Cayman Wildlife Connection

Both geographically and culturally, the Cayman Islands are unique in the Caribbean area. However, they share with other countries the challenge of controlling progress so that the natural environment does not suffer irreparable damage." A Guide to the Natural History of the Cayman Islands: a publication of the Cayman Islands Conservation Association, (CICA) produced in 1976 by Cayman Free Press Ltd.and dedicated to the children, in whose hands the future lies. Like CICA so many years ago, we are inspired by the desire to preserve the natural environment for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. We believe that by incorporating native plants into home landscaping and learning to understand and live with our native wildlife and butterflies we can integrate nature into our daily lives. Though preservation of wild habitats is of paramount importance, to divide the world into “them and us” – to attempt to put all wildlife and natural vegetation into parks will not be enough. Everyone can help by making their backyard gardens into mini-habitats for butterflies and other wild creatures.

"A network is non-hierarchical. It is a web of connections among equals. What holds it together is not force, obligation, material incentive, or social contract, but rather shared values and the understanding that some tasks can be accomplished together that could never be accomplished separately. One of the important purposes of a network is simply to remind its members that they are not alone." Meadows, Meadows and Randers - Beyond the Limits

These are some of the children of the Cayman Islands; They trust us - let's save some of the special beauty of the Cayman Islands for them, and for all our children, grandchildren and the generations to come

This web site is still under construction. Please bear with us. We have many beautiful and educational photos to post and much information to share, but it will take us time to bring it all online. Please CONTACT US for advice about native plant landscaping in the Cayman Islands. Watch this site as it grows!

We are not funded and do this work on our own time. Our motivation is preservation and conservation of Cayman Islands’ unique biodiversity for our children and grandchildren by enthusing others to make their own contribution in their own way --- a lot of people doing a little. We have "delegated ourselves" as a recent Public Service announcement on Radio Cayman suggested! We hope to show ordinary people how to help preserve native plants, butterflies and all Cayman Islands wildlife by creating backyard habitats and encouraging the preservation and planting of native trees and plants.

Butterflies cannot survive without their larval food plants and this quite often means native plants that are considered “weeds”. Cayman Wildlife Connection hopes that as interest grows, more local nurseries will begin propagating native plants for local use. Sometimes it is only a matter of leaving nature alone. Do you have a place where weeds, wild flowers and shrubs can grow naturally for Cayman's 50 species of butterflies? A small butterfly zone in your garden can be encouraged and maintained by using the plants that might naturally spring up. CWC will provide help and information so that these areas can be optimized to benefit as many species of butterflies as possible. Please don’t forget the larval food plants! Caterpillars are your future butterflies.

This website is deeply indebted to Ann Stafford of CaymANNature for inspiration and all butterfly & moth identifications and data. Currently, it is updated regularly and lovingly tended by Lois Blumenthal on behalf of the wild animals of the Cayman Islands. The site is donated and maintained by Reid A. Weske of California WebWise.

Lois Blumenthal

Lois Blumenthal initiated the National Trust Bat Conservation Programme for the Cayman Islands in 1992. It is the most successful in the Caribbean and is internationally acclaimed as a prototype for tropical countries worldwide. She is the Caribbean Coordinator for Bat Conservation International and founded a listserv that links bat conservationists and researchers throughout the region. Details of her program, including sample press releases and educational resources are available free through this website, which also features descriptions and photos of some of the Cayman Islands' distinctive flora and fauna. This work is not complete (and may never be!) - new photos are added as they become available.She is a Lifetime Member of the National Trust, has served on the Trust Council since 1994 and currently serves on the Executive Committee as Secretary.

On behalf of the National Trust, she established the Wildlife Rescue Centre and served as manager until 2007. She volunteered in the National Trust Blue Iguana Recovery Programme (BIRP) since 1993 where she initiated and coordinated the fresh fruit and vegetable project resulting in the first successful hatchings in two years.

Ms. Blumenthal has written numerous pamphlets, brochures, magazine and newspaper articles about conservation for both local and international publications. Materials written for local schools include The National Symbols Study Guide and The Coral Reef Colouring Book. She wrote the Mastic Trail Guide; and is co-author of Landscaping with Cayman Islands Native Plants for Butterflies & Wildlife.

With local and international photographers, she developed an educational slide show for schools (K through University), available free on this website. She speaks in classrooms and leads nature walks for students, including youth at risk. She has been a featured speaker for Rotary Club, Lions Club and other service clubs and for the National Trust's "Know Your Islands" Programme.

She is an avid naturalist and an advocate for the conservation of nature through cooperative means. As past president of the Garden Club of Grand Cayman, she spear-headed beautification projects including Sea-Farer's Hall and the Mission House as well as assisting schools, churches, nurseries and gardeners to landscape with Cayman Islands native plants. She believes that a closer connection to the natural world is highly beneficial and creates a more positive outlook in young people and adults and she feels strongly that the community as a whole benefits socially and economically from the preservation of unique native plants, wildlife and ecosystems.

She has been a regular visitor to the Cayman Islands since 1975 and in 1990 moved there permanently with her family.

Destination Magazine article about Cayman's Eco-heroes. For complete story, please see our PRESS page.

Grow Cayman Plants, encourage Cayman wildlife!