Fiji Nature Guide
birds, wildlife and fauna
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Fiji Islands
Pacific Travel Guides
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Fiji
Nature Guide
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Within the 850,000 hectares of natural forests in Fiji (nearly half the total landmass), there are large areas of hardwood trees including Sandalwood and Kauri. Fiji's rainforest covers much of the larger islands, most of which is owned by local village clans. Here there are more than 2000 indigenous plant species, many of which have medicinal use to both locals and multi-national pharmaceutical companies.
Mangrove Forests
Mangroves are estimated to cover nearly 20,000 hectares of Fiji's coastal regions. These remarkable trees tolerate salty waters and anchor themselves in tidal estuaries or in muddy water that is high in oxygen. The mangrove forests are rich in bird and sea-life and are excellent fishing grounds for the locals.
Many parts of the coast along Viti Levu are covered in mangrove forests. A boat journey through the meandering corridors of the mangrove forests has yet to catch on as a tour in itself. However, some resorts offer guests private tours through these environments and it is quite easy to find a small boat around Nausori that is dropping passengers off at their villages along the river banks of the mangrove forests.
mangroves
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flowers
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Botanical Gardens
The Garden of the Sleeping Giant sits at the foothills of the Nausori Highlands about 10 minutes drive north of Nadi. The attractive landscaped gardens specialise in Fiji's native plants as well as housing an impressive collection of orchids, some native. A jungle walk takes visitors past a large lily pond and through native forest.
Thurston Gardens in Suva is a public botanical park next to the Fiji Museum. Although there are few flowers in the park, the indigenous shrubs and trees are all labelled and give a calming atmosphere in the centre of this busy City.
South Sea Orchids, the Burness family home just outside Nadi, also has a collection of orchids and other tropical flowers. The family welcome visitors to their charming home and will happily show you their collection of traditional and colonial artefacts.
A unique feature in Fiji is the rare Tagimaucia flower which is found in the high rainforests of Taveuni and Vanua Levu in the Northern Islands. The most prolific flowering is around scenic Lake Tagimaucia between October and December. The trail is quite arduous, especially on a hot and humid day.
tagimaucia flower
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sea birds
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Bird life
There are over 100 species of birds in Fiji. The main island of Viti Levu has many species of birds, especially around the rainforests along the coral coast and Pacific Harbour. Kadavu, a large rainforested island in the Southern Islands, has a number of stunning musk parrots as well as unique species of fantails and honeyeaters Taveuni in the Northern Islands has a diverse bird life including parrots and lorikeets. Endangered silktails can be found in the south eastern region of neighbouring Vanua Levu. There are several small islands that have been declared as Nature Reserves for birds, particularly nesting boobies. These include the 45-hectare Namenalala Island off Vanua Levu in the Northern Islands, Mabualau near Toberua Island in Lomaiviti, Bird Island off Vatulele in the Southern Islands and Hatana Island off Rotuma. Qamea, a large volcanic island off Taveuni in the Northern Islands is another good spot for exploring and bird watching.
Accommodation for Eco Tourists
Land Animals
Fiji has few natural animals - the tiny gecko and large land crabs are all most travellers along with the imported mongoose and giant toad. However, there are several notable species including the unique banded iguana indigenous only on Yaduataba Island off Vanua Levu The iguanas change colour to regulate its internal heat and are closely related to iguanas found in South America. There are also several species of tree frogs found in the rainforests of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Ovalau and Taveuni. The harmless but massive Boa snake is another rare sight in the rainforest.
banded iguana
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sea turtle sanctuary
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Marine Life
Sea turtles nest along many beaches in the Fiji Islands a few resorts have developed conservation programmes to help increase turtle population and dissuade local villagers from killing them for their meat. The warm South Pacific Ocean also provide a home to dolphins, reef sharks, rays. There is an extraordinary variety of soft corals which are rich in marine life including an abundance of exotic fish, anemone and sea snakes. Fiji's premier marine park is within the Great Astrolabe Reef off Kadavu.
Wildlife Parks
Kula Wildlife Park, outside Sigatoka on the Coral Coast has a collection of Fiji's natural wildlife and is a conservation park for Fiji's endangered species.
Kula - email: mitman@is.com.fj
Orchid Island outside of Suva, Viti Levu has a small collection of Fiji's wildlife including the banded iguana, parrots, snakes and sea turtles.
Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Nature
Fiji Nature
Samoa Nature
Tonga Nature
Hawaii Nature
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