Cousine Island
Encyclopedia
Cousine Island is a small granitic island (25 ha) in the Seychelles
6 km west of Praslin
Island. It is a combination luxury resort and since 1992 a nature preserve.
There are four beachfront French Colonial style villas (maximum number of guests allowed is 10) on the island with a staff of 16 employees.
In 1992 the island was purchased and a conservation program introduced to protect nesting sea turtles and maintain the existing populations of endemic land birds including the Seychelles Magpie Robin
, the Seychelles Warbler
and the Seychelles Fody
. Cousine Island is also a breeding ground for sea birds and has a population of transplanted Aldabra Giant Tortoise
s. The island has undergone an extensive vegetation rehabilitation program which involves planting of indigenous flora and the removal of alien plant species. Since 1995 over 2000 native trees have been planted.
Indo-Pacific hawksbill turtle
s are known to nest on this island.
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
6 km west of Praslin
Praslin
Praslin is the second largest island of the Seychelles, lying 44 km north east of Mahé. Praslin has a population of around 6,500 people and comprises two administrative districts; Baie Sainte Anne and Grand' Anse . The main settlements are the Baie Ste Anne, Anse Volbert and Grand' Anse.It was...
Island. It is a combination luxury resort and since 1992 a nature preserve.
There are four beachfront French Colonial style villas (maximum number of guests allowed is 10) on the island with a staff of 16 employees.
In 1992 the island was purchased and a conservation program introduced to protect nesting sea turtles and maintain the existing populations of endemic land birds including the Seychelles Magpie Robin
Seychelles Magpie Robin
The Seychelles Magpie Robin is a medium-sized endangered bird from the granitic Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.This species of magpie robin is approximately 25 cm in length. It has a glossy coal-black plumage with a white-colored bar on each wings. It is considered a long-lived species whose...
, the Seychelles Warbler
Seychelles Warbler
The Seychelles Warbler , also known as Seychelles Brush-warbler, is a small songbird found on four granitic and corraline islands in the Seychelles. It is a greenish-brown bird with long legs and a long slender bill. It is primarily found in forested areas on the islands...
and the Seychelles Fody
Seychelles Fody
The Seychelles Fody Foudia sechellarum is a small yellowish songbird that lives in the Seychelles islands of Aride Island, Cousin Island, Cousine Island, Fregate Island, D'Arros Island and as of 2004 Denis Island. The IUCN has recently changed the status of the bird from "endangered" to "near...
. Cousine Island is also a breeding ground for sea birds and has a population of transplanted Aldabra Giant Tortoise
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
The Aldabra giant tortoise , from the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, is one of the largest tortoises in the world....
s. The island has undergone an extensive vegetation rehabilitation program which involves planting of indigenous flora and the removal of alien plant species. Since 1995 over 2000 native trees have been planted.
Indo-Pacific hawksbill turtle
Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E...
s are known to nest on this island.