French Quarter:--- The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to the Endemic Animal Festival. The festival will take place from 9am to noon this Saturday, April 25th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. It is a wonderful chance to learn about the special animals that live only on our island or only in our region. Attendees will enjoy a book giveaway, a craft activity, a scavenger hunt, and more. The festival and all of the activities are free.
“Endemic animals and plants are the most unique part of local nature,” explained Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “They are the species that live only on this island, or only on a few islands in our area. It’s amazing that there are plants and animals that can only be found here, and nowhere else in the world! They’re an incredible part of St. Martin’s natural heritage. Come out and celebrate them at this free, fun festival!”
Copies of Endemics Around Me, a bilingual coloring book and nature journal, will be given away at the festival. The book presents 40 plants and animals that are unique to St. Martin or to our region.
“We love giving this book to kids,” said author Mark Yokoyama. “It’s a great way to learn about animals and plants that live only here, like the Bearded Anole and the St. Martin Milk Pea. These are some of St. Martin’s most precious treasures.”
The event will feature a snail station where guests can learn how scientists find land snail shells in the soil. Many of these snails are special to our region.
Festival attendees are invited to explore the Amuseum gardens and grounds to find the plants and animals in the scavenger hunt. Kids and adults will also enjoy the event’s craft station, where they can decorate magnetic canvases with endemic plant and animal designs to take home.
The Endemic Animal Festival will be from 9am to noon on Saturday, April 25th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on the hill above Coconut Grove in French Quarter. The free festival is sponsored by Delta Petroleum. Development and printing of Endemics Around Me was supported by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin.