Alphonse Island
From left to right: Christopher Narty, Kaeleah Andrew and Jack Coupland
Conservation OfficerJack CouplandFor much of the last 10 years, Jack has worked on the East African coast, gaining a wide range of experience working on terrestrial, marine and social projects. Prior to joining ICS, he spent over a year working in the Seychelles, conducting baseline assessments of coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangroves and is loving the diversity that Alphonse has to offer. |
Assistant Conservation Officer
Kaeleah AndrewKaeleah is a Zoology MSc graduate from South Africa with a background in endangered species conservation and behavioral ecology of large African predators. The Seychelles has inspired an appreciation for the importance of conserving the terrestrial and marine environment of these delicate island ecosystems and the endangered species that rely on them. Before arriving on Alphonse, Kaeleah ran the conservation programme on North Island, Seychelles and was responsible for all aspects of island conservation, long-term monitoring, biosecurity measures and volunteer & staff management. As Assistant Conservation Officer for the Alphonse group, she will be assisting with long-term monitoring and conservation of the abundant marine life, birds and other endangered species and with the exciting research projects carried out in this unique and beautiful atoll.
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Senior Conservation Ranger
Christopher Narty
Chris (also known as Topher) is Seychellois. He attended the Maritime Training Centre (MTC) on Mahé in 2000 to 2002. As part of his training he worked for 6 months on the IDC supply vessels visiting the outer islands of the Seychelles. Whilst at MTC he also completed his PADI Divemaster training, following which he went to work as a Divemaster on Alphonse Island for two years. He continued to gain experience of the waters surrounding the Seychelles by working as a dive guide on liveaboard vessels in the outer islands and as a kayaking guide around Praslin and La Digue. His love of the natural world has grown through these experiences and he is happy to be using his keen eye for wildlife and excellent knowledge of Seychelles flora and fauna in his role as Conservation Ranger with ICS Alphonse. Topher’s current interests include fisheries and sustainability.
Ile Aride
Reserve ManagerAnthony BentleyHailing from the United Kingdom, Anthony has over ten years’ experience in working in conservation for a number of NGO’s. Most notably, Anthony worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). He has a passion for photography. He also loves spending time in nature and has great interest in birds. |
Assistant Conservation OfficerEmma CottonEmma is from the UK and has several years of experience working in conservation. Having gained a BSc in Zoology, she has developed a passion for island conservation; working within the Indian Ocean for the past few years including Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius. She has a keen interest in island restoration and birds. She enjoys all things nature. |
Other Staff
Conservation Ranger - Steve Esther
Conservation Ranger - Julio Confiance
Operations and Maintenance Officer - Jean-Claude Camille
General assistant- Laurette Asba
Handyman - Stephann Antoine
Conservation Ranger - Julio Confiance
Operations and Maintenance Officer - Jean-Claude Camille
General assistant- Laurette Asba
Handyman - Stephann Antoine
Astove
Conservation Officer |
Assistant Conservation Officer |
Desroches Island
From left to right: James Wareing (Assistant Conservation Officer) and Elisabeth Hein (Conservation Officer).
Conservation OfficerElisabeth HeinElisabeth (Lisa) is from Germany, holding a post-graduate degree in Nature Conservation & Landscape Planning. Her journey with the ICS began as a volunteer on Aride Island in 2019, where she fell in love with the unique biodiversity of the Seychelles. Last year, she worked in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea with a conservation organisation, focusing on the protection of critically endangered tree kangaroos. Now, she has joined the ICS team on Desroches, marking her first experience in the Outer Island of the Seychelles. Lisa has a special love for birds and plants, and she enjoys drawing the wildlife she encounters in her free time. Her passion for making a positive environmental impact and her dedication to conservation drive her commitment to safeguarding the unique ecosystems of Desroches. |
Assistant Conservation OfficerJames WareingJames joins us from England and has taken a rather unconventional route towards a career in conservation, having started his working life as a lawyer. For swapping suits for sandals, he has Seychelles to thank as his passion for wildlife and conservation was sparked by volunteering for five months on Aride Island in 2019. Ever since, he has been desperate to come back. Having been inspired to make such a significant career and lifestyle change, he hopes to use his experience to inspire more people to appreciate and look after Seychelles’ exceptional ecosystems. Since Aride he has gained practical experience in Papua New Guinea, where he worked on a community conservation project and at bird observatories in Denmark sitting watching birds in the snow. He is very grateful for the return to a warmer climate! Whether working or not, he can usually be found with binoculars and camera close by, keenly recording anything that lives (especially birds and insects). |
Conservation Ranger
Naila Vidot
Naila joins ICS following a two-year course in fisheries science and technology at the Seychelles Maritime Academy. In her first year at the academy, she completed a two-month work-based attachment with the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority in the Ste. Anne Marine National Park, where her daily responsibilities included patrolling and monitoring. Her appointment on Desroches is her first job away from home. She hopes this experience will allow her to gain a first-hand understanding of the awe-inspiring nature and the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit our islands.
Farquhar Atoll
Conservation Officer
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Senior Conservation Ranger
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Ile Plate
Conservation OfficerDiary Mbolamahefa RakotondrazaraWith a master's in environmental sciences and mineral chemistry, Diary has worked in conservation and protected areas for over seven years. Her passion for protecting natural resources, plants and animals has taken her to various places in the Indian Ocean. Before joining ICS, she worked with DURRELL Mauritius and Mauritian Wildlife Foundation as a Biologist on Round Island and Ile aux Aigrettes under the Mauritian Island Restauration Internship Program, for one year. She had previously worked as Program Manager in a protected area "TSINGY BEANKA" which is managed by Biodiversity Conservation Madagascar under the guidance of Bioculture Mauritius. She was also the Head of the Training and Research Department, in the protected area "KIRINDY FOREST" in the Western part of Madagascar and had followed different training including one organized by DURRELL Mauritius, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and CEPF Tany Meva under the "Regional capacity building program on biodiversity conservation and monitoring" in 2019. |
Senior Conservation RangerSaddiqua Fanny-Al-AbdullaSaddiqua Fanny-Al-Abdulla is the newest member of the ICS Conservation Team. She is currently working on Platte Island as the new Senior Conservation Ranger, after spending some time on Aride Island. She joins ICS after gaining working experience on Cousin Island and Frégate Island where she worked in terrestrial based activities. Through a Marine Scholarship Programme with WiseOceans, she gained experience in Marine Conservation and also got PADI Certified. Saddiqua loves nature, especially capturing the unforgetable moments with her camera. She is looking forward to doing her part in making this world a better place. |
Silhouette Island
Conservation OfficerTerence MahouneTerence's interests in environment and conservation started in his youth when he became involved with a group of ‘nature lovers’ who often organised hikes, camps and field visits to the inner islands. This has been influential as well as inspirational and has greatly contributed to me choosing this career path. His career in conservation started as a Park Ranger with the Seychelles Marine Parks Authority (MPA), where I got most of my basic practical training. In addition, the Shoals of Capricorn offered diving courses for park rangers and practical workshops involving underwater survey techniques, coral identification, coral monitoring, coral reef health assessment and fish identification. Terence took full advantage of these opportunities. n 2007, he went to South Africa to follow a BSc in Environmental science, at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. Terence's journey in conservation has since then been a fascinating one. He has worked in many islands of Seychelles, including Aldabra, and has acquired knowledge in various fields, including zoology, botany, ornithology and marine science. Terence is also fond of birding, especially migratory birds and waders that visit the country yearly. Conservation RangerPaul RoucouPaul Roucou (also known as Poya) is one of the newest member of the Silhouette ICS Conservation team. After his former employment with CCCL as a team leader/foreman, Paul decided to pursue a career in nature conservation, driven by his passion for the marine environment especially the study of fishes. Paul attended the Seychelles Maritime Training Centre for two years and obtain a certificate in fishing technology. He hopes this new career opportunity will allow him to be exposed to various wildlife moments and gain a first-hand understanding of the natural environment and to embrace the value and importance of protecting the diverse flora and fauna that inhabits our islands. |
Assistant Conservation OfficerRico PayetRico has a strong background in both marine and terrestrial conservation. Over the past three years, he has dedicated himself to protecting and preserving the natural environment of Seychelles. He holds a Level 6 qualification from Kent University under DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology). He enjoys diving and various other outdoor activities, which reflects his deep passion for nature and the great outdoors. His conservation journey started in his early adolescence when he developed a passion for diving, which sparked a fascination with the ecological functions of nature. This was further strengthened after he completed a two-year course in fisheries science, which broadened his understanding of many aspects of conservation. Having observed the current state of our environment, he recognized the importance of research to deepen our understanding of what was going on around us. Rico worked on Frigate Island, which boasts an incredible amount of biodiversity, and later on moved to Praslin, where he focused exclusively on terrestrial research, including the control of invasive species in the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Asst. Conservation RangerYudra OreddyYudra Oreddy is the youngest member to join the Silhouette ICS conservation team in November 2024. Her interest in nature conservation started at a young age, through her participation in the local wildlife club activities. Yudra attended the Seychelles Maritime Academy in 2023 and as part of her training she completed a five-month work attachment at Curieuse Marine National Park with the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA). Yudra hopes to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute towards the protection and safeguarding of Seychelles natural heritage. |