Haiti is a small country that’s famous for many things, from its “discovery” by Christopher Columbus to becoming the first black independent republic in the entire world.
Moreover, it’s a very colorful country known for being home to unique species of animals and plants. Perhaps, you’ve wondered whether you can find lions in this country.
The answer is no, there aren’t any lions in Haiti. However, Haiti is a biodiverse country with many species of animals and plants.
In fact, you can find more than 6,000 types of plant species as well as over 200 kinds of animal species in this little country.
For instance, the Hispaniola trogon is the national animal in this country. This bird’s vibrant colors and unique patterned plumage make it one of the most interesting animals that you can find.
There are many interesting animals in this beautiful country. However, if lions are what you’re looking to find in this biodiverse country, you’re out of luck.
Let’s take a look at the kind of animals you can find in this Caribbean country.
While a lion isn’t an animal that you’ll find roaming the wild in Haiti, there are still many other animals that you should expect to find.
Before you get to know the kind of animals that you can find in this region, you should have a bit of knowledge about issues faced by Haiti.
For one, over a decade ago, there was a devastating earthquake that left much of its wildlife endangered. The areas where you can find most of the wildlife were impacted by deforestation and flooding.
As a result, most of the land is still recovering and the animals are still trying their best to find their home again.
Interestingly, this country is known for being the home of the few venomous mammals (such as the Hispaniolan solenodon) found on this planet. However, sighting one is very rare.
Another interesting fact is that this country is mainly surrounded by water. This means that you’re likely to find unique marine mammal fauna.
The following are some of the most common animals that you can find in Haiti:
Candy Cane Snails. If you’re looking for an animal that’s only found in Haiti, then this is it. Moreover, you’ll only find it living on one tree species. Many people are attracted by its multicolored shell. The sale of the shell has been criminalized as a way to preserve this species.
Pygmy Sperm Whales. The thing about the waters in Haiti is that they’re warm. And these whales enjoy living on the warmer side of the ocean. These types of whales are often found by the tropical coast.
Bats. You’d be surprised to find out how many species of bats live in Haiti. A majority of them are native to Haiti while the rest come from other parts of the world.
West Indian Manatees. Since Haiti forms part of the Caribbean, it’s common for you to find a large number of manatee species around. This large aquatic animal is considered one of the most vulnerable marine creatures in Haiti.
Why don’t you find lions in Haiti?
We all know lions to be the king of the jungle. Not only are they distinctive, but they’re also a very popular big cat species. In fact, one of the most revered lion species in the entire world is the African lion.
There was a time when you could easily find lions in parts of Europe and Asia. However, the numbers have declined over the years.
You’re likely to find most of them in Africa with a small amount in parts of West India.
The reason why you won’t find lions in Haiti lies in what a primary habitat for lions is. The fact is that lions prefer to live in open woodland, brush habitats, and grasslands.
Since Haiti is found in the Caribbean Sea and is a mountainous, humid country, it’s not surprising that you don’t find lions roaming in the wild.
This isn’t the kind of habitat that lions enjoy being in. There isn’t enough grassland for them to hide in while they hunt. For lions, hunting prey is one of the most significant things that they do in the wild.
Moreover, they require sufficient area to patrol the pride’s territory.
Interesting facts about lions
By now you know that there aren’t any lions in Haiti. But this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t learn more about this species.
Here are 5 interesting facts about lions that you should know.
1. Lions are social animals
The last thing that you can think of is that lions can be social creatures. But it’s true, they’re considered the most social of all the big cats.
This is why they live in groups, or prides, in regions that they inhabit. These prides of lions are equivalent to what you consider family.
Lions are very protective of their pride. They have hierarchical structures, and you can find up to 40 lions in a single pride.
2. They don’t need water 24/7
Unlike other mammals, lions don’t rely on drinking water all the time. They can survive without water for an entire day. What they do need though is a lot of food.
Adult lions need to eat up to 16 pounds of food daily.
3. The females do the hunting
Lion prides are matriarchal in nature and female lions do most of the hunting.
Even though there’s a lot of teamwork at play, the females are smaller and more agile. This advantage helps them to catch their prey better than their male counterparts.
4. They don’t live in jungles
Although the term “king of the jungle” rolls off the tongue, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Lions don’t actually live in the jungle.
They’re mainly found in plains that consist of grasslands. In fact, wide-open savannas are where you’re likely to find a majority of lions.
5. They’re exceptional communicators
These animals are known for their ability to communicate in many ways. They use grunts and roars to send each other messages.
They also use olfactory signals by leaving scent markings all over the place. Lions in a pride can even tell if the scent was left by one of its members or by a lion from another pride.
