A great way to combat stress is to get outdoors and exercise daily (Nature Therapy). I enjoy hiking through the jungle, beach walking, scuba diving, swimming, and riding my mountain bike. It’s important to be familiar with the dangers related to all your outdoor adventures. If you are new to the Island, make sure you are familiar with the poisonous plants (below), toxic caterpillars, venomous snakes, and the hazardous marine life on Okinawa.
Sago Palm and Sunset
The Sago Palm (Cycas revolute) is an abundant plant found in Okinawa. All parts of the plant are extremely toxic. If ingested seek immediate medical treatment.
The orange seeds look inviting but are extremely toxic. Do not eat this fruit!
Toxic orange seeds
The male plant resembles a large pine cone.
Male Sago Palm
Sago Palm leaves
Moses in the Cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) is an invasive plant found in Okinawa. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Avoid touching or ingesting this plant. If ingested seek immediate medical treatment
Moses in the Cradle
Contact with the plant sap will cause severe itching and redness of the skin. I found out the hard way!
Moses in the Cradle injury
Illegal dumping is an ongoing problem in Okinawa. Introduced species create a huge problem for native wildlife.
The elephant ear (Colocasia sp) is an abundant plant found growing everywhere in Okinawa. Contact with the plant sap will cause itching and redness of the skin. Avoid touching or ingesting this wild plant.
Elephant ear
The sea mango (Cebera manghas) is a common poisonous plant found in Okinawa. I often find these plants growing on the side of the road. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Avoid touching or ingesting this plant. If ingested seek immediate medical treatment
The fruit looks inviting but is extremely toxic. Do not eat this fruit!
The sea mango
The sea mango plant
The Oleander plant (Nerium oleander) is an introduced plant found in Okinawa. The decorative plant is usually planted close to fence lines. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Avoid touching or ingesting this plant. If ingested seek immediate medical treatment.
Oleander plant (Nerium oleander)
My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands
This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature
Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.
#MakeTheSwitch4Nature