Dangerous animals

There are no predators in Cape Verde, no snakes and very few poisonous animals.

However, there are a few animals that you might want to watch out for, in case you come in contact with them.

That is the case of the very rare Portuguese Man o’war (1). These are extremely hard to find, but they are sometimes washed ashore and lay on the beach where the waves break. When this happens they are usually dead, but don’t let their plastic-bag look fool you. You can never be too careful with them, as their tentacles are quite long and the sting is very painful. In very rare occasions it can actually be fatal, so do not touch them with bare feet or hands under any circumstance. If you happen to pass by one in the sea, make sure you stay far away from them, as again the tentacles can grow up to 30m long.

Another very timid but nasty creature is the centipede (2) whose bite can be very unpleasant, although it won’t kill you. These animals are usually quite small, but they can grow up to 20 cm long.

In Santiago, isolated scorpions (3) were seen. These, however, are very shy and rare. To be cautious, do not grasp or turn any stones, as these animals generally like to hide under them. A check of your shoes before putting them on also helps prevent a possible scare.

Contact with sea urchins (4) is still one of the greatest risks for bathers. Walking barefoot under water on rocks and stones is not advisable. If you step on a sea urchin you should remove the stings immediately, either by yourself if you can or in the local hospital or health center. Leaving the stings in can lead to quite painful infections and might even trigger fever. You should not take it lightly, trust us.

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