Celebrating the great outdoors and natural environment is all well and good, but you do not want to be saying, "Oh that animal is cute! What is it?" and as you go closer for a photo, end up yelling, "Yikes! Run!"
The natural flora and fauna of Trinidad and Tobago is wonderful to watch but we thought we'd just remind you of certain species of wildlife and plants that you should be particularly aware of.
Handling the natural inhabitants of the outdoors requires some knowledge of which are dangerous and which are safe. This knowledge is the key to having an enjoyable experience.
"I remember it as clearly and vividly as though it happened yesterday," began Richard Joseph, zookeeper at The Emperor Valley Zoo, St Ann's, Port of Spain. "About 15 years ago, I was on a ridge at El Tecuche, in the Northern Range. My group and I were on a nature trail, doing animal research, at around 11:00 a.m. There was a trench about 7 feet below us. All of a sudden, we heard a rumbling noise, much like thunder rolling; but as it was bright and sunny out, we assumed a tree fell or something like that.
We had not walked five steps further when we heard a louder thundering and looked in the direction from where the sounds came," said Joseph. "The ground began to shake and we saw trees and foliage falling away on the left and right. In the middle of the clearing appeared an amazing and scary sight. About 15-20 colored peccaries (also called Wild hogs or quenks by hunters and old timers), came into view.
"I have great respect for wild hogs, but I have to tell you, these creatures are probably the most aggressive-looking animals ever seen in the wild. They have canine teeth on either side of their mouth, which grow to about 4 inches long and stick out like tusks or 'horns'. Their eyes, aggressive behavior and whole appearance instill fear in the heart of the average man. When you see them coming you just want to run for cover and get out of the way.
"Luckily for us, we did not have to scramble up trees or dive out of the way to avoid being attacked by the hogs.
We were safe up on the ridge, many feet away from their path. We got a good view of them as them sped by, and speed they did! These amazing animals move with such speed that they clear away anything in their path as they run together. They also have very thick hides/skin and hairs that are so close together that they do not feel the brush as they move past them. They rarely get injured during a stampede.
"Hunters have even said that they can bite a hunting dog to shreds, but I know that they can also be domesticated to the point of being safe enough for you to walk up to one and gently touch its hide. It is simply a fact that any animal can defend itself and if you are not where you should be when they need to pass by, you may get injured, because they do not stop running till they reach wherever they are going.
"Sadly there are only a few 'pockets' (small families) of these left. The colored peccary/wild hog is now endangered and must be protected, because of the indiscriminate hunting that has taken place. Their flesh is very expensive and hunters insist, is very tasty. Some Farmers are actually now raising them semi-commercially in their effort to help curb the hunting, give them a chance to repopulate and replenish their species. Meanwhile, they are being cared for in a safe place by our rangers and people like me, as these animals are too beautiful and valuable to allow them to become extinct," ended Joseph.
Wild boars are not the only animals to be weary of. Our local tiger cat, known as the Ocelot, is another wild animal to stay clear of. Fortunately, they are very intelligent and cautious creatures, and would sooner hide themselves, by camouflaging amongst the trees than confront a human.
As for other not-so-friendly natural inhabitants, which you may meet in our forests, "there is the species of snake called the 'Bushmaster', or 'Mapepire zanana' - one of our four venomous snakes," says Shari Wellington, Research Officer, of the Zoological Society of Trinidad & Tobago (ZSTT). Just as Albert Einstein said, "The more I study science, the more I believe in God" - so too, when you see a Bushmaster, you'd better believe in God!"
Bert Manhin, of the La Vega Estate, agrees.
"As far as dangerous animals go, the one to be most careful about is the Fer de Lance or Mapepire snake. It is easy to identify because the scales seem to be raised and look a bit like small feathers. The colour is brownish; one of them has a pattern like a pineapple (Mapepire zanana).These very 'poisonous' snakes resemble rattlesnakes. If you are walking or hiking in the forest, my advice is to look carefully where you put your foot. They are common in the Northern Range.
"Another common snake is the Boa Constrictor which is not 'poisonous' but can give a nasty bite. Some of them are quite aggressive."
"Two common plants to avoid in forested areas are:
1) A large stinging nettle that resembles egg plant or melongene but has thorns or spines which are quite visible on the surface of the leaves. Once you brush against it I'm sure that you will keep away from it.
2) The other is commonly known as razor grass. The leaves are fine but the plant grows like a vine and is generally supported by other bush. It looks quite innocent but if you run into it you will get several cuts which are only skin-deep but rather painful.
Finally, insects are generally handled by wearing insect repellants, but "you should be on the look out for bees, wasps, centipedes, scorpions and large black spiders that are our local version of the Tarantula or Black Widow.
They can show up anywhere in the bush, but usually like old dusty buildings that have been abandoned or hardly frequented. So if you are staying in a hut, be sure to clean and dust it out well, if you can, before you turn in for the night, or you may find an unwelcomed bed-partner in the morning," advised Farmer Joey of La Resource Road, D'abadie, Arima.