We love having Caribbean Paddling as a sponsor for the 2017 Endemic Animal Festival! As everyone on St. Martin knows, a trip to Pinel Island is the perfect way to spend the day. Renting a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from Caribbean Paddling is the perfect way to get to get there. They even have a giant paddleboard for up to six people. Visit their website to see everything they have to offer.
We’re thrilled to have Delta Petroleum as a sponsor of the Endemic Animal Festival this year. They are also the sponsor of this year’s location, Amuseum Naturalis! Founded in 1985, Delta serves the Caribbean with superior performance diesel, gasoline and LPG meeting U.S. and European standards. Delta is a proud and growing member of the communities from the Virgin Islands to Martinique. Delta Petroleum has sponsored Les Fruits de Mer events since 2013.
http://deltapetroleum.com
The Endemic Animal Festival is thrilled to have the sponsorship support of Sonesta Resorts. Sonesta Resorts St. Maarten features three stunning oceanfront limitless all-inclusive properties including the family-friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, the adults-only Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, Casino & Spa and the newest addition, the luxury adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort. Each property boasts several restaurants and bars, multiple pools, extensive wedding, events and meeting facilities, casino and a signature Serenity Spa offering treatments to pamper guests. All inclusive Day passes are available at $89 for Sonesta Maho or Great Bay Beach Resort, as well as discounted local resident rates for overnight stays.
L’Esperance is a brand new sponsor for the Endemic Animal Festival and we are excited to have them! Conveniently located in Cay Hill with easy access to both Philipsburg and Simpson Bay, L’Esperance Hotel features 22 spacious and luxurious one and two bedroom suites appointed in tropical rattan. Features include our beautiful pool with a sun deck, air-conditioning, cable TV, direct dial telephones, in-room safes, full kitchens, private balconies, and free Wifi.
http://www.lesperancehotel.com
St. Martin’s native animals may not be famous yet, but they deserve to be. They are a true showcase of what makes the island unique, and some of them are found nowhere else in the world. They’re also the stars of a new ebook titled Caribbean Curiosities: Native Nature and the upcoming Endemic Animal Festival.
The free ebook tells six fascinating stories centered around different native animals, including bats, lizards, birds, fish and insects. It is illustrated with vibrant photos taken on the island. The ebook was written by Mark Yokoyama and released by the non-profit association Les Fruits de Mer. It can be downloaded from the Les Fruits de Mer website.
Les Fruits de Mer also produces the annual Endemic Animal Festival, an event celebrating the animals that are found only on St. Martin, or only in our region. This year’s event will be held at Amuseum Naturalis, St. Martin’s only natural history museum. In addition to the museum’s regular exhibits, there will be a variety of other attractions during the festival, including an Endemic Animal Discovery Station and wildlife-themed art activities. The free, all ages festival will be held on Sunday, April 23rd from 9am to 3pm.
To download Caribbean Curiosities: Native Nature and to learn more about the Endemic Animal Festival, visit lesfruitsdemer.com. Amuseum Naturalis is located at 96 Boulevard de Grand Case in Grand Case and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-8pm.
We’re very happy to have The Scuba Shop as a sponsor for Endemic Animal Festival 2017! Founded in 1993, The Scuba Shop is conveniently located in Simpson Bay. They are the largest dive store in the Windward and Leeward islands and an long-time supporter of Les Fruits de Mer and the Endemic Animal Festival. Swing by for scuba or snorkeling gear, or to pick up their free snorkeling guide.
http://thescubashop.net
Also, the annual Underwater Easter Egg Hunt is coming up soon! Mark your calendars for Monday, April 17th!
We’re proud to have IGY Marinas as a sponsor of this year’s Endemic Animal Festival. We still have sponsorships available for this event, so please get in touch to help us create a great free and fun event!
IGY Marinas
IGY operates the award-winning marinas Isle de Sol and Simpson Bay Marina. Their marinas are ideally located in Simpson Bay, offering a full range of services and easy access to all the island has to offer. The Yacht Club at Isle de Sol was awarded the prestigious Blue Flag eco label in October of 2011, making St. Maarten the first country in the Dutch Caribbean to have a Blue Flag marina.
http://www.igymarinas.com
Hotel L’Esplande is an Endemic Animal Festival sponsor this year. They’re a long-time supporter of Les Fruits de Mer and our events. We still have sponsorships available for this event, so please get in touch to help us create a great free and fun event!
Hotel L’Esplanade
This hotel has established a cult following from guests that enjoy an authentic, luxurious, unpretentious and un-touristy Caribbean experience with a homey feel. Acknowledged by TripAdvisor as one of the Caribbean’s “Best Hidden Gems”, and more recently named #19 of the top 25 hotels in all of the Caribbean. Hotel L’Esplanade has been a benefactor member since 2013 and has sponsored many Les Fruits de Mer events.
http://www.lesplanade.com
We’re thrilled to have Tri-Sport as an Endemic Animal Festival sponsor this year. They’re a returning sponsor from last year, and we’re proud to have their ongoing support. We still have sponsorships available for this event, so please get in touch to help us create a great free and fun event! Also, be sure to visit Tri-Sport!
About Tri-Sport
Tri-Sport is the go-to shop for the active community of St. Maarten/St. Martin and the neighboring islands of Anguilla, Saba, Statia, and St. Barths. They run ecologically-friendly tours that get people out and moving – kayaking, bicycling, hiking, boogie boarding, and snorkeling. Tri-Sport’s retail shops carry all the necessities for triathlons with an emphasis on bicycles.
http://trisportsxm.com
The fourth annual Endemic Animal Festival is just around the corner. This free, fun event highlights the unique animals that live only on our island or only in our region. Here’s the scoop about this year’s event:
Les Fruits de Mer’s annual Endemic Animal Festival is a free public event for all ages that celebrates St. Martin’s unique wildlife and natural heritage. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about the animals that only live on this island or in our region. The 2017 event features an Endemic Animal Discovery Station, a Club Gaïac seedling giveaway, local wildlife-themed art activities and free access to the island’s only natural history museum. It will take place at Amuseum Naturalis, 96 Grand Case Boulevard in Grand Case on Sunday, April 23rd from 9am-3pm.
The festival is made possible by our sponsors: Tri-Sport, Hotel L’Esplanade and IGY Marinas. We are still seeking additional sponsors for this year’s event. Contact us to find out how to become a sponsor!
For more information about Amuseum Naturalis, visit amuseumnaturalis.com.
Join and share the event on Facebook.
Here’s another set of great photos from the 2016 Endemic Animal Festival from Agnès Etchegoyen. Thanks again to all the volunteers, everyone who came out to enjoy the event, the St. Maarten Zoo and our sponsors: Buccaneer Beach Bar, Calmos Cafe, Delta Petroleum, Hotel L’Esplanade, Lagoonies Bistro and Bar, Loterie Farm and Tri-Sport!
We were lucky to have Maël Renault filming at the event, so we cut together a little video to share the Endemic Animal Festival experience.
Local wildlife took over the St. Maarten Zoo this past Sunday morning, and over 400 people came out to see and learn about it. The occasion was the third Endemic Animal Festival, an annual wildlife discovery event created by the Les Fruits de Mer association to celebrate the unique animals that are found only on our island or only in our region.
“We were delighted with the turnout, and the positive response we got from the attendees!” said Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “This event is especially important to us because it’s all about the wildlife that make this island special and unique.”
The Festival’s Endemic Animal Discovery Station showcased live reptiles, insects and crustaceans that are only found on St. Martin or only in the Caribbean, with panels explaining the origins and importance of these special species. Wildlife experts were on hand to share fun facts and answer questions. At the station, guests picked up a checklist of over 20 local species that can be seen in the wild on the zoo grounds and headed on a self-guided wildlife walk: a series of ten permanent signs created and installed in March tells the story of St. Martin’s native wildlife, with a focus on species that live at the zoo naturally.
At the art activity station, kids—and the young at heart—made colorful crowns featuring endemic wildlife. 200 Endemic Animal Activity Books were also distributed at the event. Both the crown designs and the activity books are available for free download on the Les Fruits de Mer website so they can be used by teachers and parents. Eco-friendly canvas grocery totes were given away as well.
A Bird Observation Station was set up on the Great Salt Pond where guests learned to use special scopes and binoculars to spot Laughing Gulls, Magnificent Frigatebirds, an Osprey and many other species that depend on pond and wetland habitats. The station was hosted by professional birding guide and Nature Foundation board member Binkie van Es. The Great Salt Pond is internationally designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA).
Event attendees also enjoyed visiting the zoo itself, which has been transformed by recent renovations. In addition to the new native animal signage, plantings are underway to develop the zoo grounds as a botanic garden. Other renovations include bright new picnic tables and shade gazebos, a relaunched petting zoo, and an all-new Monkey Bar which will officially reopen on May 1st.
The Festival, including admission to the Zoo, was totally free. The event was staffed entirely by volunteers and funded by the generous support of the 2016 sponsors: Buccaneer Beach Bar, Calmos Cafe, Delta Petroleum, Hotel L’Esplanade, Lagoonies Bar & Bistro, Loterie Farm and Tri-Sport. Photos from the event, the Festival’s free companion eBook Eye on Endemics: Caribbean Originals, and free downloads of the activity books and crown craft can be found at www.lesfruitsdemer.com.
The 2016 Endemic Animal Festival was a great success, with over 400 people attending and having a great time. Here are a few photos of the event, taken by Les Fruits de Mer member and photographer Maël Renault.
The event offers a full array of fun designed for kids, families, and people of all ages, including an endemic wildlife walk with a native animal checklist, free native animal activity books, and a variety of wildlife-themed art activities.
Festival-goers can get an up-close look at St. Martin’s native wildlife at the Endemic Animal Discovery Station, where experts will be on hand to talk about the live endemic animals on display and answer questions. A Bird Observation Station staffed by a professional birding guide will be set up on the Great Salt Pond next to the Zoo, where attendees can learn to use a variety of birdwatching scopes and binoculars to spot native birds and other wetland wildlife. At the Art Station’s craft workshop, children will enjoy creating their own endemic animal crowns to become kings and queens of the Festival.
Admission to the zoo will be free for all ages during the event, and guests are invited to see what’s new, including a ten-panel installation of signage telling the story of St. Martin’s native animals. “The story of our native animals, particularly those that can only be seen on St. Martin, is one the most fascinating things we can share about our natural heritage,” explains Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama. “It encompasses some of the most important concepts in biology, but it is also very specific to this one tiny island where people and nature are living together.”
While this year’s festival is the third Endemic Animal Festival on St. Martin, it is the first to be held at the St. Maarten Zoo. With new native animal signage and a variety of new native plants and trees, the zoo is developing its potential as a botanical garden and a space to observe native animals. This Sunday will also feature the launch of the completely renovated petting zoo, and a sneak preview of the new Monkey Bar, which will offer a special mini-menu of savory panini, barbecue, salads, snacks, and drinks at the Festival.
“Don’t forget to bring your camera,” reminds Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “In addition to all the free, fun Festival activities, we’ll also be announcing the theme for this year’s Heritage Photo Contest. You can even start working on your entries at the event!”
The third annual Endemic Animal Festival takes place from 9am-noon on Sunday, April 24th at the St. Maarten Zoo on Arch Road in Madame Estate. The event is open to the public and completely free, thanks to the generous support of the 2016 sponsors: Buccaneer Beach Bar, Calmos Cafe, Delta Petroleum, Hotel L’Esplanade, Lagoonies Bistro and Bar, Loterie Farm and Tri-Sport. For more information, visit: https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com or find Les Fruits de Mer on Facebook.
One of the most important aspects of our wildlife discovery events is the fact that they are always 100% free. We believe the wonders of the island’s natural heritage belong to everyone, and we love being able to share them. At each event, our generous sponsors are the ones who make this possible, providing all the funding for our events so we can make them totally free. This year, we have seven fantastic sponsors, many of which have been supporting Les Fruits de Mer for years. Thank you!!!
Buccaneer Beach Bar
Conveniently located on Kim Sha Beach, Buccaneer Beach Bar is a friendly watering hole for locals and visitors alike. Relax in the glow of the fireballs on Friday and Sunday evenings, or bring the whole family on Fridays for kids movies on the beach.
http://buccaneerbeachbar.com
Calmos Cafe
Located on the beach in Grand Case, St. Martin, Calmos Cafe is a restaurant and bar serving great food in a friendly, casual atmosphere seven days a week. Calmos Cafe has been a benefactor member of Les Fruits de Mer since 2013 and has sponsored many Les Fruits de Mer events.
http://lecalmoscafe.com
Delta Petroleum
Founded in 1985, Delta serves the Caribbean with superior performance diesel, gasoline and LPG meeting U.S. and European standards. Delta is a proud and growing member of the communities from the Virgin Islands to Martinique. Delta Petroleum was a sponsor of Birds & Bugs 2013.
http://deltapetroleum.com
Hotel L’Esplanade
This hotel has established a cult following from guests that enjoy an authentic, luxurious, unpretentious and un-touristy Caribbean experience with a homey feel. Acknowledged by TripAdvisor as one of the Caribbean’s “Best Hidden Gems”, and more recently named #19 of the top 25 hotels in all of the Caribbean. Hotel L’Esplanade has been a benefactor member since 2013 and has sponsored many Les Fruits de Mer events.
http://www.lesplanade.com
Lagoonies Bistro and Bar
Lagoonies Bistro and Bar serves food that is crazy good for breakfast, lunch and dinner and hosts some of the hottest live music on the island several nights a week. Located at Lagoon Marina in Cole Bay, they are easily accessible by land or sea.
Lagoonies Bistro and Bar
Loterie Farm
Loterie Farm is a private nature reserve on the western slope of Pic Paradis. The 54-hectare property includes broadleaf forest as well as the remains of historical buildings dating back to the 18th century. Loterie Farm aims to safeguard both the history and the environment while also sharing these unique natural surroundings with the public. One of the most ecologically significant sites on St. Martin, Loterie Farm has hosted a great deal of biological research, including ongoing studies of birds and other animals. Loterie Farm offers hiking and zip-lining as well as a gourmet restaurant, lounge, and spring-fed swimming pool.
http://loteriefarm.com
Tri-Sport
Tri-Sport is the go-to shop for the active community of St. Maarten/St. Martin and the neighboring islands of Anguilla, Saba, Statia, and St. Barths. They run ecologically-friendly tours that get people out and moving – kayaking, bicycling, hiking, boogie boarding, and snorkeling. Tri-Sport’s retail shops carry all the necessities for triathlons with an emphasis on bicycles.
http://trisportsxm.com
Check out the preview video for the 2016 Endemic Animal Festival. The event is going to be a lot of fun and there’s just one week to go. Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 24th from 9am to noon and head out to the St. Maarten Zoo to learn about these amazing animals. Check out the festival page and the event on Facebook where you can invite your friends.
In preparation for the upcoming 2016 Endemic Animal Festival, Les Fruits de Mer has released a free eBook—Eye on Endemics: Caribbean Originals— featuring full-color photos and fascinating info about some of the captivating lizards, birds, and insects found only on this island or only in our region. The book is available for free download on the association’s website, https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com. The Festival itself will take place on Sunday, April 24th from 9am to noon at the St. Maarten Zoo in Madame Estate.
The free eBook is a companion piece to the association’s third annual Endemic Animal Festival, and was designed to be downloaded not just onto computers and laptops, but also onto smartphones and tablets to identify endemic species on the go, explains Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “The Festival is a chance to get up close with the animals that are unique to our island and area, while the eBook gives people a more in-depth look at some specific endemics, including local names. You can use it as a mobile tool–it even tells you where to look for the different species we spotlighted!”
Many of these species will be featured at this year’s Endemic Animal Festival, which will include an Endemic Animal Discovery Station, native animal activity books, guided wildlife walks, and art activities related to endemic animals. This year the Festival will be held at the St. Maarten Zoo to showcase the new series of native animal panels created by Les Fruits de Mer, funded by SXM DOET and Be the Change SXM, and installed by a team of volunteers from Les Fruits de Mer, SXM DOET and St. Maarten Zoo.
“The 2016 Festival is the perfect way to officially launch this project to weave the story of St. Martin’s natural heritage into the landscape of the zoo,” says Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama, “We’d like to invite everyone to come out to enjoy the zoo, see the new panels, and have a great time at the Festival!”
The April 24th Festival is free and open to the public, and is made possible by the generosity of event sponsors Buccaneer Beach Bar, Calmos Cafe, Delta Petroleum, Hotel L’Esplanade, Lagoonies Bistro and Bar, Loterie Farm and Tri-Sport. For more information about the event, or to download the free Eye on Endemics: Caribbean Originals eBook, visit https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com or find Les Fruits de Mer on Facebook.
We’re quite excited to have our upcoming Endemic Animal Festival featured in Le Bon Air, the in-flight magazine of Air Antilles. Or, I guess I should say Festival des Animaux Endémiques!
Once again we were blessed with fantastic support from local and regional media for the Endemic Animal Festival. We had exceptional coverage which helped bring record crowds to the event. Below are some press clippings and links to online coverage of the event.
Le Pélican, April 2015
The Daily Herald, April 2015
St. Martin’s Week, April 2015
St. Martin’s Week, April 2015
SXM Fax Info, April 2015
Le Pélican, April 2015
Today Newspaper, April 2015
The Daily Herald, April 2015
Le Pélican, April 2015
St. Martin’s Week, April 2015
The Daily Herald, April 2015
Today Newspaper, April 2015
Anguilla News— Eye on Endemics eBook
SXM Info— Eye on Endemics eBook
Soualiga Newsday— Eye on Endemics eBook
721 News— Eye on Endemics eBook
SXM Island Time— Eye on Endemics eBook
SXM Info— Celebrate Wildlife
Soualiga Newsday— Celebrate Wildlife
SXM Island Time— Celebrate Wildlife
721 News— Celebrate Wildlife
Le Pélican— Celebrate Wildlife
Soualiga Newsday— Habitat Restoration
721 News— Habitat Restoration
SXM Info— Habitat Restoration
St. Martin News Network— Habitat Restoration
SXM Island Time— Record Crowds
Soualiga Newsday— Record Crowds
Anguilla News— Record Crowds
Carib Direct— Record Crowds
SXM Island Time— Record Crowds
Pearl FM Radio – Record Crowds
St. Martin News Network – Record Crowds
The Endemic Animal Festival was a huge success this year and we will be sharing more about the event in the coming days as we recover and unpack, but first some wonderful images from Marc Petrelluzzi. Also, a huge thank you to all the volunteers, the event couldn’t have happened without you, and it wouldn’t have been amazing if you weren’t amazing!
Endemic Animal Festival 2015 Photos:
Here are Les Fruits de Mer we are excited about the upcoming launch of Club Gaïac, a multifaceted heritage tree project. The project is centered on the Gaïac tree, also known as Lignum Vitae or Tree of Life. It is a magnificent native tree that is endangered because it was overharvested for its wood—the hardest in the world. The project includes an interactive map of local Gaïac trees (please help us add any that you know about), a crowdsourced experiment to develop and document the most effective growing practices, a repository of information about the biology, heritage and local use of the tree, and ongoing plantings of the tree to restore habit on St. Martin.
Come to the Endemic Animal Festival on Saturday from 9am-noon to participate and take home a seedling.
Learn more at the project page for Club Gaïac!
We’re getting ready for the Endemic Animal Festival by releasing a free eBook about some of our regionally-endemic birds: Eye on Endemics. You can download the PDF from the Resources page on our site. Be sure to mark your calendars for the festival itself, which is coming up on Saturday, April 25th!
All of the EAF 2015 details are available here.
