Page 32 - bon-dia-aruba-20200418

a32 local
Saturday 18 april 2020
Aruba’s nature is to be cherished

ST. CRUZ — The national Snakes
park Arikok is managed FPNA strives to create
by the Foundation Nation- awareness amongst the
al Park Arikok (FNPA) and community on the different
comprises almost 18 % of snakes that reside in Aruba.
the island. Its rugged ter- As you may be spending
rain, desert-like hills filled more time in your garden
with tall cacti, breathtaking during the current crisis, it is
coastline and protected crucial to recognize our na-
local flora and fauna wel- tive species and the inva-
come you to be explored. sive species. The most com-
mon snake that you can
There is numerous wild- encounter in your garden
life to discover like for ex- is the Santanero, native to
ample the sea turtle who Santanero Aruba and Venezuela. A Boa
lays his eggs on the park’s Santanero in your garden
beaches, indigenous rep- tant national area in the will keep away the insects, please do not harm this spots. If you encounter a
tiles include the cascabel, 1980s, Arikok National Park toads, frogs and lizards. species. Boa around your garden,
the santanero or Aruban is home to popular hik- Our Santanero is smaller please make sure that it is a
Cat-eyed snake and the ing trails, covering all kinds than 50 centimeters, has Perhaps the most notice- Boa and not a Santanero. If
kododo blauw or Aruban of terrain from hills to gold a dark and light brown- able snake that you can you have any doubt send
whiptail lizard. Birds include mines, and even plantation banded pattern and a encounter in your garden us a photo through our
the shoco or Aruban bur- ruins. In the national park plain white belly. Its head is the Boa constrictor, an in- Facebook messenger to
rowing owl and the prikichi some traditional Aruban is round or oval-shaped. If vasive species. It was intro- verify the species. In case it
or Aruban parakeet. First houses in the cas di torto you encounter a Santan- duced to Aruba and is con- is a Boa, a Park Ranger will
designated as an impor- style can be visited. ero around your garden, suming much of our local contact you.
fauna. The most distinctive
feature of a Boa is its pat- The Arikok Park is closed
tern of dark brown and tan until further notice due to
blotches which become the Corona crisis, for more
red toward the tail. The information you can visit
belly is white or cream-col- their Facebook page and
ored with numerous black website.q
Aruba from abroad

ORANJESTAD — Aside of our columns ‘Aruba to me’
and ‘Arubans living Abroad’ we have the format
‘Aruba from Abroad’ where our readers abroad can
send us pictures and words to express their love for
and connection to the island.

Today we share these two amazing pictures from
Brian. He says:

“Miss you all and we miss the beautiful sunsets!
Can't wait until we are back in Aruba again.”
Brian Thomson q