On the trail of St Lucia's 'small six' rare and endangered species

Waiting at the lookout point high in the hills of the rainforest in St Lucia, a fine white mist snaking its way through the lush verdant canopy of trees, we suddenly see a flash of green, crimson and yellow flying across the valley.

- BY HANNAH STEPHENSON

To gasps of delight, our guide Nestor Toussaint points out the St Lucia parrot, the island's vibrant, vocal national bird and one of the rare and endangered species we are searching for on this fertile island in the Eastern Caribbean in a new 'small six' safari, an alternative take on Africa's 'Big Five'.

The trail in the centre of the island, an hour from the famous west coast with its pristine beaches and five-star resorts, is the place these colourful birds, St Lucia's national symbol, make 'cac-cac' calls before crossing the rainforest corridor, flying in circles and across the great tree canopy. We see a further five before we leave.

Others in the 'small six' which can only be found on the island include the St Lucia black finch, the distinctive black and orange oriole (a species of songbird), the worm (thread) snake, whiptail lizard and pygmy gecko.

Many Caribbean islands have beautiful beaches and the tepid waters of the Caribbean Sea, but St Lucia, with its bubbling volcano, majestic pitons and hot mud baths, is much greener than many of its neighbours - and perfect for holidaymakers who want to explore the plethora of wildlife, flora and fauna this popular destination has to offer.