Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi Scientific name definitions

The Grenada Dove is Grenada's only endemic bird. Grenada varies in habitat, being much more lush and moist in the highlands, and dry near the coast. It is in these coastal dry thorn forests where the Grenada Dove is found. The negative issue is that these lowland habitats are the ones which have been most impacted both by urbanization and also tourism oriented development. A very high profile situation occurred in Grenada where the dove was one of the main concerns. Parts of the National Park known as Mt. Hartman Estates were sold to a hotel developer in order to put in a large resort near the water. There was a large political fight as it was considered that this development would in fact affect the best and largest set of remaining habitat for this endemic species, the national bird! Developers and the power of economics has won out and currently this development is going forward, however most recently it seems that conservationists, the developer and the government have hashed out an elaborate plan that would minimize the disturbance to potentially 4 territories of the dove (the world population is estimated to be 136 individuals). So there may be hope that some development can go along with conservation of remaining habitat – in fact Granada recently re-designated the park boundaries based on where doves are found.