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Little Tobago




Little Tobago (or '''Bird of Paradise Island''') is a small island off the northeastern coast of Tobago , and part of the republic of Trinidad And Tobago . The island is about 1 square kilometre in area and is located at 11° 18' north Latitude and 60° 31' west Longitude , approximately 2.4 Km from Speyside . The highest point on the island is approximately 137 M above Sea Level .

The island supports Dry Forest . It is an important breeding site for Seabird s such as Red-billed Tropicbird , Audubon's Shearwater , Brown Booby , Brown Noddy , Sooty and Bridled Tern s. A few pairs of White-tailed Tropicbird s have also recently started nesting here.

Little Tobago is also a good site from which to see birds which breed on neighbouring small islands, including Red-footed Booby and Magnificent Frigatebird . The latter species is frequently seen harassing the tropicbirds, boobies and terns.

The sea between Tobago and Little Tobago is shallow, and glass-bottomed boats such as that shown below enable the attractive corals and brightly-coloured tropical fish to be seen on the crossing. It is a popular area for snorkeling and diving, especially on Angel Reef in front of Goat Island.


HISTORY

In 1909 Sir William Ingram introduced the Greater Bird Of Paradise , ''Paradisaea apoda'' to the island in an attempt to save the species from overhunting for the plume trade in its native New Guinea . About 45 juvenile birds were introduced to the island. After Ingram's death in 1924 his heirs deeded the island to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago as a wildlife sanctuary. The birds survived on the island until at least 1958 when they were filmed by a '' National Geographic '' crew. There are no reliable records after 1963 when Hurricane Flora hit the island and the population is presumed to be extinct.

, Tobago, with Goat Island nearer on the right. The white building is the former home of writer Ian Fleming ]]


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