A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a...
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Aride Island Nature Reserve
Aride Island Nature Reserve
A visit to Aride Island in Seychelles will show what the islands were like 250 years ago before human settlement. Aride is the northernmost island of the granitic Seychelles. It covers roughly 68 ha, is 1.6 km long and 0.6 km wide. Aride hosts one of the most important seabird populations in the Indian Ocean with more breeding species than any other island in Seychelles. The island is managed as a nature reserve by Island Conservation Society of Seychelles. The only human inhabitants in the island are the reserve’s staff, including the Island Manager, Conservation Officer and rangers.
The guided two-kilometre tour starts at the house of the former island owner and takes about two hours.
The island is covered by lush vegetation consisting of coconut palms as well as broadleaf trees, guavas, bananas, oranges, papayas, aubergines, ginger, turmeric, and chillies. The highly fragrant Wright’s gardenia is an endemic plant species which grows up to 6 m high and is decorated with red and white calyx. Because of their small, lemon-shaped fruits the locals gave them the name “bwa sitron”.
Island Conservation Society acquired the lease of the island in 2004, when the freehold was passed from Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts to Island Conservation Society UK. Island Conservation Society is a Seychelles NGO operating conservation centres throughout the islands.
Aride holds more seabird species than any other Seychelles island. The island has ten breeding species. Two of the bird species were formerly considered critically endangered by IUCN and conservation work on Aride has helped to secure their future. Reptiles include one of the highest population densities of lizards in the world. In every hectare there are over 2,700 Seychelles Skinks (lizards) and 1,100 Wright’s Skinks, plus five other lizard species, a snake, a terrapin and a giant tortoise.
Poaching leads to declining populations of most seabirds in Seychelles. Poaching comes during the Sooty Tern egg season, from late May to July, when boats visit mainly from Praslin to collect eggs and adult birds. Shearwaters are also a target; sacks of birds are often taken, their wings snapped off. The poaching of octopus and harvesting of sea cucumbers from within the reserve boundary is also problematic.
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