Brave Maasai Kills Lion with Club

I came across this amazing article in one of the local daily newspaper in the office. A 35 year old man by the name of Moses Lekalau slew a lion over the weekend armed only with a wooden club.

The report states that the Masai man was walking home on Saturday evening (17th Nov) when he was confronted by the lion. He struggled with the beast for half an hour before he finally killed it. Unfortunately, hyenas emerged from the bush after he killed the lion and started attacking him.

He sustained serious injuries and the doctors at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya where he is admitted say he will need extensive re constructive surgery. Both of his hands have been bitten off from the wrists and his toes severed.

He was rescued by a passing motorist who heard his screams and rushed in to help him. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital (Maralal Hospital) before being airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment.

Update: We called the hospital to get more information about his condition and we have been sadly informed that he succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Monday morning (19th Nov).

African dream: experiencing the modern safari, as nature and luxury take their course

You never forget your first giraffe--at least I won't. Shortly after returning to our Land Rover after a walk in the bush, we heard the electric cry: "Giraffe!" Now, these animals are not exactly made for concealment; an average male is 17 feet tall and weighs 2,600 pounds. Still, it took a moment to spot the cuddly giant, and then I saw him, chewing at the foliage of the treetops. We got out and crept to within 20 feet--close enough to have to tip our heads back to peer at his face. Perhaps annoyed at having his breakfast interrupted, our giraffe ambled away. But as he did so, he paused and looked straight at me with limpid brown eyes. I swooned.

Even better was the following day, when we saw six giraffes parading by us like models on a catwalk. Perfectly timed, one would sashay by, and as soon as it was out of our peripheral vision, another would stroll into view. This is aptly known as a "journey of giraffes."

For CEOs who have ever idly thought about going on safari with their spouses and families, here is a piece of advice: Do it. Adventurous Americans have traveled over ocean and land to gaze at Africa's exotic game for more than a century, dating back to Theodore Roosevelt's famous hunts. Today, there are literally thousands of lodges in the countries that comprise the prime safari territory (South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe). So here is another piece of advice: Go to the Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa's North West province and stay at Jaci's Tree Lodge, whose recent guests have included the heir to the Dutch throne and a son of Warren Buffett.

The Madikwe (muh-dee-KWAY) reserve is one of the country's largest, encompassing 600 square miles (about half the size of Rhode Island). It is also one of the newest. In 1991, the area was mostly scrubland and degraded cattle farms. Then the local government decided to buy out the farmers and convert it into a wildlife ecotourism reserve, reasoning that it would be the best and most profitable use of the land.

But first there had to be wildlife. Enter Operation Phoenix, the largest relocation of big game ever. Beginning in 1992, more than 8,000 animals representing dozens of species were picked up and transported to Madikwe from various African game reserves. In 1996, predators such as cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas were introduced; lions were the last to be brought in, to give the other animals a chance to settle in. Now the place is a teeming animal kingdom, with some 16,000 mammals of 95 different species, plus 350 varieties of birds. It is home to the so-called Big Five (buffalo, rhino, elephant, leopard and lion), so named because they are the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot, as well as the rest of the Top Ten (wild dog, hippo, cheetah, hycna and giraffe).

'Rough Luxury'

In Madikwe, nature takes its course, which is not always pretty. This was brought forcibly home to us one day when a pack of wild dogs--an endangered species that has been successfully imported into the reserve--emerged from the bush and tore apart a young wildebeest. The look of the dogs as they glanced up from their lunch, their snouts red with blood, was a reminder that for many of its inhabitants life in the bush is a merciless struggle.

For the humans at Jaci's, however, the living is easy. At the Tree Lodge, where I stayed with a group of 10 friends, there are eight tree houses, each encompassing a giant tamborie or leadwood tree. These are not the kind of tree houses banged up by loving hands in the backyard; they have air conditioning, soft linen sheets and a wood-burning stove, not to mention an outdoor shower and a stone tub big enough to swim in.

The owners call it "rough luxury." My friends and I agreed that they had it only half-right: Where was the "rough"? One day we came back from a bush walk completely soaked, having been caught in a rainstorm so prolonged and intense that we expected to see the animals marching two by two toward an ark. Upon our arrival, there were the grinning staff members, holding out fresh towels for us. Laundry at the lodge comes back gift-wrapped. There is reflexology, a delightful form of foot massage, on demand. As one of my companions, a British journalist, mused, "I knew this was going to be my kind of place when they asked us, 'What kind of drinks would you like on tonight's safari?'"


A day at Jaci's begins with a 5:30 a.m. wake-up knock, followed by coffee and cereal before a 6 o'clock drive or walk through the bush. Driving is a better way to catch sight of big game; a bush walk offers quieter pleasures. During one hike, we came across an indeterminate smudge, which our guide, Jolyon Neytzell-de Wilde, keenly identified as the left footprint of a black rhino. We also learned about the engineering feats of the termite; the grisly dietary habits of the garden spider (males, beware); and the socialized housing projects of aardvarks, who share their holes with warthogs.

By 10:30, the morning outing is over and it's time for a hot breakfast. Then it's siesta time, which lasts until after 4; the game is sleeping in the heat of the day, so it's no use trying to find them. In addition to taking a nap, you can read, chat or opt for a massage. There is also a small gym, and a dipping pool. After lunch and tea, there is the evening drive, which tends to be richer in game since most animals are nocturnal. As the sun sets, we stop for cocktails, then head back to the lodge in the dark, with the guide using an infrared light to spot game. Shower, drinks and dinner follow. Then it's time for bed. There is no newspaper, TV, radio or Internet-equipped computer in sight; cell phone coverage is spotty. In other words, Jaci's Tree Lodge is not a place for a working vacation.

A Day With the Lions

Access to Madikwe is limited to guests of the lodge, so there are none of the traffic pile-ups around some poor lion that are common in other places. The lodges communicate game spottings on a radio channel, but only three vehicles at a time are allowed on a site--and even that rarely happens. This allows for an almost intimate connection with the animals.

Take our day with the lions. There were six of them--and a very dead eland (a kind of antelope) they had killed the evening before. First, two grown males with regal manes settled in for a leisurely feed, complete with lip-smacking noises, before sauntering away. "It's as if they know they are king of the jungle," I commented, to which our guide, George Boya, quietly replied, "Oh, they do, they do." Then a pair of females feasted for a while, and finally two cubs took their bites. From the safety of our vehicle, we ventured over to where the two males were; brothers, they were spooned in each other's paws, playfully tussling. And then one of them roared, a sound that goes straight to your toes. There is nothing that resonates like the roar of a lion in the bush.

After four days, my little herd of travelers had to leave, but not before spotting nine of the Top Ten (all but the buffalo), plus oryx, waterbuck, impala and a gorgeous kudu, standing tall and noble, its curved antlers spiraling high against the dusky sky. We were sorry to leave, and I, for one, plan to go back. There is no way I have seen my last giraffe.

Armchair Safari

Big Cat Week has been back every day on BBC1. It's even more fun to watch if you've been to the Masai Mara (the Kenyan extension of the Serengeti) and seen for yourself how these wonderful events unfold. Out there on the vast yellow plains there are spotters, men whose whole lives have been spent there, men who detect from the movement of a single blade of grass whether a leopard is prowling or rain is on the way. But they have other skills. The cry goes up, 'TV crew under the outcrop!' and, as one, the entire pack wheels round and races for the site.

Suddenly, a small crew that had been peaceably filming a group of lions finds itself surrounded by jeeps, Land Cruisers and half-a-dozen minibuses from the safari lodges.

We were lucky -- we stayed in camp with a local guide, Anthony Cheffings, who tailors each day to your mood; you might want to see another few dozen wildebeest, or you may prefer a gin-and-tonic. The customers at the safari lodges, by contrast, are treated like Japanese commuters, obliged to leave at set times or be left behind, crammed into these little vans from which you can see what's outside your window and not much else. The big cats, meanwhile, behave towards human visitors rather like a polar explorer who has plenty of canned food but no tin-opener -- you are a subject of only academic interest. Which is comforting.

So apart from their wonderful close-ups, the cameramen on Big Cat should be praised for keeping all other vehicles out of shot. I won't say that's like filming the M25 as if it were empty, but it can't have been easy. But then the whole show, while gripping, is somewhat artificial. There are three presenters: cool Simon King, who does the lions, cheetah-wallah Jonathan Scott, whose moustache and air of fervent rapture make him look like a porn star who has found God, and Saba DouglasHamilton, the posh totty who does leopards.

(May I break off at this point to bring you a John Motson line from the World Cup Final? '. . . now all the Italian forwards are looking for Totti'. ) There are problems. For instance, apart from being gorgeous to look at, lions don't do an awful lot. Last summer, thanks to Anthony and a crew from Big Cat Week, we found a pride under some trees. We all, with a few dozen lodge folk, watched them for an hour, which was probably enough, since they rather resembled old folk in the lounge of a home, waiting for Deal Or No Deal.

In between filming sessions, the three presenters drive around at tremendous and ill-advised speed, to a thrumming soundtrack of African drums and choirs.

Bumm bumm bomm! Whay, hey, yah! Ey, yah! See-ay yah! Vroom, vroom! Bumm bumm bomm! Sprang! Screek! as another back axle goes. Since they are always looking out of the window, or gazing happily into the camera lens, or talking on the radio, it's amazing that they don't hit more vans, or run over some of the animals they're supposed to be filming. Looking for wildlife is a slow, patient business, but that wouldn't work on television, so it has to be presented as if it's a form of stockcar racing with added fur.

The real skill, mind you, is in the editing.

The show is put together like a soap opera.

Since one lion cub looks much like another -- at least to us back home -- they give each beast a name, and follow it through its adventures. Notch, the lions' paterfamilias, is about to be fought by two younger males who want to take over his patch. Roll credits. Toto, the unbearably cute baby cheetah, is going to be eaten by two ugly great baboons. . . so join us tomorrow. The fact that the next night the young lions backed off, and the baboons strolled away from Toto, doesn't matter.

For 23 hours and 31 minutes we were left chewing our nails.

New comedies should be left to settle and mature, so I waited till episode four with Steve Coogan's new character Saxondale (BBC2, Monday). I thought it was very funny indeed. Tommy Saxondale is an ever so slightly more working-class, ever so slightly more self-aware version of Alan Partridge. 'I play by my own rules, ' he tells his daughter, pompously. 'Dad, you're a 50-year-old pest controller who lives in Stevenage, ' she replies. At one time fame and glamour beckoned -- he was a roadie for rock groups, though we assume most of his stories are made up. Now he is left to face life's disappointments, which include dysfunctional colleagues, a pretentious future son-in-law, and customers who are too drugged-out to tell him where the roaches are. The gags are the light relief from the picture of cumulative despair, and I watched much of the show through my fingers, like a child in front of Doctor Who.

Modern Toss (Channel 4, Tuesday) is an even stranger comedy. Some characters are human, others animated, so it's like a cross between Viz magazine, The Fast Show, and those old East European cartoons in which sofas do little dances. With added filth. At first I yawned, then realised, with the arrival of M. Tourette, Master Signwriter, that in parts it was going to be very funny indeed. But you might hate it.

Namibia - Like No Other Place On Earth

Situated between the Kalahari Desert and the South Atlantic Ocean along the southeastern shoreline of Africa, Namibia is known for its contrasting landscapes including deserts, seascapes, boundless plateaus and rock canyons. In addition to its vast array of rich natural resources, Namibia features a solid contemporary infrastructure as well as diverse traditional cultures -- it is a magnificent country to visit.
Land of Contrasting Landscapes

Namibia is home to the desolate Namib Desert, with its high dunes and extraordinary sense of space, which is said to be the oldest desert in the world. In fact, it is estimated that the Namib is as much as 80 million years old. Namibia also boasts the second largest canyon in the world (next to the Grand Canyon), the Fish River Canyon. This enormous gorge spans a distance of approximately 160 kilometers. Formed around 500 million years ago, the gorge was created by water erosion coupled with the collapse of the valley bottom due to movements in the earth's crust. The canyon is part of a Nature Conservation Park and has become a popular hiking destination featuring a path of roughly 86 kilometers.

The central plateau, with its thorn bush savannah and jagged mountains, rises unexpectedly from the plains. In the northern area of the country, landscapes include everything from the dense bush and open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to wooded savannah bursting with lush vegetation.

Sometimes known as the "country of contrast," Namibia not only offers the safari adventurer amazingly diverse landscapes but also an ample amount of wildlife (the world's highest concentration of wild cheetah and almost 70 percent of the continent's birds), enormous vistas and a population that speaks more than 16 languages and dialects.
Where else in the world can you experience such unsurpassed beauty and diverse landscapes complemented by a truly spectacular coastline? In addition, the timelessness of this country is reflected in dinosaur footprints preserved in sandstone, prehistoric rock art, and the ancient fossil plant, Welwitschia mirabilis. If you're a photographer, Namibia is like heaven on earth.
Namibian Wildlife

In addition to the vast array of natural beauty that makes Namibia such a perfect choice for a safari, it is also the natural habitat for a wide variety of endangered species including the Puku antelope (occurring in Namibia's Caprivi area), the Orbi and the Black Rhino. In fact, there are more than 20 species of antelope in Namibia including the Eland and the Gemsbok. In the seaside retreat of Swakopmund, you can take a boat journey and view seals, dolphins, whales and penguins.

Although Namibia is probably the least known of the Southern African countries, the attractions and topography are unlike anywhere else in the world. When you go on safari in Namibia, you will experience the opportunity to explore culture, wildlife and landscapes that will leave a lasting impression.

Cool Kenya: Africa's number one safari spot

Kenya is a country that has long held an important place in the British imagination. A country of great geographical diversity, the land ranges from the icy glaciers and snowy mountains of the Kenyan highlands, to tropical rainforest and attractive coastline, with beautiful beaches and reefs offering some superb diving spots.

It was perhaps Kenya's part in British colonial history that explains why it has become the subject and setting of so many renowned films and books; Born Free by Joy Adamson, a book which was later made into a movie in 1966 and then a 13 episode TV series, detailed the story of Adamson's life in Kenya, focusing around the raising of an orphaned lioness cub, which Adamson and her husband (who was a game warden) brought up together.

Another very popular book set in the country is Out of Africa, a memoir by Isak Dinesen (the pen name of Karen von Blixen-Finecke) which was first published in 1937 and focused on the lives of European settlers and local tribesman in Kenya during 1914 to 1931. The story is largely based in and around Dinesen's farm, during the twilight years of European colonialism and she draws an alluring landscape of Kenya that focuses on a utopian ideal where she lives in unity with the natives, many of the animals and other white settlers.

These two books refer to a romantic, colonial period of Kenya's history that has long since passed, but Kenya remains one of the most popular African destinations for safari holidays, a status that is strengthened by the numerous wildlife documentary teams that visit the country to study the habits of creatures the make Kenya's game reserves their home.

The BBC's recent documentary series, Big Cat Diary, which follows some of Kenya's most magnificent felines such as lions, leopards and cheetahs around the Masai Mara serves as an ongoing inspiration for wildlife lovers. The show closely follows the daily habits of animals, such as the Marsh Pride, where we learn of the intricacies of lion life, both the joys, for example the birth of new cubs, and the harsh realties, for example territoriality, the murder of rival cubs and the hardships of trying to find enough food to survive.

With such a rich history that is closely tied with Britain and particularly rich wildlife, it's perhaps not surprising that Kenya remains the most popular country for an African safari. With sun backed plains, lush forested mountains and idyllic soft white sands which disappear into the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, Kenya is the perfect place to combine an incredible wildlife trip with a relaxing beach break and offers an ideal combination of luxury and adventure.

Seychelles Safaris and Tours

The Seychelles is as close to natural visual paradise as you can ever hope to see. A ‘thousand miles from anywhere’, the archipelago of islands has no malaria or serious diseases. The Seychelles appeal is more to the nature-lover than the glamour-puss, yet it is also fast becoming a hot-ticket for the cognoscenti. Sports fisherman, birders, celebrities and families alike enjoy the ultimate escape from life’s pressures on one of several private islands. And of course, the seclusion, pampering and delicious seafood appeals to lovers, romantics and honeymooners.

When and How to tour the Seychelles

The Seychelles has year round appeal, with temperatures ranging agreeably from a maximum 24 to 29ºc. Sea breezes largely counteract the summer heat and humidity between November and April and drier, cooler weather prevails from May through October. Both BA and Air Seychelles have regular flights to the Seychelles, some non-stop, and it also combines well with Mauritius and South Africa. Island Hopping, diving and fishing are all popular pastimes. The waters are full of Marlin, Tuna and Sailfish. The Seychelles is part of the world's longest coral reef system and has some of the world's best scuba diving sites. The reefs that surround most islands contain several hundred species of coral. Although conditions are good throughout the year, March to May and September to November offer the best visibility and calmest seas.

Seychelles Safari

Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles (pronounced / or ; French: République des Seychelles, pronounced /; Creole: Repiblik Sesel), is an archipelago nation of 158 islands in the Indian Ocean, some 1,600 km east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar. Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Mauritius and Réunion to the south, Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest, and the Suvadives of the Maldives to the northeast.

In terms of population, Seychelles is the smallest sovereign state of Africa.

History of Seychelles
While Austronesian seafarers or Arab traders may have been the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles, the first recorded sighting of them took place in 1505, by the Portuguese. As a transit point for trading between Africa and Asia, they were occasionally used by pirates until the French began to take control of the islands starting in 1756, naming them after Jean Moreau de Sechelles, the then French finance minister.

The British contested control over the islands with the French between 1794 and 1811, with the British eventually gaining the upper hand and being ceded the islands in 1814. The Seychelles became a crown colony separate from Mauritius in 1903 and independence was granted in 1976, as a republic within the Commonwealth. The 1979 constitution declared a socialist one-party state, which lasted until 1992.

Politics

Politics and government of Seychelles

The Seychelles president, who is both head of state and head of government, is elected by popular vote for a five-year term of office. The previous president, France Albert René, was democratically elected after the constitutional reforms of 1992, though he had been in power since a coup d'état in 1977. He stood down in 2004 in favour of his vice-president, James Michel. The cabinet is presided over and appointed by the president, subject to the approval of a majority of the legislature.

The unicameral Seychellois parliament, the National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale, consists of 34 members, of whom 25 are elected directly by popular vote, while the remaining 9 seats are appointed proportionally according to the percentage of votes received by each party. All members serve five-year terms.

Politics is a topic of hot debate in the country - with many claiming there is a social and economic divide between the two leading parties and their supporters.

The Seychelles are part of the Indian Ocean Commission.

Administrative divisions

Districts of Seychelles

The famous clock tower in the centre of Victoria, capital of Seychelles.Seychelles is divided into twenty-five administrative regions, called districts:

Anse aux Pins
Anse Boileau
Anse Etoile
Anse Royale
Aux Cap
Baie Lazare
Baie Sainte Anne
Beau Vallon
Bel Air
Bel Ombre
Cascade
Glacis
Grand' Anse (Mahe)
Grand' Anse (Praslin)
La Digue
La Riviere Anglaise
Les Mamelles
Mont Buxton
Mont Fleuri
Plaisance
Pointe La Rue
Port Glaud
Roche Caiman
Saint Louis
Takamaka

Economy of Seychelles

Since independence in 1976, per capita output has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labour force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services.

At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-1992 due largely to the country's significantly overvalued exchange rate, the Gulf War and once again following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S.. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs, and further privatisation of public enterprises. The government has a pervasive presence in economic activity, with public enterprises active in petroleum product distribution, insurance, banking, imports of basic products, telecommunications, and a wide range of other businesses.

Growth slowed in 1998–2001, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors. Also, tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychellois rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency the tourist sector should remain sluggish as tourists seek cheaper destinations such as nearby Comoros and Madagascar. A reduction in the number of flights serving the country, primarily due to the inability by airline companies to repatriate funds, has also constrained the growth of the tourism industry. The recent entry of Emirates and Qatar airlines has yet to result in increased growth.

At official exchange rates Seychelles remains the richest country in Africa in terms of GDP per capita. (US$7,504 as of 2005), although if the parallel exchange rate, or purchasing power parity rates, are used, it ranks behind Mauritius and Botswana. Because of economic contraction (the economy declined by about 2% in 2004 and 2005 and is set to decline by at least the same level in 2006) the country is moving downwards in terms of per capita income.

It is important to note that Seychelles is, per capita, the most highly indebted country in the world according to the World Bank, with total public debt around 122.8% of GDP. Approximately two thirds of this debt is owed domestically, with the balance due to multilaterals, bilaterals and commercial banks. The country is in arrears to most of its international creditors and has had to resort to pledged commercial debt to continue to be able to borrow. This high debt burden is a direct consequence of the overvalued exchange rate — in essence, the country is living beyond its means, and financing its lifestyle by borrowing domestically and internationally.

Seychelles is also a tax haven. Many firms such as GenerActions Consulting owned by a famous Swiss entrepreneurs David Humbert is established in this island.

Demographics of Seychelles

See also: Indo-Seychellois, Sino-Seychellois, Seychellois Creole People, Seychellois Creole, and Franco-Seychellois

Victoria, Seychelles.As the islands of the Seychelles had no indigenous population, the current Seychellois are composed of immigrants, mostly of French, African, Indian, and Chinese descent. French and English are official languages along with a French-based Creole. Most Seychellois are Christians, mostly Catholics.

Culture of Seychelles

Music of Seychelles

The folk music incorporates multiple influences in a syncretic fashion, including English contredanse, polka and mazurka, French folk and pop, sega from Mauritius and Réunion, taarab, soukous and other pan-African genres, and Polynesian, Indian and Arcadian music. A complex form of percussion music called contombley is popular, as is montea, a fusion of native folk rhythms with Kenyan benga developed by Patrick Victor.

As of 1992, some ninety percent of the population was Roman Catholic and approximately seven percent Anglican. Although clergy and civil authorities disapprove, many Seychellois see little inconsistency between their orthodox religious observance and belief in magic, witchcraft, and sorcery.

Flora and Fauna

Palm spider, Seychelles.The early colonial history of Seychelles is infamous for the disappearance of most of the giant tortoises from the granitic islands, felling of coastal and mid-level forests and extinction of species such as the chestnut flanked white eye, the Seychelles parakeet and the saltwater crocodile. The Seychelles today is known for success stories in protecting its flora and fauna. Conservation started in the 1960s by a small group of local enthusiasts. Although many of the conservation laws date back to British colonial days, the Seychelles government has strictly protected the natural heritage of the islands for many years. Flagship species, the Seychelles Magpie Robin and the Seychelles Warbler, have been spectacularly rescued from the brink of extinction by BirdLife International, Nature Seychelles, Islands Conservation Society, private islands and the government. These birds, once restricted to one island each, have been translocated to many others. Seychelles has 12 endemic bird species including the Seychelles flycatcher, scops owl, white eye, swiftlet, kestrel, blue pigeon and sunbird.

Seychelles is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites run by the Seychelles Islands Foundation. They are the island of Aldabra, which is the world's largest raised coral atoll and also the Vallée de Mai on Praslin island, billed as the original site of the Garden of Eden. The Cousin Island Special Reserve, purchased by Royal Society for Nature Conservation in 1968 and managed by Nature Seychelles, is an internationally-known bird and marine sanctuary which has won several awards for conservation and ecotourism. Seychelles has six national marine parks including the St. Anne National Marine Park located adjacent to the capital, Port Victoria which are managed by the government parastatal, Marine Parks Authority. Much of the land territory (about 40%) and a substantial part of the coastal sea around Seychelles are protected as National Parks, including Marine Parks, and Reserves.

Several private island owners, especially those with up market hotel resorts, have collaborated with the government and NGOs to restore island habitats and to re-introduce threatened species. These islands include Fregate, Denis and Cousine. The management of these islands now employ full time conservation officers and fund conservation programmes. The island restoration program has now been taken to the outer islands by the Island Conservation Society.

The Seychelles are home to 81 endemic plant species. Well-known is the Coco de mer,the beutiful Azul or Zoria, a species of palm that grows only on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse. Sometimes nicknamed the 'love nut' because of its suggestive shape, the coco-de-mer is the world's largest seed. The jellyfish tree is to be found in only a few locations today. This strange and ancient plant has resisted all efforts to propagate it. Other unique plant species include the Wrights Gardenia found only on Aride Island Special Reserve.

The giant tortoises from Aldabra now populate many of the islands of the Seychelles. These unique reptiles can be found even in captive herds. The granitic islands of Seychelles supported distinct species of Seychelles giant tortoises.

Seychelles hosts some of the largest seabird colonies in the world. Islands such as Bird, Aride, Cousin, Aldabra and Cosmoledo host many species of seabirds including the sooty tern, fairy tern, white-tailed tropicbird, noddies and frigatebirds.

The marine life around the islands, especially the more remote coral islands, can be spectacular. More than 1000 species of fish have been recorded. Since the use of spearguns and dynamite for fishing was banned through efforts of local conservationists in the 1960s, the wildlife is unafraid of snorkelers and divers. Coral bleaching in 1998 has unfortunately damaged most reefs. The taking of marine turtles was completely stopped in 1994, turtle populations are now recovering on several islands, most notably Cousin Island, Silhouette Island and Aldabra. The use of gill nets for shark fishing as well as the practice of shark finning are now banned.