Flora and Fauna of St. Helena

Exotic but endangered plant life supporting equally exceptional wildlife

Flora and Fauna of St. Helena

Region: Antarctica

Destinations: St. Helena

St. Helena’s host of endemic plant life

One of the most distinct qualities of St. Helena flora is its degree of endemism. Another is the threat of extinction it faces due to human impact. The introduction of goats by the Portuguese in 1502 began this process, coupled with the introduction of non-native flora and timber cutting. Today you can still see the endemic St. Helena redwood, St. Helena dwarf ebony, and black cabbage tree.

The wide cast of St. Helena wildlife

BirdLife International has designated much of St. Helena as an Important Bird Area due to the abundance of breeding seabirds and land birds there. Noddies, terns, petrels, and tropic birds nest on St. Helena, along with the island’s only surviving endemic bird: the St. Helena plover, also known as the wirebird for its wire-like legs. Though there are no endemic land mammals on St. Helena, seals and whales provide other photographic opportunities in addition to all the bird life.

Related cruises

Atlantic Odyssey

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HDS31-25 The Atlantic Odyssey cruise visits some of the remotest islands in the world, crossing the migratory paths of Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas, other birds, and a variety of whales as they make their annual expeditions north for the breeding season.

m/v Hondius

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Atlantic Odyssey, excl. Antarctic Peninsula

This far-ranging expedition voyage sails the breadth of the Atlantic, visiting several of the remotest islands in the world!

PLA32-26 The Atlantic Odyssey cruise visits some of the remotest islands in the world, crossing the migratory paths of Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas, other birds, and a variety of whales as they make their annual expeditions north for the breeding season.

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PLA33-26 During the days at sea the chances of meeting whales are high. Witness the northbound spring migration of northern birds like Arctic Terns and Long-tailed Skuas who join us in crossing the Equator (“the Line”).

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