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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Fears of crown of thorns Starfish outbreak in Seychelles Coral Reefs
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 presentation of his most recent findings. Dr Udo Englhardt, believes this outbreak of the deadly starfish is due to increasing levels of human development in the Seychelles coupled with rising sea temperatures. Dr. Engelhardt has conducted this research as part of their ‘Mainstreaming Biosecurity’ project organised by the UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) in conjunction with the government of Seychelles. The outbreak which was in the north western areas of Mahé two months ago, has now spread further down the western coastline as the starfish continue to spawn. The starfish can be seen on reefs between five and 25 metres deep and are not commonly found in shallow waters. It preys on strong hard coral polyps and is named crown of thorns as its upper surface is covered with thorn like spikes.
The crown of thorns starfish, one of the largest in the world, occurs at tropical and subtropical latitudes and have been found from the Red sea, across the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. This venomous starfish has been found in Seychelles as early as the 1960s in small numbers and an extensive eradication programme was conducted in 1997. During the 1998-99 El Nino coral bleaching, the crown of thorns died off too. However, they began to re-emerge in 2001-2003 and have now bounced back in alarming numbers. This April, a coral reef survey by Dr Engelhardt found that numbers of Crown of thorns in the reefs were 20 to 30 times greater than sustainable levels. He also found that there were at least three generations present, including a substantial number of juveniles in the under reef strata – a good predictor of future outbreaks reports the Seychelles news agency.
Seychelles: The Go-To Holiday Destination for Celebrities
Are you planning to go on a holiday anytime soon?
For sure, you will be overwhelmed with the multiplicity of the destinations you can visit, each with a promise of an experience you will never forget. Among others, however, one of the best would be Seychelles, which has gained a reputation in the past for being frequented by high profile celebrities, not only for family vacations, but even for honeymoon. For many people, Seychelles is chosen because of having plentiful of beautiful and secluded beaches, unique culture, attractive flora and fauna, and world-class cuisine. For some, however, they simply want to visit Seychelles because it has been visited by many of the celebrities they idolise, including those mentioned below.
Who’s been to Seychelles?
If you have been to Seychelles before, it is easy to understand why many celebrities have chosen such for their vacation. If you have not, the famous people who have fallen in love with Seychelles should give you sufficient reason to book a plane ticket now and enjoy the experience it has to offer.
When George Clooney and Amal Clooney got married recently, the international media have been interested in learning about the private details of the event, such as where their honeymoon will be. Many were no longer surprised when they learned it was in Seychelles since it has been a common choice for many high-profile couples in the past. According to several reports, George paid for a luxury villa with a cost of $5,000 per person, per night. Different travel magazines have called the resort where they stayed to be the most expensive hotel in the world.
Seychelles has also been the place of choice during the honeymoon of Kate Middleton and Prince William. Although the location was initially kept as a secret, details have been revealed through research by people from the media. In a private villa in Seychelles, the couple spent 10 days, not necessarily away from the eyes of the public since a couple of paparazzi shots have been also released showing how the two are enjoying their supposed to be private island getaway.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been also seen vacationing in Seychelles, along with their kids. During their vacation, they also held a pretend wedding to grant the request of their children to see them marry. The couple has enjoyed Seychelles a lot and in fact, they were the one who recommended the island to their friend, George Clooney.
With all of these celebrity visitors having had the chance to enjoy Seychelles, you are now most probably convinced how beautiful the place is. By simply going online and looking at the pictures of this tropical hidden gem, you will also surely end up drooling and itching to travel soon.
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