Cousine Island

Cousine and Cousin (right), seen from Praslin

Cousine Island is a small granitic island 25 ha (62 acres) in the Seychelles 6 km (4 mi) 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 seabirds and has a population of transplanted Aldabra giant tortoises. 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 turtles are known to nest on this island.[1]

It is 62 acres-wide.[2] As of 2012, it is the world's third most expensive private island.[2]

Important Bird Area

The island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because it supports populations of the Seychelles warbler, magpie-robin and fody, as well as substantial breeding colonies of wedge-tailed shearwaters, white-tailed tropicbirds, lesser noddies and white terns.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Hitchins, P. M.; Bourquin, O.; Hitchins, S. (2004-04-27). "Nesting success of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) on Cousine Island, Seychelles". Journal of Zoology (Cambridge University Press, The Zoological Society of London) 264 (2): 383–389. doi:10.1017/S0952836904005904. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  2. 1 2 The world's most expensive private islands, The Daily Telegraph
  3. ↑ BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cousine island. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/07/2012

External links

Coordinates: 4°21′S 55°38′E / 4.350°S 55.633°E / -4.350; 55.633


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