The Cayman Islands are famous worldwidefor their fabulous beaches, clear waters and magnificent diving. But there's much more to these three small islands; things that are often overlooked. This is why Government, assisted by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, decided that it was time for Cayman to adopt its own National Symbols of its wildlife. Three symbols of flora and fauna were to be chosen which would recognise another part of Cayman's rich natural heritage and add to peoples' sense of cultural pride and identity.

In a national campaign spearheaded by the Trust and culminating in a polling in May/June 1995, the people of the islands were asked what they thought represented Cayman best. They voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Silver Thatch Palm for their National Tree, the Wild Banana Orchid for their National Flower, and the Cayman Islands Parrot as their choice for National Bird.

These three nominees ideally fitted the criteria laid down by the ad hoc Advisory Committee, which was established by the Ministry of Community Development, Sports, Youth Affairs and Culture to oversee the selection process. As well as being visually appealing with certain distinguishing characteristics, readily recognisable and fairly accessible, they are all wild species, unique to the Cayman Islands. They can be found on all three islands and have been and still are of cultural importance. Both historically and traditionally, they are of intrinsic value to the Caymanian people.

Right up until the early 1960's, the Silver Thatch Palm has played an important role in the lives of the Caymanians. Bearing the scientific name,Coccothrinax proctorii, after renowned botanist, Dr. George Proctor, its leaves are what give this tree its common name. The upper sides of the leaves are a light green while the underside is a silvery colour that is particularly prominent in moonlight.

The tree produces a profusion of small white flowers that develop into berries that ripen from green to red to black. It has unusually tough leaves that have a variety of uses, from roofing for houses to the making of hats, baskets and fans. Shoes known as "wompers" were made with a flat leather sole and held on the foot by straps - like a thong - of thatch rope. To make thatch rope, women and children would cut "tops" (new unopened leaves) and hang them out to dry before they were split into strands. Three strands were then twisted together to make a rope on an ingenious handmade machine which was comprised of three parts - the winch, cob and cart. Thatch rope was highly prized in Cuba and Jamaica for use in the shipping, fishing and sugar industries.

The Cayman Islands also boast a number of spectacular native flowers, including 26 different varieties of orchids. Probably the best known and certainly one of the most unique and easily identifiable is the Wild Banana Orchid ( Myrmecophila thomsoniana).

Found flowering in abundance after the spring rains in April/May, there are, in fact, two varieties of this orchid: Myrmecophila thomsoniana var. thomsonianawhich originated on Grand Cayman, and Myrmecophila thomsoniana var. minorwhich came from Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Both varieties have scented flowers with purple lips, although the petals are predominantly white on the Grand Cayman variety while the Sister Islands' variety has slightly smaller flowers, with pale yellow petals. The flowers appear at the top of a long curved spike at the bottom of which cluster Banana-like pseudobulbs that give this orchid its name.

The sight of a pair of Cayman parrots is a familiar one to many Caymanians. You are more likely to hear their raucous squawking before actually seeing one, especially in the early morning and lateafternoon when they are most vocal. When feeding quietly in the tops of trees, they are so well camouflaged you may never realise they are there.

The Cayman Islands' parrots are two subspecies of the Cuban Parrot (Amazona leucocephala). Cayman's parrots have iridescent green feathers with darker edges over the body, a white eye ring, red cheeks, black ear patches and brilliant blue wing feathers which are only obvious when the bird is in flight. The tail has blue outer edges, with some red and yellowish green underneath. The Grand Cayman Parrot (Amazona leucocephala caymanensis) also has a pink flush to its whitish forehead. The Cayman Brac Parrot(Amazona leucocephala hesterna) is slightly smaller, with more black trim on its green feathers. The crown is pure white, and there is a large maroon area on the abdomen. It is now found only on Cayman Brac: although it used to inhabit Little Cayman it was apparently wiped out from there in the great storm of 1932.

Parrots have a long-standing association with people. In early Caymanian folklore, pirates were described as having a Cayman parrot on their shoulder and old "Polly" was a common family pet. Today, however, it is illegal to take a parrot from the wild and keep it as a pet.

Look out for these three symbols: They appear on stamps, as well as in educational kits for schools and promotional materials for the tourism industry.

In the interest of ensuring a genuine cultural identity, a condition of the use of the symbols is that they should be depicted in their natural likeness. In this form, they especially help prove yet again that there is far more to the Cayman Islands than just sun, sea and sand. These symbols are a part of Cayman's natural beauty that, until recently, has often been overlooked or taken for granted. Now they take pride of place in Cayman's wonderful natural heritage.

Last Updated: 27 Jun 2012