Islands Inhabited Only By Animals
It is not strange for anyone to meet all kinds of species of living beings in cities or areas of public use. However, there are certain animals that do miss each other when they have contact with man, especially if the human being decides to enter islands inhabited only by animals.
Next, we show you a list of 6 different islands isolated from human contact and the species that are the only owners of their home. Whether endemic or introduced, these animals are safe from human acts.
1. Ilha de Queimada Grande
Better known as Isla de las Cobras, it is an area of 43 hectares located 30 kilometers off the coast of Sao Paulo, Brazil. This island is home to the Bothrops insularis, a viper that has 5 times more powerful venom than the fearsome Yarara.
This snake feeds on large birds, as the small ones have learned to alert others to the presence of the predator. Due to this, evolutionarily its venom has grown stronger. However, the species is in critical danger of extinction, due to forest fires generated on the island. Access to it is prohibited by the Brazilian government.
2. Aoshima
To the south of Japan, there is an island that is dominated by cats. There are only 20 elderly people who support themselves thanks to the tourism generated by this small space, in which 120 felines of different races and colors converge. The cats were introduced to the island to control a rodent infestation that affected the small fishing region.
In the 4.4 hectares that comprise the island, cats reproduced at an accelerated rate after the Second World War. These are fed by tourists in small quantities so as not to affect their health. Currently, Japan has more than 12 islands dominated by cats, which are known as nekojim as
3. Big Major Key
This is a small 90 hectare island located in the Bahamas. It has 3 fresh water springs, which serve as an indispensable source for the feral pigs that inhabit it. The unofficial versions affirm that the pigs arrived in this space by surviving a shipwreck or that some sailors left them on the islet to eat them later, but they never returned.
Besides a few cats and goats, this is one of the islands inhabited only by animals. Many tourists come to interact with the curious pigs, who have easily adapted to the beach lifestyle. Since 2017, it is forbidden to feed the 20 pigs that inhabit the island and are protected by the government of The Bahamas.
4. Malpelo Island
The island is located in the Pacific Ocean, 500 kilometers off the Colombian coast. This 35 hectare volcanic island does not have much wildlife on the surface, beyond some birds, reptiles and few plants. There are some endemic species on the island such as the Malpelo Lizard (Dactyloa agassizi).
However, in the depths of its waters a valuable treasure hides: a large number of hammerhead sharks ( Sphyrna mokarran ), whale sharks ( Rhincodon typus ) and smooth sharks ( Odontaspis ferox ). These are affected by the illegal fishing of sharks, for which the Colombian government established a small base of the National Navy to defend the area.
5. Komodo
It is a well-known island belonging to Indonesia, home to the popular Komodo Dragon ( Varanus komodoensis), identified as the largest lizard in the world. This region has an area of 390 square kilometers and is only populated by some indigenous tribes, which do not exceed 2000 individuals.
The Komodo Dragons are the main attraction of the island and are protected by a natural park, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. However, efforts have not been enough and this species of reptile is considered Vulnerable. (VU) within the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
6. Assateague
This island is located in the United States, in the territories of the states of Maryland and Virginia. It has an area of 60 kilometers and is one of the islands inhabited only by animals. In this case, the residents are wild horses descended from more than 1000 pack animals, which were released in this space.
The island has swamps in which horses cool off, which have adapted without major problems to the Atlantic heat and summer storms. There are 2 herds of horses that converge on this island, which is divided by a metal fence, which serves as a state division.
There are several animals that have not allowed themselves to be dominated by the presence of man and have made certain places their own. In addition to these cases, there is also that of the Christmas Island Crabs in Australia or that of the Marine Iguanas in Fernandina Island, in the Galapagos. If you ever visit these landscapes, try to respect and take care of the endemic species spaces.
