Aldabra Islands
The Aldabra Islands in the Outer Seychelles are “one of the world’s greatest surviving natural treasures” in the words of Sir David Attenborough. The four islands - Aldabra, Assomption, Astove and Cosmoledo - are a haven of biodiversity with giant tortoises, endemic and migratory birds as well as superb marine life. One might say they are the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.
Aldbara Atoll was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and access remains restricted with biosecurity measures in places for visitors to avoid importing invasive species. The islands are perhaps most famous for the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, a keystone species and ecosystem engineer. The lush mangroves, woodlands and beaches form breeding and nesting grounds for green turtles, oceanic flamingos, frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, Aldabra Rail, Aldabra Drongo, the critically endangered Madagascan pond heron, coconut crabs and crab plover. The islands are also on the migratory path of humpback whales and whale sharks, with dugogs and dolphins present year round, surrounded by colourful corals.
Assomption was heavily mined for guano (seabird dung prized as fertilizer) until 1984, which significantly degraded the natural habitat, although thankfully the marine life remains pristine. Jacques Cousteau, the great pioneer of scuba diving, filmed part of the “Silent World” on an incredible drop-off called The Wall on Astove and the racing tides in Cosmoledo’s lagoon make for some of the finest giant trevally fishing grounds on the planet.
An ultra-luxury 6* hotel will be announced in 2025, to open on Assomption in 2027. The development will drive investment into conservation and restoration of flora and fauna, alongside forming a stepping stone to see other remarkable land and sea life in the Aldabra archipelago.
I was commissioned to create a website for Aldabra Islands in 2024, to highlight the geography and biodiversity of the islands and establish a core message around sustainable development, which will be further informed and actioned through collaboration with experts in community and environmental spheres; I have also been involved in conservations around setting best practice baselines and forging links with stakeholders.
