Besides the species of birds that are native to Quintana Roo, the area is a winter home for many birds because of its warm, tropical climate and the abundance of food sources provided by the rivers and lakes within the jungle and mangroves, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Other birds stop over on their way to more southern migratory locations. Due to the presence of so many different species of birds, Quintana Roo is a popular area for ornithological study and for the collection of zoo and aviary specimens.
Game animals, such as the white-tailed deer and the wild turkey of the jungles of Quintana Roo, had once been found in large numbers. Hunting and industrial deforestation have reduced these numbers significantly. The manatee has populated the mangroves and coastal waters of Quintana Roo for centuries. Their largest numbers are found in Chetumal Bay, where they have become a popular tourist attraction as well as the focus of animal conservation advocates who are studying the effects of tourism and its associated industrial growth.
The coral reefs and coastlines of Quintana Roo are inhabited by a wide variety of sea creatures. This area is known worldwide for its population of queen conches, which are found in the waters along the coastlines and reefs. Lobster and shrimp, along with several varieties of fish species, are another attraction for tourism and fishing. Speleologists also come to Quintana Roo to study the many varieties of isopods and other invertebrate aquatic animals that are found in the underwater caves and lagoons in this area.
According to the Nations Encyclopedia, beekeeping has been a solid industry in Quintana Roo for many years. While this industry accounts for a substantially smaller amount of the overall income of the state, it is nonetheless practiced regularly. There are many active apiaries in Quintana Roo, although this has also been affected by the growth of tourism and new construction across the peninsula.
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in preserving the natural habitats of the various forms of animal life in Quintana Roo. Tulum National Park, El Eden Ecological Preserve and the Yum Balam Protected Area were established to protect the native ecosystems and the native species of plants and animals that are feeling the effect of population growth and forest exploitation. UNESCO incorporated the Quintana Roo region into its Man and Biosphere program in the 1980s with the same goals.
