Wildlife watching in Malaga and elsewhere in Andalucia

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Wildlife watching in Andalucia many sites remained unspoilt

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In Andalucia, nature can be seen everywhere, in the mountains and at sea. In the countryside, there are many wading birds that accompany the herds of goats and sheep. Andalucia offers many sites for wildlife watching.

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Note: at the bottom of the page you will find 8 ideas for excursions with guides to observe wildlife (land and sea) in Andalucia.

And then a photo gallery of nature watching in Andalucia.

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What’s more, there’s one animal in Europe that is almost exclusively found in this region: the chameleon. It is particularly common in Axarquía, in the province of Málaga. This is linked to the subtropical climate.

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But you can also see (see photos below), geckos, dolphins, seahorses, kestrels, Iberian goats,…

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The king animal in the province of Malaga, as in the rest of Andalucia, is undoubtedly the pink flamingo.

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It is very present in many lagoons, such as Fuente de Piedra.

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At the bottom of the page you will find an excellent link to a site that presents all the fauna in Andalucia!

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The chameleon

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Thanks to the subtropical climate of Axarquia, the chameleon is at home here.

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It can sometimes be found in tropical trees (mango and avocado trees). This animal is protected. It is therefore recommended to be as careful on the roads with chameleons as with hedgehogs.

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The common cameleon is the only chameleon species living in Europe. A few can be found in the Algarve in Portugal or in Sicily, but 85% of the chameleon population lives on the coast and in the mountains of Axarquia.

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The Seahorse – sea fauna in Malaga –

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This very special animal can be seen diving around Nerja and Maro.

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The seahorse is unique in the animal world as it is the male that carries the eggs and gives birth to several thousand little seahorses in a few hours.

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It is possible to observe it on the coast for diving enthusiasts. Here is a link to a diving and snorkelling centre in Torrox.

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(photo credit: H. Zell)

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Among the insects, the dragonflies!

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When hiking in Andalucia, nature watching is always a spectacle.

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Especially the observation of dragonflies along the rivers.

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The gecko

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This gecko, of the Tarentola mauritanica family, is frequently seen in the evening on the walls of houses in the villages.

It keeps close to the light sources where they watch for insects. Here it is called the salamanquesa, and it is said to be a lucky animal!

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Its particularity, unlike lizards or chameleons, is that it has suction cups, it is the only animal that can climb and stand on a straight wall or ceiling.

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La cabra montés, the ibex

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It can be observed quite easily on the cliffs of Maro (Nerja) when hiking.

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…or simply when you go to a beach or a wild cove.

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They are also often seen in Comares (above), Alfarnate and Alfarnatejo. It is an incredibly dexterous animal when climbing up cliffs.

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Kestrel

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With the surrounding mountains, there are many birds of prey, and in particular the kestrel.

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They are always a sight to behold. The kestrel is easy to watch and even to take a picture of, and many have even moved into the villages themselves.

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The photo was taken in Torrox pueblo.

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In the north of the province of Málaga, you can easily see vultures overhead.

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They are quite numerous in the fabulous El Torcal Park, just outside Antequera.

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Dolphins

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They are often seen all along the Costa del Sol, and here with a bit of luck you can even see them from the beach (Almayate, Algarrobo, Nerja, Torrox, Torre del Mar).

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Above, the film was made by boaters off Nerja. Several colonies of dolphins have settled on the coast.

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Wildlife watching in Andalucis : Guided excursions

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From the GetYourGuide platform:

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• Whale and dolphin watching in Tarifa: the link

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• Cabo de Trafalgar, whale and dolphin watching in Barbate: the link

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• Lynx watching in Doñana Park: the link

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From the online booking platform, Civitatis

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• Birdwatching in Andalucia, in the Sierra de Aracena: the link

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• Hike in the Sierra de la Nieves to observe the flora and fauna: the link

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• Walk in the Pinsapos forest for lovers of flora and botany: the link

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• Excursion to the salt marshes and wetlands of Cabo de Gata: the link

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• Snorkelling in the protected Cabo de Gata Natural Park: the link

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Andalucia nature-watching photo gallery

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