Exotic Wildlife in Maldives to thrill nature lovers

Tourists who visit the Maldives archipelago expect to eat good food, enjoy water sports, lounge on the beach and do some island hopping, but they don’t expect the overwhelming presence of wildlife.

For all the thrill and nature lovers in the Maldives

The Maldives has twenty-six atolls, and most of them nurture a diverse ecosystem that breeds many forms of wildlife; shrews, endemic toads, flying foxes, geckos, birds and lizards are but a few examples. The densest concentration of wildlife is found on the Baa Atoll, but areas like Kuda Haa, Dhigali Haa, Lankan Thila and Fiushee Kandu are fertile grounds for wildlife as well.

Fruit Bats

Fruit bats are a common sight in the Maldives; you are likely to capture sight of them if you are staying at a Maldives luxury resort. At night, you can hear them squabble around as they emerge from their dwellings in search of food. During the day, you see them hanging from the tree branches with their heads covered with their large, webbed, wings. With their cute faces and the bewildered expression, they make excellent subjects for photos.

Lizards, skinks and geckos

The Maldives are agreeable to the land-based reptile species. You can see geckos and variously hued lizards scurrying around the islands; these animal species are usually within sight of hotels like Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. Agamid Lizard and the Oriental Garden Lizards are the most colourful and mostly captured in pictures.

Snakes 

Several snake species have made the Maldives their habitat; Hydrophis platurus, the Pelamis platurus and Pelagic Sea Snakes are the most commonly seen snake species in the Maldives. Snorkelers usually have encounters with the Sea Snakes; they mean no harm to humans, and when the weather is warm, they come out of digs and lay on the beaches enjoying the weather elements.

Turtles 

With the abundantly available seawater, sea turtles are thriving in the Maldives. Turtle species like Hawksbill Turtle and Leatherback Turtle are a ubiquitous sight. There are numerous conservation bodies in the Maldives with the aim of safeguarding the turtles; they achieve this by preserving the placid waters – there’s a turtle rescue centre that takes in injured turtles; the dedicated workers of the centre cares for them until the turtles are well enough to go back into their natural habitats.

You have a better chance of seeing turtles if you visit between June and November; this is the period when turtles lay eggs, and with any luck, you might also be able to see baby turtles trudging down into the ocean.

Birds

Being a nation surrounded by the ocean, the Maldives creates the perfect environment for pelagic birds, most of the birds seen in the Maldives migrate from Europe and other regions of Asia. House Crows, Pond Herons, Common Mynas, Grey Herons and Striated Herons are the bird species you are most likely to see. The country also affords many inland natural resources, and therefore, other bird species like Sandpiper, the Black-naped Terns and Addu Atoll’s Fairy Tern can be seen as well.

Whales and dolphins

Pods of dolphins and whales are a delightful sight that can be seen in the Maldives. If you hop on a boat and go further into the sea, you have the chance of seeing Bottleneck dolphins, Spotted dolphins, Fraser’s Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins and Rough-toothed dolphins. And as for the whale population, False Killer Whale, Dwarf Sperm Whales, Bryde’s Whale, Blue Whales, Dense Beaked Whale, Longman’s Beaked Whales and Cuvier’s Beaked Whales are the types you are likely to see.

Hammerhead Sharks, Reef Sharks and Whale Sharks

Maaya Thila, Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll and Rasdhoo Atoll are the places you should consider visiting if you want to glimpse at Reef Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Nurse Sharks and Whale Shark; Baa Atoll is known for the congregation of Whale Sharks. Divers often run into Whitetip and Blacktip Reef Sharks while underwater; these sharks are used to the presence of humans, and they don’t take notice of the humans who swim past them.

Manta Rays, Sting Rays and Eagle Rays

Snorkelling is the best way to see these fish species. Most of the resorts arrange for their guests to feed Manta Rays and Sting Rays. Another common sight is Eagle Rays; you will see them in groups with Manta Rays and Sting Rays. These fish species are lovely to look at, but their sting can be quite painful, so it is best to maintain a distance of eight feet at least.

Invertebrates

There’s a number of invertebrate species that can be spotted in the Maldives. Centipede, shellfish, octopuses, sea urchins, starfish, lobsters, squids, brittle stars, clams, and sea cucumbers make their presence known more than their fellow invertebrate species.

Reef and marine fish

Nearly 2,000 fish species inhabit the coral reefs in the Maldives. A snorkelling or a diving trip can take you within range of these colourful creatures. Tilapia and Tuna are seen more often than Parrotfish, Clownfish, Angelfish, Butterfly Fish and Longnose Hawkfish.