Maria Islands Nature Reserve, Nature reserve off the southeastern coast in Saint Lucia.
The Maria Islands Nature Reserve consists of two small islands near Vieux-Fort that together protect a diverse mix of wildlife and plants. The islands serve as a breeding ground for seabirds and are home to species found nowhere else on the island.
During colonial times, the islands provided refuge for people escaping enslavement and later became a protected reserve. The designation as a conservation area has helped preserve the natural habitats that exist here today.
The Saint Lucia National Trust manages this protected area through educational programs and conservation initiatives that involve local community participation.
Access to the islands is by boat from Pointe Sables Interpretation Center. Visitors should plan around seasonal closures when birds are breeding and nesting on the islands.
The islands are home to one of the world's rarest snakes, whose population declined sharply after mongooses were introduced to the area. This species exists nowhere else on Earth.
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