Page 14 - AHATA

a8 local
Tuesday 4 November 2025

Unique fauna of Aruba

but each of the three islands has a
different breed. The Yellow-shoul-
dered Amazon parakeet that we
have on Aruba is also found along
the coast of Venezuela. Unfortu-
nately, there is interbreeding be-
tween the breeds due to cage
birds from, for example, Curaçao
being released on Aruba. The par-
akeet population on Aruba is in
danger due to extensive defores-
tation occurring on the island be- old. A female rabbit, called a doe,
cause of the growing population. finds a suitable nest spot under a
shrub or rocks and lines it with fur.
The prikichi weighs between 90 to She can have an average of 3 to 4
100 grams. It has a greenish-brown litters per year averaging 5 young
head with some yellow around the each. The doe only visits her young
eye. The back and wings of the once or twice a day to nurse her
parakeet are dark green, and the babies for a period of 2 to 3 weeks.
underside of the body is a lighter The young reach independence
shade of green. There is also a bit at 4 to 5 weeks.
of blue in the wings. The parakeet’s
beak is gray/black. The Aruban Conew is an endan-
gered species and protected by
Parakeets often use termite nests Aruban law. The Conew is thought
as breeding sites. Parakeets are to have drastically declined due
found in all natural environments to an increase in human activities,
(mondi) of the island. It defends it- habitat fragmentation and preda-
self by flying away and loud cries. tion by the invasive Boa constric-
Parakeets eat seeds from the pods tor as well as feral cats and dogs.
For a small island, Aruba sure has of the Kwihi tree, Divi Divi, and co- However, recently there seem to
a lot of unique treasures. Among The nest of the shoco is a burrow lumnar cactus. They also consume be more rabbit sightings in rural
these, we have some subspecies in the ground. If the shoco can- natural fruits. Its main predators are and wilderness areas and also in
of animals that are unique to our not find a burrow, it will dig one in boa constrictors, humans. the National Park. This could be
island. These have evolved to per- soft soil. The shoco lays one or two linked to a recent decline of the
fectly adapt to our desert climate eggs every other day until all the Conew (cottontail rabbit, invasive Boa population after the
and make Aruba their home. At the eggs are laid – a shoco can lay up Sylvilagus floridanus nigronuchalis) long period of drought. As the
same time, they are part of what to four eggs. The first owlets hatch The Eastern Cottontail rabbit (Syl- Conew can reproduce very quick-
makes Aruba truly one of a kind. after three to four weeks. The sho- vilagus floridanus) was probably ly, a short break in predation pres-
co owl takes care of the owlets for brought over to the island by In- sure can lead to a fast increase of
Shoco (burrowing owl, Athene three months until they leave the dian settlers thousands of years rabbits. Sadly, the Boas are back
cunicularia arubensis) nest. Only a few owlets survive. ago as a source of food. This rab- on the rise again with the truly wet
The shoco is a small bird which is sel- bit, locally known as Conew, has rainy seasons we have recently ex-
dom seen. They are active during The owls dig burrows in the ground spread all over the island and has perienced. This could cause a new
the day but are more active later with low grass vegetation. An owl become part of our ecosystem. decline in the Conew population
in the day and at night for hunting. can live up to nine years. The very adaptable Conew can that was just starting to recover.
These owls have very good night live in a wide variety of habitats,
vision and very good hearing. Its defense mechanism is simply to including Aruba’s xeric scrublands, These are but a few of Aruba’s
The shoco is the national symbol of fly away or retreat to its burrows. where it typically grazes on weeds beautiful inhabitant, which we
Aruba. They eat mostly insects, mice and and grasses. must all contribute to protect.q
lizards, and the main threats to their
The shoco has about 20cm of survival are boas – an invasive spe- The Aruban Conew has a brownish
length, and the females are slightly cies introduced by humans as pets grey color and a distinctive white
heavier than the males. They are – and humans through destruction belly. This white fur extends to the
light brown in color, with many of their habitat. bottom of the tail which becomes
white spots. The belly of the Shoco visible as the rabbit runs. These rab-
is either white or light brown, and Prikichi (parakeet, Aratinga bits can grow up to approximately
the shoco has striking yellow eyes. pertinax) 40 centimeters in length over their
Its beak is yellow/green. Young The Prikichi is the national bird of short lifespan of 3 years. Cottontail
owls do not have white spots and Aruba. On Aruba, Bonaire, and rabbits reach reproductive maturi-
are lighter in color. Curaçao, parakeets can be found, ty when they are just 2 to 3 months