Discover the biodiversity of Gran Canaria
In pre-Hispanic times, large parts of the island were covered with forest. With the Spanish colonization, the deforestation began, which irretrievably destroyed the diverse flora and fauna.
For several years, attempts have been made to save the stock. The Canarian government has declared 47% of the island to be nature reserves.
The particular climatic situation caused by the structure and geographical location of the island leads to an extraordinary wealth of plant species. There are around 1.800 species here, of which around 500 grow exclusively in the Canary Islands, e.g. B. candelabra milkweed, the Canarian palm, the particularly resilient Canarian pine and the dragon trees. Typical of Gran Canaria are the prickly pear cacti, agaves, bougainvilleas, palm trees, hibiscus, passion and trumpet flowers, bay trees, heather, pine, thyme and - not to forget - the strelitzia, which have become a landmark of Gran Canaria. The fauna of Gran Canaria is home to some interesting bird species, such as alpine swifts, camp pipit, black woodpecker, blue fink, swallows, gulls and shearwaters. On the other hand, we find an indescribable diversity of marine life in the Atlantic.
Rabbits, lizards, bats and many insects live in the mountains, including some special butterflies such as the monarch. The cochineal scale insect's red dye was once used in cosmetics and food.
