Marine Conservation in Seychelles

Seychelles has great pride in its unique and amazing nature and goes effort beyond to protect and preserve it. Today it’s known for success stories in protecting its flora and fauna.

Much of the Seychelles beauty lies in its natural wildlife. This makes the islands a sanctuary for many rare and unique plants and birds.

There are 81 unique species of plant life, which can only be found just within Seychelles and a further 25 or so species in the Aldabra group. Particularly well-known is the Coco de mer, a species of palm that grows only on the islands of Praslin and neighboring Curieuse.

Back in history, like many fragile island ecosystems, Seychelles experienced massive loss of biodiversity during early stages human survival, which included destruction of most of the giant tortoises from these granitic islands, felling of coastal and mid-level forests as well as extinction of rare species such as the Seychelles Parakeet, the chestnut flanked white eye, the saltwater crocodile and the Black Terrapin.

However several measures of nature reserves and far sighted conservation policies have been instituted to protect the environment to an enviable degree plus the varied ecosystems it supports.

Seychelles has almost 50% of its limited landmass established with national parks and reserves such as very common Praslin’s Vallée de Mai, once assumed to be the original site of the Garden of Eden.

The Islands host some of the largest seabird colonies. There are several unique varieties of Orchids on the Islands. The rare Seychelles Black Parrot the national treasure bird of the country being most protected.

The Aldabra population is the largest in the world. These unique reptiles can be found even in captive herds. It has been reported that the granitic islands of Seychelles supported distinct species of Seychelles giant tortoises.

The marine life around the islands, especially the more remote coral islands, can be spectacular. More than 1,000 species of fish have been recorded. Since the use of spear guns and dynamite for fishing was banned through efforts of local conservationists in the 1960s, the wildlife is unafraid of snorkelers and divers.

Nowhere else on earth will you find unique endemic specimens like the amazing Coco-de-mer; the largest seed in the world, the jellyfish tree- with only eight surviving examples, the Seychelles’ paradise flycatcher and Seychelles warbler which are still prevalent on the Island.

From the smallest frog to the heaviest land tortoise and the only flightless bird of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles nurtures an amazing array of endemic species within surrounds of exceptional natural beauty.