Iriomote island

Iriomote island = 西表島 (Iriomote-jima)

Iriomote island is one of the nice islands of Okinawa prefecture. With nature full of good surprises there, it is a great spot for ecotourism! Meeting wild animals while trekking or canoeing in a jungle really changes one’s vision of life, nature and humanity; I can only recommend such an ecotour, with a good guide on Iriomote island…

Trees in the jungle of Iriomote island

Exceptional trees live in the jungle of Iriomote island. Some look thirsty, others prehistoric…

Reached by canoe, a mangrove with long roots plunging into a river:
Mangrove on 西表島 (Iriomote island, Japan) on 31 October 2008.

Reached on foot after canoeing, a Sakishima-suo tree with impressively tall but thin roots. You can grab one just like a plank!
Sébastien Duval with François between the roots of a Sakishima-suo tree on 西表島 (Iriomote island, Japan) on 31 October 2008.

Animals in the jungle of Iriomote island

Beautiful wild animals inhabit the jungle and rivers of Iriomote island. Some are cute and friendly, others scary and dangerous…

First, a friendly lizard climbing my sweaty arm. Admire its right eye, scales, yellow and dark tail, claws… What an experience!
Lizard on Sébastien Duval's arm on 西表島 (Iriomote island, Japan) on 31 October 2008.

Second, a colourful lizard with black, yellow and blue stripes. Open your eyes in the jungle, look on the ground, on trunks, between leaves…
Colourful lizard in the jungle of 西表島 (Iriomote island, Japan) on 31 October 2008.

Third, a venomous Habu viper. Be careful with such snakes and obey your guide!
Venomous Habu viper in the jungle of 西表島 (Iriomote island, Japan) on 31 October 2008.

Fourth (without photo due to fast movement and reflections): Ferocious Minami-kurodai piranhas in Nakama river.

Fifth (also without photo due to fast movement at night): Iriomote-yamaneko wild cat (endangered species).

Trips to Iriomote island

I went on a trip to Okinawa with stay on Iriomote island in 2008.

USEFUL JAPANESE
  • Sakishima-suo tree = 先島蘇芳木 (Sakishima-suo-no-ki).
  • Habu = 波布, Iriomote-yamaneko = 西表山猫.
  • Nakama river = 仲間川 (Nakama-gawa), Minami-kurodai = 南黒鯛.

One thought on “Iriomote island”

Leave a Reply