COVER STORY | THE MALDIVES
Flora and Fauna
The vast diversity of marine life in the Maldives comes to mind regarding plant and animal life . However , the land itself has been shaped by the tropical climate and boasts 260 native plants despite its somewhat less-than-perfect soil and several fascinating small animals .
Most islands have poor , sandy soil , and vegetation ranges from thick to sparse to none at all . The vegetated islands have mangroves , breadfruit trees , banyans , bamboo , pandans , banana , tropical vines , and numerous coconut palms .
The larger , wetter islands have small areas of rainforest . Sweet potatoes , yams , taro , millet , and watermelon are grown . The most fertile islands are Fuvahmulah in the deep south , which supports a wider variety of crops , including citrus fruit and pineapples . Thoddoo , in the central atolls , is known as the watermelon island due to the production volume .
In the north on Hannimaadhoo , you will find the Maldives Agricultural Centre , where recent trials on growing tomatoes were carried out .
Maldivians have green fingers , and during the lockdown , it was even more evident in the city as families grew fresh fruit , leaves , and vegetables on their apartment balconies .
Giant fruit bats , or flying foxes , are widespread on many islands ; even in the city , you ’ ll see them cruising past at dusk . Colorful lizards are pretty common , and there is the occasional rat . Domestic animals include cats , a few chickens , and the odd rabbit . A few islands rear goats , but there are no cows in sight !
Birdwatchers will do better than wildlife spotters . Over 167 bird species have been recorded in the Maldives , including seabirds , shorebirds , and terrestrial birds .
They include breeding residents , southern winter visitors ( shearwaters and storm petrels ), and northern winter visitors ( mostly waders , raptors , and some terns ).
Land birds include crows , the whitebreasted water hen , and the roseringed parakeet . But waders like plover , snipe , curlew , and sandpiper are more common . Several types of heron can also be seen in the shallows waiting to catch their next meal .
The Maldives has a tropical monsoon climate . The mean daily maximum temperature is 30 ° C with an annual average rainfall of 2,000 mm . Rainwater percolates through the highly porous coral sand , forming a freshwater lens above the seawater . This is how and why water wells are in existence .
There are no rivers in the Maldives , and surface freshwater is generally lacking throughout the archipela go . However , some islands have freshwater lakes , some containing swampy depressions , and others have brackish water ponds with fringing mangroves .
Mangroves are vital as they help stabilize the ecosystem and prevent erosion . They also provide natural infrastructure and protection , absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather events and high tides .
Mud bathing in these swampy depressions is an encouraged activity in the deep north and deep south !
Seagrass is vital to the low-lying island nation of the Maldives ; it prevents beach erosion , fights climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide , provides food for sea turtles , supports fisheries , and houses juvenile coral reef fish .
Despite this , seagrass in the Maldives remains an undervalued habitat . It is considered a nuisance to the tourism industry rather than an asset . Many resorts actively remove the seagrass around their islands to offer clear aqua blue waters caused by the reflection of the sunlight on the white sandy base .
There is so much I could share about my island home , but I hope I have offered an overview that has presented the Maldives as much more than luxury resorts .
You can never fault the friendliness and hospitality of Maldivians . Nothing is too much trouble for them .
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Travel + Lifestyle 21