Lions and tigers and bears in Cape Verde? Oh no.

When I first stayed in Cape Verde, outside of a hotel setting, I was curious as to what animals inhabited the islands and really was expecting to be realed off a list of different scary creature... Helton simply laughed and said, 'umm dogs?'

There are literally dogs and cats on every block, fighting and squabbling over food they find in bins. There are no lions, tigers or bears. The closest thing you'll find to a tiger is a drunk Middle Aged Cape Verdean stumbling to the bar. 

I have seen the occasional monkey on a dog lead and have been fortunate enough to encounter a HUGE turtle 🐢 

Animals on the islands 🌴 

Reptiles: Five different species of Sea Turtles can be found in Cape Verde, and the islands are believed to be the second largest breeding site for Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the North Atlantic. Out of 15 different lizards in Cape Verde, 12 are endemic. The Giant Gecko (Tarentola gigas) can, for example, only be found on the Raso and Branco islets close to Sao Vicente. The same was true for the now extinct Giant Skink (Macroscincus coctei). 

Mammals: The Cape Verde waters is a key breeding and mating habitat for Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and various species of dolphins are abundant. The only other native mammals are five small bat species. A species of monkey has been introduced.

Fish and corals: Large pelagic fish, including sharks and tuna, are abundant, and coral communities can be found in almost all Cape Verde islands. According to the magazine Science, it is one of the top ten hotspots for corals in the world. Knowledge about most of the coral communities is limited, however. 

Plants: Some 92 species of plants are endemic to these islands, of which at least one is endangered – an understory tree known as Marmulan (Sideroxylon mermulana). The endangered Dragon’s Blood Tree (Dracaena draco) can also be found in the Archipelago. It is estimated that more than 50% of the Capeverdean flora has been introduced.