about 12 or 13 different species of Heron that | | | | that the chances of being attacked are slim to |
| can be seen feeding in the shallows at low tide. | | | | none. And this is probably one of the few places |
| The real exciting wildlife in the Maldives can only | | | | in the world where you can feel safe swimming |
| be seen when you put on your swimsuit and get | | | | with 2m sharks! |
| into the water, preferably with either a snorkel or | | | | Dolphins and Whales are also relatively common in |
| dive gear. The underwater fauna is absolutely | | | | the Maldives, however you will need to take a |
| amazing. There are several species of turtle, | | | | tour boat or whale watching trip to see them up |
| many of which are endangered that can be found | | | | close. |
| in the waters around the Maldives, at least four of | | | | |