About Barbados

HISTORY
Originally inhabited by Amerindians (Arawaks and Caribs being the last two tribes - respectively), the island was settled in 1627 by the English who recorded it as being 'uninhabited' at the time. The settlers formed their own house of assembly in 1639 making it the 3rd oldest parliament in the world. Gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.

POLITICS
Thirty-three years after gaining independence, Barbados remains justly able to boast about its political stability and quality of life, being currently ranked by the United Nations as the world's number one developing country. The government is based on the Westminister system with three active political parties.

ECONOMY
Sugar has been the main agricultural product of Barbados for over 350 years. Barbados currently produces 60% of its petroleum requirements. Barbadians are generally intelligent (99.9% literacy rate) law abiding and hospitable. It is hardly surprising therefore that tourism is now the number one industry followed closely by financial services and infomatics, both of which require a highly educated work force and sound infrastructure.

RELIGION
Barbadians are generally practitioners and believers. There is a great degree of tolerance with over 100 religions practicing harmoniously together in more churches than there are days of the year.

LIFESTYLE
Plenty of sunshine, fresh breezes, sufficient rainfall to both top up the underground supply of pure drinking water and enrich the soils; a year round local supply of fresh fruit, vegetables, poultry, meats and fish; an outdoors, exercise-oriented lifestyle. No wonder Barbados has such a high proportion of centenarians.

Wildlife of Barbados in Brief

The Raccoon (Procyon gloveralleni), was introduced into Barbados around 1,000 years ago by Lokono-Arawak Indians who kept them as pets. Sadly, this species is now feared extinct as the last one captured was in the 1970's; in the Hackleton's cliff area of the parish of St. John. The Barbados Museum is the only place where a stuffed specimen of this wonderful animal can still be seen.

Common Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus)

Our common Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) resemble the Holarctic Stoats & Weasels, and were introduced into Barbados from India in 1879 - ostensibly to control the rodent (Mus musculus, Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus) populations; this failed miserably as the Mongoose is diurnal whilst the rodents are nocturnal. In every island that this diminuitive carnivore was introduced to - the Mongoose has decimated native Reptile and ground nesting bird populations; driving some to extinction.

European Hare (Lepus capensis)

The European Hare (Lepus capensis) was introduced into Barbados in the 1860s presumably as hunting game for the 'highly intelligent' plantocracy who nowadays amuse themselves by shooting migratory birds in their artificially created 'resting pond ambushes'; as well as the occasional Green monkey ...whenever the opportunity presents itself. The European Hare is now quite rare, and is only ever observed (if you are very lucky!) in isolated pockets in 3 of 11 parishes (St. Andrew, St. George, & St. John).

Barbados Green Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus)

The Green Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) is still common in Barbados with an estimated population of between 5,000 - 10,000 specimens. This Old World primate (one of 2 species introduced into 2 different Caribbean islands - Grenada being the other) arrived in Barbados aboard a slave ship over 350 years ago - as gifts from Senegal and the Gambia. Barbados is one of the leading exporters of 'disease free' primates for Biomedical research to North American and European laboratories; this is primarily done by Dr. (of Primatology) Jean Baulu - the French Canadian owner of the Barbados Wildlife Reserve.

BIRDS

There are 100 different species of birds that can be regularly seen in Barbados, 64 of these are migratory - with Ospreys, Falcons, sandpipers and terns being among the transients. 36 species are resident in Barbados and out of this total 7 are members of the parrot family (Psittacines) though none of these are native to the island, they are the locally rare Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), the uncommon Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), the uncommon Green-rumped parrotlet (Forpus passerinus), the few but readily seen Indian ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri), the few but readily seen Blue-headed parrot (Pionus menstruus), the few but readily seen Yellow-shouldered Amazon (Amazona barbadensis) and the few but readily seen Orange-winged Amazon (Amazona amazonica); these and a few other random species of escaped exotics (including Cockatoos and Macaws) seem to nest mainly in the cabbage palm trees in the suburb of 'Belleville'on the outskirts of the capital city of Bridgetown.

Morgan Lewis Windmill, St. Andrew, Barbados.

Codrington College, St. John, Barbados.

Old Barbados train bridge at mouuth of Joe's River.

Click on the map for a larger (152K) image.

Fishing Bat (Noctilio leporinus leporinus)

There are 6 species poorly known Bats (Chiropterans) in Barbados, the scientific names for them are 'Monophyllus plethodon plethodon (An endemic subspecies), Myotis nigricans (an insectivorous endemic subspecies), Molossus molossus molossus (a common, insectivorous, house & cave dwelling species), Brachyphylla cavernarum (a frugivorous cave-dwelling species), Artibeus jamaicensis jamaicensis (a frugivorous species), and Noctilio leporinus leporinus (a piscivorous species)'.

Bat (Noctilio leporinus leporinus)

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

There are 16 species of Reptiles and Amphibians in Barbados (counting both introduced and endemic species together), these are :

ANURANS (Frogs and Toads)
Whistling frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei)
Giant toad (Bufo marinus)

CHELONIANS (Turtles and Tortoises)
Green turtle (Chenonia mydas)
Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Red-Footed Tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria)

Photos of Barbadian Herptiles can be seen on the Caribbean Herpetological Society website.