Rooksana Hossenally
Section editor
Travel is my driving force in life, and although I have had the privilege of visiting 30 countries so far, my heart will always remain in India...
The birds of the Cook Islands More than 100 species of birds live on the Cook Islands, including 26 species originating from the archipelago. © D.R.
The natural fauna is limited to lizards and birds. The only mammals that are native to the Cook Islands are Tongan flying foxes that only live on Mangaia and Rarotonga. Among the endemic bird species, you will find kingfishers; the Rarotonga monarch (or kakerori) is a rare species that only lives in a limited area of the island (Takitumu Reserve). Parrotfish, sea cucumbers and humpback whales are among the species that can be found in the surrounding waters.