Green Monkey Afternoon--A Visit to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve (Photo Essay)

We have some family visiting us from Sweden and we took them up to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve for the afternoon.  We feel that you haven't truly experienced Barbados until you see our Green Monkeys.  They were brought over on ships from Senegal in the 1600's and now are considered a separate species.  They run wild all over the island but the only place you can be practically guaranteed to see the monkeys is at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. 

We always take visitors there in the afternoon since the monkeys are free to roam in and out of the reserve and they only come back to eat and sleep.  Feeding time is at 2pm, but they really start showing up somewhat later.  It was about 3:00 when we went in.  There is no admission after 3:30 but the park is open until 5.  The Reserve is situated, fittingly, at the top of a banana grove.  As you drive in, you see this sign.

Once you get into the wildlife reserve, the first thing you see are turtles.  Lots of turtles.  At last count, there were 400--according to the gentleman we talked to.  After you've been through the park, you'll swear you've seen every one of them.    While we were there, many of the turtles were intent on, um, making more turtles.  So it's sort of educational in a nature special sort of way.

 The brochure describes the "shy deer."  We didn't see any of those kind.  We saw the not-so-shy deer who would, when nudged, move out of the path for you to pass.   Another animal that you'll see in profusion is a marrow.  It's a Brazillian mammal that looks like a cross between a rabbit and a deer.  As a matter of fact, our kids refer to it as a jackalope and it's the closest thing to a jackalope that I've ever seen.

 We ran in to a keeper and he went to get some fish to feed the cayman.  We hadn't even seen them since they like to keep very still.  He was only able to get them to move when he threw fish directly on their noses.  Even so, we got this menacing looking shot.

We went in the walk through aviary where there were a couple of rather motheaten turkeys and this gorgeous pair of parrots.  Here they are in their cute little house.

We went into the "house" where there were lots of animals.  The first was a HUGE Python--25 feet long.  Her head was the size of my 8 year old's head.  Then we went to an indoor/outdoor pen with iquanas, hermit crabs and a fat white bunny.  I have no idea why a fat white bunny was in the pen with these big iguanas.  We speculated that it must be the killer rabbit from "The Holy Grail."  We followed the path to a cool 3 story aviary filled with different species of parrots and parakeets.  The keeper helpfully threw fish into the pond where the brown pelicans were swimming so we could watch them feed.  It was so cool to watch the shape of the fish in their rubbery throat pouch.  I wanted to post photos of all of these critters but I couldn't get them to upload. GRRRR!

Finally we got to the feeding area where we saw the main attraction--a troup of green monkeys feeding among a veritable mob of turtles.  The keeper gave the children some mango and banana to coax the monkeys into coming over to them.

The monkeys had such expressive faces and postures.  This guy was just kicking back.

This one was sitting so primly.

There were several babies but they were quick and it was hard to get a good shot.

Everyone had a great time, including the monkeys who appreciated the extra tidbits.

When we'd had our fill of feeding monkeys and taking pictures, we headed home.  Our youngest visitor said it was "the most fun ever."  Just wait until we go on an Island Safari tour tomorrow!