Zapata Peninsula

Zapata Peninsula

The Zapata Peninsula is located in the southern part of Cuba, in the province of Matanzas. The peninsula is home to the Ciénaga de Zapata National Park. The park, which is of outstanding national, regional and global natural value, is the main core area of the Biosphere Reserve and the Ramsar site of the same name. The Zapata Swamp is known for being the best-preserved wetlands in the entire Antilles, and home to more than 900 native plant species, 175 bird species, 31 reptile species and over 1000 invertebrate species. Several of the most important are endemic to Cuba. Birds include the Zapata Wren, the Zapata Rail, and the Zapata Sparrow. The marsh is also a special habitat for the Bee Hummingbird, the world's smallest bird species. The area is also frequented by around 65 species of birds on their migratory routes to South America from North America via the Caribbean. Zapata is also famous for the locally endemic Cuban Crocodile, which is found only in the Zapata Marsh and is being reintroduced to Lanier Marsh, on the nearby Isle of Youth. There is also a sympatric American Crocodile in the area, and hybridization is taking place between the two species, as confirmed by a Cuban-American hybrid found on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico following a migration from the swamp. The area is also home to flamingos, Yellow Warbler, Cuban Brown Curlytail, Northern Mockingbird and Eastern Giant Toad.