The Isle of Man is proudly home to an enormous number of unique animals, birds, and plants.
From the basking sharks in our local waters, to the wallabies of the curraghs, use our guide below to learn about the other friendly island inhabitants.
Please remember to respect the wildlife, this is their home too!
Observe from a distance and please put any waste and rubbish in a bin.
Whales and Dolphins
Basking Sharks, Harbour Porpoises, and Risso Dolphins, and Bottlenose Dolphin are the most commonly sighted off the coast of the Isle of Man.
Basking Sharks may be sighted between the months of May to September off the West Coast and the Calf of Man. These gentle giants swim slowly, filtering zooplankton with their ginormous mouths. Did you know they can grow up to 15 metres?
Harbour Porpoises eat small schooling fish like Herring. They are relatively small compared to Dolphins, averaging at around 1.8 metres.
Risso Dolphins are playful and tend to have lots of scars on their white/grey skin. Distinctive by their blunt heads, Risso's average around 4 metres in length and can often be spotted in a pod.
The worldwide population of the Bottlenose Dolphin is 600,000. They search for food using a sonar technique called Echolocation. Bottlenose Dolphins Our Resident Bottlenose Dolphins, Starlight and Moonlight can usually be sighted in Peel bay.
For more information, and to report a sighting, please click the link below to visit the MWDW website.
Wallabies
Wallabies are usually found in Australia, however the Isle of Man has hundreds of wild wallabies after a pair escaped the local wildlife park in the 1970's.
Take a wild walk! The densest population of wallabies can be found in the wooded wetlands directly behind the wildlife park, otherwise known as the 'Curraghs'. Follow the grass footpaths or the boardwalks of Sartfield, and keep your eyes peeled!
Please remember to stay to the footpaths, and do not approach the wallabies.
Highland Cows
— Name, Title
Puffins
Highland cattle was introduced to the island in 2018 to help save a rare species of grasshopper.
These gentle giants can be seen grazing on grass in the south of the island.
Nestled in the cliff tops around the islands coast between April to July.
Distinguishable with its bright orange beak and feet, and black & white belly.
Did you know the chick of a puffin is called a puffling!
Loaghtan Sheep
Seals
We are lucky enough to have both common and grey seals in the British Isles.
The best place to spot a seal on the Isle of Man is between The Sound and The Calf of Man.
