Arikok National Park

Boca Prins - Print not for sale.

Arikok National Park is located in Aruba, an island that is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

All information in this post is from the Arikok National Park's official website: arubanationalpark.org

History of Arikok

Coral washed up on Dos Playa - Print not for sale.

The first known inhabitants of Aruba, and the Arikok National Park area were the Caquetío people.  You can see their rock paintings in Cunucu Arikok and Fontein Cave.

Besides the cave paintings, one other way the park literally "shows" its age is through the fossilized coral you can find in the park, mostly along the coastline of course.

Coral Fossil - Print not for sale.

The Beginnings of a National Park

Boca Prins - Print not for sale.

---

1960s - The idea of a National Park in Aruba starts to form.

---

1980 - A plan was presented for the development of the area of Arikok-Jamanota into a National Park

---

1990s - Multiple proposals and policies were passed in order to begin establishing protected areas that would become the National Park

---

2000 - Arikok National Park was officially established

---

Mission + Objectives

Sero Cabai - Print not for sale.

Mission: To conserve Aruba's Natural and Cultural Heritage for all generations while inspiring and engaging the local community and visitor's to do the same.

Objectives:
1. Preserve, protect, restore, develop, acquire, and obtain management of areas that are valuable from the perspective of the natural environment, geology, culture, archeology, and history.
2. Conduct scientific research or cause it to be conducted for the benefit of biodiversity, nature management, nature conservation, nature restoration, development of the natural environment, and knowledge development.
​3. Inspire the population to promote sustainable development.

Current / On-Going Projects

Boca Prins - Print not for sale.

1. Managing the current state of the flora, fauna, and ecosystems.

2. Monitoring the Bat Population

• The Park hosts workshops where bats are captured to have health checkups and then released.
• There are seven known species of bats in the Park.
  
• The Park is conducting on-going research on the frugivore (fruit/plant eating) bats to ensure they have the proper fauna within the park to feed them.
• The Park is trying to ensure that the bat population stays at healthy numbers. A healthy bat population = a healthy ecosystem.

3. Monitoring the Cascabel Population

• Cascabels are a type of rattlesnake, and are therefore very venemous.
• The Park is researching their optimal habitat, diet, and movements.
• 40% of Cascabel deaths are caused by humans - accidental by vehicle and purposeful by rocks.

4. Reforestation

5. Restoration of Cunucu Arikok, the dwelling place of the Caquetío People.

Fun Facts

Tide Pools - Print not for sale.

---

Arikok National Park takes up 20% of the entire island of Aruba.

---

The Bays in Aruba are called "bocas".

---

The bird image that is part of the park logo is from one of the rock paintings by the Caquetío People.

---

In English, the foundation for the Park is called the "Aruba National Park Foundation" but the acronym is backwards. Why? Spanish is one of Aruba's main languages, and FPNA stands for Foundation Park Nacional Aruba.

---