Living on Aride
Living in such proximity to wildlife was one of the most rewarding—and sometimes surprising—parts of my time on Aride. I shared space with skinks in the kitchen, watched seabirds raise their chicks just metres from my bedroom, and frequently had to pause data collection for a stubborn tortoise refusing to approach any of the food items offered up during a feeding experiment. With no distractions from modern life, I learned to slow down, observe more deeply, and appreciate the complex dynamics of this fragile ecosystem.

Gazing into the ancient, weathered face of a giant tortoise felt like looking back in time. Their deeply wrinkled skin and deliberate, unhurried movements through the forest carried an unmistakable echo of the Jurassic era. Each tortoise had its distinct personality, some were shy whilst others were bold, and over my weeks on Aride, I came to know each of them individually.

The one tortoise that stood out from the very beginning was a remarkably spirited male known on the island as T-Rex. True to his name, T-Rex was the most fearless and charismatic of the group. While most tortoises would hiss and retreat into their shells at the sight of a human, T-Rex would march straight up to visitors, expectantly leaning in for scratches. His confidence and curiosity made him a constant presence, and by the time I left Aride, it felt like he had left just as much of a mark on me, as I had on him.

Aside from tortoises, as part of my research, I also had to learn to identify the flora found on Aride. This gave me a deep appreciation of the beautiful plant life found on Aride and across the Seychelles. I am especially going to miss wandering beneath the towering, crimson-leaved Indian-Almond trees on the coastal plateaux, and amongst the forests of endemic Wright’s Gardenia on the East hill. A highlight of the three months was being able to experience the Wright’s Gardenia in flower for the short few days that this occurs yearly.

Beyond my time on Aride, weekly shopping trips to Praslin gave me the chance to enjoy the delicious food from the reggae bar in Grande Anse every Friday. It was here that I developed a love for creole food, especially fish coconut curry, which may be the thing I miss most from the Seychelles!
However, it was the small community of people living on Aride that really made my time on the island. Whether it was one of the incredible fish BBQs Steve provided for us, or the support the island’s conservation officers, Emma and Maria, provided at the beginning of my data collection, I was made to feel welcome on the island and part of the community.

To Future Researchers
To future researchers and volunteers who are fortunate enough to spend time on Aride, my strongest recommendation would be to take the time to explore the island and fully embrace the stillness and peace that it offers. Aride is one of the rare places left on Earth where the natural world remains largely undisturbed, and thus where you can truly feel what it means to be immersed in the wild. 

​My name is Esme, and I’m from Scotland. I am currently studying at the University of Exeter for an MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity. As part of my dissertation, I have been lucky enough to conduct my research on Aride Island. My project focuses on a species few visitors to the island see, but one which may have significant implications on the island ecosystem: the house mouse. Whilst many other islands struggle with numerous invasive mammals, like rats and cats, Aride successfully eradicated these species; however, house mice remain.
 
Although small and often overlooked, mice have been linked to seabird declines on other islands around the world. Considering Aride is an important haven for seabird species in the Western Indian Ocean, with hundreds of thousands of birds nesting each year, understanding whether and how mice may be affecting them is essential. My goal was to begin establishing baseline data on the relative abundance of house mice across Aride’s different habitats. This is crucial information that could shape future eradication decisions.
 
This involved 6 weeks of live trapping across 3 different habitat types, focusing on areas where seabirds nest. Mice were marked with unique hair clips to tell individuals apart. Trapping ran for a week in each habitat, then was repeated after a short break.
 
But life on Aride isn’t just data and mouse traps. I don’t think anything quite prepares you for it. You can read all you like and look at countless pictures (I know I did), but waking up on the island for the first time, to the sound of seabirds and crashing waves, is a feeling you can't quite capture in a photograph. It isn't one stationary moment, it’s hundreds, woven together creating a feeling that words or pictures can’t quite capture.
 
What stood out most wasn’t a single moment, but the feeling of it all. Mostly Aride is the people, the small, dedicated team who welcomed us with open arms, who I cannot thank enough. We were incredibly lucky to learn from them and get stuck into other parts of the island’s conservation work too, from bird counts to turtle monitoring, gaining unforgettable hands-on experience.
 
If you’re thinking of volunteering or doing research on Aride, do it. It’s hard work, no doubt. But it’s also unforgettable. You’ll learn more than you expect, not just about wildlife, but about resilience, community, and yourself. 

Aride Island Nature Reserve stands out within the Seychelles’ archipelago for its incredible bird population, especially its land birds. But how can this claim be verified?

Nothing can prepare you for a first visit to Aride Island. It is a sensory overload similar to attending a chaotic concert where performers care little for harmony and volume. Among the cacophony, identifying each call and distinguishing between the birds, whether it’s a seabird or land bird, is almost impossible. Aride Island hosts one of the most important seabird colonies in the Indian Ocean, with around half a million birds of up to 10 species. Additionally, it is home to at least six land bird species, creating unparalleled avian density and diversity, almost unmatched in Seychelles or even globally.  Or is it?

To confirm this, Alex Koehler, a biology student from the University of Constance in Southern Germany, has made it his three-month mission to survey the land birds’ population of the island as part of his thesis for his Master’s degree. A mammoth task, as it is estimated that the island of 68 hectares (more than twice the size of Cousin Island) has over 10,000 avian land inhabitants. Out of this 10,000, the endemic Seychelles Fody (Foudia sechellarum or ‘Tok tok’ in Creole) surpasses all other species with an estimated 5 to 7 thousand individuals. Other species such as moorhens, doves and the Seychelles sunbirds (Cinnyris dussumieri or ‘Kolibri’ in Creole) are also present but in small numbers. 

Alex is, however, more excited to establish the population of the Seychelles Warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis or ‘Pti merl de zil’ in Creole) since Aride is said to hold the most abundant population of this species, which had been introduced from Cousin in 1988.

“As an endemic species that was on the brink of extinction in Seychelles, this is a remarkable story of recovery for Seychelles, considering it can now be found on five islands,” says Alex. It is estimated that Aride now holds the largest population of this species, as previous studies have shown that, unlike other islands, on Aride they also breed throughout the year, perhaps due to good habitat quality with a high food availability.
 
“This census is essential to establish the population of each species and monitor against sudden changes,” says Alex, adding that ‘island populations are more threatened by catastrophic events, diseases and genetic impoverishment’.

While less abundant species that conquer bigger territories, like the Seychelles Blue-pigeon, can be sufficiently monitored using a broad grid of point counts that covers the whole island, species occurring in high densities are harder to estimate. Each Seychelles Warbler family inhabits an average territory of 200 m². A feasible point count grid cannot catch every single bird on the island because it is not fine-grained. Therefore, Alex will first ring as many Seychelles Warblers as possible in a restricted area to estimate the densities and get an impression of the total number of birds in that area. This knowledge helps to put the point counts into perspective and ensures a more robust estimate for the whole island.

Counting birds seems simple enough, but this survey is not without difficulties. Dense and high vegetation in certain areas of the island may limit visibility and thus decrease the detection probability. Further, the limited track system on the island poses challenges to accessing all points where the point counts are conducted.

“The steep terrain makes it difficult sometimes, and you need a good sense of orientation to not get lost,” says Alex, adding that luckily, the island is not very big and at some point, you will always reach the shores.
Using data from as far back as 2000, Alex hopes his census will assist in establishing the population trend and extract key features that have made it favourable for this species to increase abundantly on Aride.
The project will run for three months, but Alex is happy to spend time on Aride among birds and close to the ocean. ​

At just over 5 kilometers long and 1-kilometer-wide, Desroches is 39 times smaller than Mahé. It is a coralline island that forms part of the Amirantes Group of the Outer Islands. The island has been heavily altered since people arrived, with much of the native vegetation being cut down to make way for a coconut plantation. Today, Desroches is more known for its free-roaming giant tortoises and high numbers of nesting sea turtles.
 
In 2009, ICS established a conservation center on Desroches to focus on environmental rehabilitation, monitoring, and research. The goal was to educate staff and visitors alike while ensuring that Desroches Island would become a model of success through the partnership of ecotourism and conservation. After 15 years, Desroches is a demonstration of what long-standing restoration and rehabilitation work can achieve on a remote island.
 
Sharing the Island
 
For Desroches, conservation has been a collective effort, with all partners working collectively on various projects. The Desroches Foundation raises funds for conservation initiatives and monitoring, supported by Four Seasons, the Islands Development Company (IDC), and the Desroches Home Owners Association. While not everyone shares the same priorities, collaborative planning has yielded productive outcomes. All parties work hard to protect the island’s most important species, including sea turtles, tortoises, and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters.
 
Incidentally, the Wedge-tailed Shearwaters have established the largest breeding colony of the island within the hotel grounds. Therefore, ICS works closely with the Four Seasons on various aspects of the conservation of this seabird species, leading to one of the most successful recovery stories for the island. “In the 2024-2025 breeding season, over 1,500 pairs were estimated to be on the island, marking the highest number ever recorded,” says Elisabeth Wareing, the Conservation Officer on Desroches.
 
Meetings of the Desroches Foundation are held three times a year to track the progress of conservation work plans, propose and budget for projects aimed at preserving the ecosystems and species conservation, and introduce initiatives that allow visitors to engage with the island’s natural environment. One such initiative is the Tortoise Adoption Program, which has been running since 2021 and has helped raise funds for ongoing conservation efforts. Visitors can visit the tortoise sanctuary regularly and interact with over 150 juveniles, which are cared for until they reach 9 kilograms when they are released to roam freely on the island.
 
“These tortoises play an essential role in restoring the island to its natural state by spreading seeds and creating diverse habitats. They also serve as a link between visitors and the island’s biodiversity. Guests can adopt a giant tortoise with ICS, keeping a connection to their adopted tortoise even after leaving the island, all while supporting our conservation work,” explains James Wareing, the Assistant Conservation Officer at ICS on Desroches.
 
Conservation Success
 
The restoration and rehabilitation efforts on Desroches have started to show remarkable results in the number of birds that had previously been driven away by human activity and have now returned and begun to breed on the island.
 
One such example is the Fairy Terns, which had previously only been spotted sporadically and have now established a breeding colony of approximately 50 pairs on the island. Similarly, other species, such as White-tailed Tropicbirds and Madagascar turtle doves, that were absent when ICS first established the conservation center in 2009 have also returned and begun breeding on Desroches.
 
Throughout the 15 years, ICS have unveiled various unknown aspects of Desroches and the surrounding Indian Ocean. For example, exciting marine species have washed up on the shores like the False Killer Whale, the Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, and the Sperm Whale. Another exciting discovery is that the lagoon provides a haven for various marine species, especially Hawksbill and Green sea turtles that feed on the sponges, algae, soft corals and seagrass.
 
Every year, projects are initiated to meet environmental challenges. One such project is the introduction of reef balls along the coast to mitigate against coastal erosion and provide a habitat for marine species. ICS is also actively learning and exploring other aspects of the island’s ecosystem. A comprehensive inventory of all species found on the island is one example of such a project that has recently been approved by all partners. This has already led to records of insect species that had never previously been recorded in Seychelles and the discovery of a species of crab previously only known from the Inner islands.
 
This is an exciting time for Desroches and a far cry from the situation in 2009, when ICS began its conservation efforts on the island. “Back then, there was a small lodge on the southwest of the island, catering to visitors and a handful of IDC staff and two ICS staff. The island was managed by the IDC, with each group going about its own business,” says James. “At that time, the only native bird consistently breeding on the island was the Wedge-tailed Shearwater.”
 
Fifteen years later, Desroches has much to boast about, thanks to the dedicated efforts of conservationists, researchers, and donors. The island now stands as a shining example of sustainable development and a testament to the success of ICS’s long-term commitment to conservation.

Upon arriving on Ile Plate, what strikes you is not only the flat sand cays exposed at low tide and the far-reaching lagoon outlined by a foamy white barrier where the ocean meets the coral reef, but also the lush green vegetation that conceals all human habitation.

Upon closer inspection, one is surprised to note that apart from coconut trees, the greenery is mostly attributed to Castor oil (Ricinus communis) or ‘Tantan’ in Creole. This introduced species is believed to occupy an area of 5,000 square meters, which is roughly the size of a football pitch. It is considered one of the most dominant invasive species on Ile Plate, an island slightly bigger than Ile Moyenne. What is worrying to conservationists is that the plant is now widespread, and there are no indications that it is slowing down.

This has prompted the Island Conservation Society (ICS) to implement a vigorous eradication program to contain this species, which, as on other islands of Seychelles, was introduced and cultivated for its medicinal properties and is now escaping into the wild.

“We cleared this area as part of our first project on the island. And look how it is now! They’ve all grown back,” says Diary Rakotondrazara, the Conservation Officer of ICS, as she points to a growing patch of thick Castor oil. So thriving is this species on Ile Plate that a tree measuring 5.10 meters - the height of a two-storey building - has gone down as the tallest ever recorded.   

“The best way to eradicate Castor oil without disrupting the environment is to do it manually,” says Rakotondrazara, adding that this necessitates uprooting each plant one after the other. As part of their weekly routine, the team remove Castor oil plants regularly, with an ambitious target of clearing a 5-meter square area per week. “In one month, we can remove as many as 340 plants from fruiting trees to different sizes,” she adds.  With a flowering season that spans throughout the year, the task is harder than the team initially thought it would be.

So far, castor oil is found almost everywhere, but they are most abundant in the northwest to southwest of the island. Since ancient times, the medicinal properties of the Castor oil plant have been documented, and to this day, in several countries, different parts of the plant are still used for such purposes. The seeds, for example, are known to purge worms whilst the leaves can be crushed to make ointment to cure wounds. On the other hand, Castor oil is also very toxic if ingested in large quantities, and it is also used as a natural insecticide in agriculture. But when left in the wild as on Ile Plate, this species can also become very invasive.

“The seeds can stay in the soil for a very long time and re-sprout again even after a short drizzle,” says Rakotondrazara. “We have noticed that several areas which have been cleared have already been recolonized by the plants. In addition, many trees have fruits, and these are easily dispersed by birds and people but also by wind to other areas.” As part of their strategy, the team always remove the seeds first before uprooting the plants. An astounding 3 kilograms of Castor oil seeds have been collected and disposed of by ICS since their arrival on the island late last year.  

These past 6 months have been a learning curve for the team as they learnt to tackle this species and assist in restoring the biodiversity of the island. The project is also of great interest to other partners on the island, as Castor oil plants also harbour a species of caterpillars from the genus Euproctis - a yellowish-black caterpillar with stinging hairs or “hairy caterpillars,” locally referred to as “Senir plim,” which can cause incessant itching. Spraying these hairy caterpillars is not encouraged as this could also hurt insects and other biodiversity of the island, including the abundant diadem butterflies.

Such projects are also vital for other restoration projects that ICS wishes to implement on Ile Plate. Another plant species on ICS’s radar is the Coco grass (Cyperus rotundus), or “Lerb Zonyon” in Creole which is an indigenous plant that has also grown in abundance on the island. This plant species is referred to as one of the most invasive weeds in the world and is widespread on several continents. Similar to Castor oil, Coco grass is also a conservationist’s nightmare, as it is difficult to control, since its tubers can grow up to 8 inches below the ground surface, and it is also highly resistant to herbicides. 
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ICS is dedicated to safeguarding the biodiversity of Ile Plate, one of the smallest islands under its care, with a strong focus on preserving its terrestrial ecosystem. New bird species, such as the Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), Lesser Noddy (A.tenuirostris), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) and the Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda), have already shown interest in recolonising the island. Improving the island's plant life is expected to further increase the likelihood of other species establishing themselves on this small yet significant island, located just a few kilometers from Mahé and at the edge of the Outer Islands group.

The Island Conservation Society (ICS) has started to map Seychelles’ fourth-largest known seagrass meadows located around Ile Plate, a vital carbon store and mitigation mechanism against climate change.

Seagrass have evolved from land plants and, like terrestrial plants, have veins, roots and leaves. As true plants growing on the ocean floor or seabed, they also have a flowering season and can reproduce underwater. They form meadows on the ocean floor, which provide food and shelter to different marine life, from sea turtles to crabs. Yet, not much is known about these green barriers that, similar to mangroves, help to keep our oceans clean by removing harmful algae and stabilising the sand. More importantly, seagrass creates a highly efficient carbon sink by storing significant amounts of carbon in their sediments and biomass and playing a crucial role in global carbon cycling and climate change mitigation.  

In 2020, a project to map the seagrass meadows in Seychelles was launched. The Seychelles Seagrass Mapping and Carbon Assessment Project revealed that there are 1,599 square kilometers of seagrass in the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Surprisingly, it also revealed that Ile Plate accounts for 7.9% of this total area, ranking it as the fourth largest area where seagrass was found in Seychelles, surpassing other areas renowned for their high biodiversity, such as Aldabra Atoll, Farquhar Atoll and Cosmoledo Atoll. Only Providence (14.4%), Mahé Rim (24.5%), and Amirantes Bank (34.1%) outranked Ile Plate in the density of seagrass found through this project. Despite the significance of this project, several questions remain about the areas which had been mapped, for example, what the meadows were made of, how widespread they were and what habitat they were supporting.   

Looking at the lagoon from the air or even from the beach, “we could see these large expansive meadows – in some areas all you can see is seagrass. You can take only a few steps towards the ocean and end up knee-deep in seagrass here,” says Diary Rakotondrazara, who is the Conservation Officer of ICS on Ile Plate.
To better understand this habitat, the team has initiated an in-depth review of seagrass meadows around the lagoon. At low tide, the meadows around Ile Plate are easily accessible, and the team does not have to snorkel to view underwater environments.

“We use a 50-meter line across an area which is checked at every 5-meter interval. At each interval, we observe an area of one meter square where we identify the species we found, the amount of seagrass there is, the height of the seagrass and if there are any algae. We then take pictures and record the GPS coordinates of the area first at the beginning and then at the end.”

By analysing all this information, the team will be able to confirm the density and distribution of the island’s seagrass. There are at least 72 known species of seagrass globally, 12 of which are found in Seychelles.
So far, the team has identified at least three seagrass species around the island, but their density varies. The most common species of seagrass found in the lagoon are Thalassodendron ciliatum, known as “Gomon zerb levantay” or Fan seagrass and Thalassia hemprichii, known as “Gomon torti” or “Gomon zerb torti” or Turtle seagrass. In addition, the team has also identified several patches of Syringodium filiforme, known as “Gomon zerb sed” or “Gomon zerb spageti” in Creole or Casuarina seagrass or Spaghetti seagrass. These are mostly located a few meters from the beach and, according to the initial mapping exercise, are not common in the Outer Islands, such as Ile Plate.

Seagrass “was always a target of our conservation strategy on Ile Plate,” says Rakotondrazara, adding that unlike the other five islands where ICS has a conservation center, the role of seagrass towards the thriving marine life around the island could not be overlooked. 

“Thanks to these meadows, we can now confirm that Ile Plate is a nursery and foraging area for juvenile sea turtles and that they are actively using the island for nesting throughout the year. We can also confirm that the island is a major hub for elasmobranchs, which is another major milestone for conservation of the island.”

As helpful as seagrass is to the marine ecosystem, ICS is also enlisting the help of its partners on the island to help improve their understanding and find ways to protect these seagrass meadows against marine activities such as anchoring and snorkeling. Visitors are already being sensitised about seagrass through informational displays that provide more information about the different seagrasses they may encounter during their stay on the island.

“We’re just beginning to realise how important the seagrass meadows are,” Rakotondrazara says. “As such, unlike other places in the world where seagrass is underrated or overlooked, we want to make this a priority for conservation on Ile Plate.”
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Whilst the survey will be an extensive exercise and part of the regular monthly conservation activities by ICS on Ile Plate, it will also build on the initial Seychelles Seagrass Mapping and Carbon Assessment Project. Furthermore, the details about what’s in the meadows will help to inform future projects around Ile Plate and feed into Seychelles’ national database of information on seagrass. 

My name is Cai, and I’m from Cambridge, UK. I studied Natural Science at university and have had the privilege of volunteering on Aride Island for the past 4 months. This article is a glimpse into the wonderful life I have discovered here in the Seychelles.

Life on Aride is surprisingly difficult to describe. Before I came here, I expected that nature would be at my doorstep, but I didn’t quite realise that it would also be in my hair and between my toes. My sleep schedule is decided by shearwaters, my kitchen overrun by skinks and my free time controlled by turtles. Every night I fall asleep to the sound of mosquitos in my ear and wake up to the insistent call of fodys at my door. I wash my clothes and hang them outside my window to dry, however the constant monsoon weather means that they remain as wet as the day I put them out.

To those who have never been to Aride, these may sound like complaints, but strangely, they are some of the many reasons I find it so hard to leave. There are few places in the world that feel quite so alive. Wherever you look there are creatures staring curiously back at you. Whether it's the white tail chick hiding beneath a boulder, the tortoises demanding a neck scratch or the charming magpie robin following you dutifully through the forest - it is apparent that while we may be there to monitor the wildlife, more times than not, we are the ones being monitored by them.

Coming from the UK, I had experienced island life before. Of course in my case, I had shared the island with 65 million other people as opposed to the 11 neighbours I currently have. My old layers of evening jumpers have been replaced by layers of suncream, and my salt and pepper spice drawer has exploded with the colours of turmeric and chilli. As you might expect, I have adapted enthusiastically to warm weather and tasty food, although life here is not always stress-free.

Following the plane ride, ferry trip and motorboat journey it took to get me here, the extreme disconnect with my life back home became evermore apparent. I found myself waking up with new bites and bruises every single night as the forces of the island took their toll on my soft English feet. I would try to call my family for a bit of comfort, but the broken phone signal would leave me feeling even further away. However, these challenges were quickly forgotten as I began to know the island. The warmth of the Aride community made me realise that while I might be far from home, I had found a second home right here. As was explained to me after a particularly unsuccessful fishing trip, my family might be far away, but the islanders were happy to step in and take their place in the meantime.

If there is one thing I have learnt from my time here, it is that Seychelles culture is best explored through food. Through island barbecues outside Steve’s house and fresh fried fish at Jean Claude and Laurette’s, I quickly learned that the colourful, warm culture I experienced with the islanders was perfectly mirrored by the food they eat. Having enjoyed a selection of especially tasty meals, I found myself eager to absorb as much of their culture as possible. As it turned out, the Secyhellois’ desire to teach and share matched perfectly with my own desire to learn and eat. I found myself being generously welcomed aboard the fishing boat and I learnt how to detangle my line and even catch an occasional fish for dinner. Mealtimes became the perfect excuse for weekly social gatherings. It was around these barbecues that we would spend hours discussing the details of our past lives while enjoying a seemingly endless supply of freshly grilled fish.

Around the world, Aride is known for its pristine white beaches and stunning variety of seabirds. While this is undoubtedly true, what made it so special to me were the people who inhabit it. I would like to take this chance to thank everyone on Aride for making this small granitic island so extraordinary.

In 1787 Jean-Baptiste Malavois provided the first written description of Aride as “…just a pile of rocks covered with some bushes.” He could not have been more wrong.

A visitor to the Seychelles recently shared a photo of a “strange-looking” marine species he had caught on a fishing trip close to Praslin. They could tell that this was no ordinary fish but rather a very peculiar-looking shark with its unusually rounded face and conical snout and a long, curvy whip-like tail almost double the length of its body. This individual was quickly recognised as the iconic Thresher shark or, more specifically, the Pelagic Thresher (Alopias pelagicus), also commonly known as “Renar” in Creole.

What the visitor and his fellow fishermen did not know was that they had caught a rare specimen of an endangered species that was once on the brink of extinction. Luckily for conservation, fearing that this was a rare species, the fishermen safely released the shark. The video of the shark being released and the photos are now photographic evidence that this species frequents the Inner Islands, providing a spark of hope for the species and the health of the ecosystems.

The Pelagic Thresher is the only one of the three species that frequent the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The two other species, the Common Threshers (Alopias vulpinus) and the Bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus), are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are found globally. All three species are naturally docile and are, therefore, highly susceptible to being captured by humans at various scales, leading to drastic declines in their worldwide population. These listings are also based on the fact that Thresher sharks take at least 12 to 13 years to reach maturity and will have only one to two pups per breeding cycle. As solitary creatures, once they reach maturity, Threshers travel to small pockets of the world ocean, leading to reduced genetic diversity, putting the species at risk of population collapse and possible extinction.

What’s more interesting about this species is that it uses its tail fin to jump out of water, possibly as a form of communication –similar to dolphins. Recent videos have also proven an old anecdote that the long tail is used to stun its prey through a wiping or lashing movement that can kill small fish such as mackerel. Other species, such as Humpback whales and Sperm Whales, also exhibit similar fishing tactics. Imagine the strength of a fish that can grow to 4.6 meters (and even 6 meters as an adult) and at a size of more than 290 kilograms to be able to leap out of water. Beyond their agility and manoeuvering ability, Threshers are shy and non-aggressive, thus typically posing no danger to humans.
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This encounter is just another example of how vast the ocean is and truly little we do not know about the marine life that inhabits it. Only recently did a video captured a Thresher shark giving birth, but their preferred habitat, feeding habits, etc., are yet to be documented. This has not prevented the Thresher shark from being the target of sports and commercial fishing, where its fins and meat are considered a delicacy. With 37% of sharks currently being threatened with extinction, there is so much we would lose if this shark had not been released, like the inevitable fate of many others. Plus, we are now more intrigued to encounter this species in its habitat and why not enjoy the absolute awe of a such a marine creature?

The term "cuckoo" often evokes the notion of madness. It also conjures the image of the German-inspired clock with the resounding sound “cu-coo” that signals the hour. In literature, the term "cuckold" refers to a husband who has been betrayed by his wife. In contrast, William Shakespeare uses the cuckoo as a symbol of the approaching spring and fertility. Additionally, in Greek mythology, the cuckoo bird is considered sacred. Overall, all of these references highlight one of the most beautiful and intelligent birds in the world – the cuckoo.
As part of their daily monitoring of the different islands, the Island Conservation Society (ICS) staff observes different bird species and January was a particular “cuckoo” month. These birds have a wide range of habitats from forests, and deserts to wetlands. Following the end of the mating season, solitary cuckoos, like so many other migratory and vagrant birds, travel to the warmer African region for a few months to forage. Unfortunately, when they are not breeding the male cuckoos, which have very distinctive songs, rarely sing. This leaves detecting them merely up to chance or good observation skills.
The species comes from a big family which also includes the roadrunner. Their appearance and size range from 16 cm to 90 cm and from grey to brown with patches of white or even emerald green. This makes it even more fascinating to spot any of the cuckoos, which are often shy of people and like to hide in dense forests – their preferred habitat. Their downward-curving beaks are ideal for feeding on various food sources, varying from fruits to small insects, including hairy caterpillars, which most birds would avoid. Cuckoos also share the same odd toe formation as the parrots - with two toes facing forward and two backwards.
Interestingly, cuckoos are also known for their lack of parental skills. A female cuckoo lays its eggs in the nest of another bird, often discarding the owner’s egg in the process. This behaviour, known as brood parasitism, is quite extreme; the female mimics the colour of the eggs in the nest and the chick produces the begging calls of the host bird. As a result, the unsuspecting host cares for the cuckoo chick, which then typically eliminates any other chicks that are not its siblings. This fascinating yet ruthless strategy highlights the cuckoo's unique survival adaptations.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, most cuckoo species are of Least Concern. Despite this, Cuckoos are globally threatened, with big declines in breeding populations and ranges. For example, since 2021 the Common Cuckoo species has been added to the Red List in the UK Conservation Status Report to prioritise its conservation status due to a decline in its population.
Although many vagrant or migratory birds are spotted by ICS on the Outer Islands, according to the Seychelles Birds Record Committee (SBRC) all of the three cuckoos below have been spotted in the Inner Islands including on Praslin, La Digue, Bird and Denis Island in the past. There is also another species that has been seen in Seychelles, the Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) which sports a remarkable patterned back.  However, this has only been seen twice, on Bird and Aldabra.

The following are three species of cuckoos spotted by ICS last month – including a ‘cuckoo’ day where all three species were spotted in one day on Desroches.

Asian Lesser Cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)
As its name implies, this is a small species which is about the size of the Seychelles Bulbul and is abundant in many Asian countries where it is revered and has been immortalized through many myths and legends. For example, in Japan, it symbolizes unrequited love. At first glance, it looks very much like a Common Cuckoo, which is a more common visitor to Seychelles. However, it has a shorter bill and a more ‘cute’ appearance. The bars on their breast are also thicker than those of the Common Cuckoo. When the conservation team on Desroches saw the bird, these features are what immediately stood out to them. Lesser Cuckoos are primarily insectivores and play an important role in controlling insects such as caterpillars. However, depending on availability, they are also known to feed on fruits and seeds.

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) 
The Common cuckoo is the only member of the Cuculidae to have the ‘cu-koo, cu-koo’ calls. It is found throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Featuring a sleek greyish body and a long tail, it is a very secretive bird, not liking to be in the open for too long. As this species can also be found in Europe, the team on Desroches were very familiar with this species. They were excited to see it as a reminder of home, and there have been at least four individuals who have visited Desroches over the last two months. This is also the most common cuckoo to be spotted throughout Seychelles, with over 80 accepted records.  

Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus)
This is a distinct cuckoo as it sports a crest, which it often displays when nervous. It has a black back and a white patch on its wings which makes it unmistakable. During the breeding season they have a strong and noisy note resounds like ‘pi-piu’. In India, its arrival is celebrated as an indicator of the rainy season and it is commonly referred to in poetry. The genus name for this species, Clamator, comes from the Latin for shouting. In January, a Jacobin Cuckoo was spotted on Alphonse, Ile Plate and Desroches. Surprisingly, on Desroches, the bird stayed for the whole month and the team can confirm that it lives up to its name!