The Canary Islands have long been a hotspot for tourists looking for sun, beaches, and relaxation. However, what do the islands offer those who are looking for something a little different, specifically those interested in animals? In this article, we'll take a look at what kinds of animals locals and visitors can see, and the best way to do so.
Such is the popularity of animals in tourist regions; no matter what island you are on, there is going to be a zoo or eco-park for tourists. For example, Palmitos Park on the island of Gran Canaria has something for everyone, with both sea and land animals present.
The popularity of animals means that they can be engaged with in multiple ways, in both the real and the digital world. There are numerous television documentaries dedicated to animals, such as Blue Planet. In the iGaming industry, wild animals such as elephants normally found wandering African plains, are found in games like Fluffy Favourites, a slot that includes a variety of animal-themed symbols to trigger free spins along with other special features and bonus rounds. Although you can't see elephants in their natural habitat in the Canaries, you can see them roaming zoo plains with zebras, big cats, and plenty of other exotic animals.
For this adventure pursuit, you won't have the certainty of seeing creatures like you do in the zoo, but the excitement when you do will be so much more. Whale or dolphin watching is not something most people think you can do within the EU, but if you visit at the right time of the year, you might just get lucky.
There are whales all year round in between Tenerife and La Gomera, in fact, it is one of only three places in the world where they live and breed, and there is a very high chance of seeing them when you visit.
Short-finned pilot whales can live in pods of up to a hundred, so they can be easier to spot. Dolphins, on the other hand, are seen around the Canary Islands for the whole year. Although smaller, they regularly jump out of the water for that perfect photo opportunity.
Endemic species are animals that are specific to a certain region or area and are not found anywhere else in the world. Lemurs in Madagascar and turtles on the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, are famous examples.
However, due to the geography of the Canaries, it also has some creatures that are endemic to the region. There are plenty of birds included in this list, like the laurel pigeon, the Tenerife blue chaffinch, and, of course, the canary, with Tenerife said to be the best island to spot them. While on the ground, endemic species of shrew, lizard, and gecko live off the local landscape while trying to escape capture from the birds above.
So, if you or anyone you know is travelling to the Canaries in the next few months with their eye on spotting some animals, then there is plenty of variety. Scheduling a trip around the migratory patterns of whales would not be the worst idea in the world, but there are other animals to enjoy and learn about if that's not possible.
