Educational Visit to Aride Island Special Nature Reserve

Photo taken by Ilana Engelbrecht (ICS).

We welcomed seven students and their Eco-School leader from Praslin Secondary School to Aride Island Special Nature Reserve on a one-day educational field visit last month! 

Organised under the GOS-UNDP-GEF Expansion and Strengthening of the Protected Areas Subsystem of the outer islands of Seychelles and its integration into the broader land and seascape project, the activity aimed to raise awareness on the importance of seabirds in Seychelles.

Aride hosts one of the most important seabird populations in the Indian Ocean, with more breeding species than any other island in Seychelles. Participants learned about the different characteristics of seabirds – and why Seychelles is a very important country for their conservation – while visiting the island during the nesting season. They were given a guided tour around the plateau, an interactive presentation on the different seabirds inhabiting the island, as well as the threats that they face as a result of human activity. They also saw a demonstration of how to assess the body condition and injuries obtained by seabirds, as well as how to stabilise and release birds that are sick or injured.

They were even treated to a picnic at Aux Cabris – one of the island’s special viewpoints – where thousands of frigatebirds can be observed during the nesting season! 

Seabirds are the most abundant birds in the Seychelles, representing an important part of the country’s natural heritage. Their importance to the environment is vital and they are considered a key animal group within the ecosystem that they inhabit. However, many species now face huge threats as a result of human activities. 38% of seabirds are endangered, due to the expansion of the human population. Poaching also remains a considerable cause for concern, in spite of the continuous efforts undertaken by the ICS team to protect the island’s seabirds.