Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP 10 ANIMALS TO
WATCH FOR
»
Whale sharks - Mahé
»
Magpie robins - Cousin, Cousine, Aride, Denis
»
Giant tortoises - All islands
»
Flycatchers - La Digue
»
Sooglossus sardineri frogs - Morne Seychellois National Park, Mahé
»
Black parrots - Vallée de Mai, Praslin
»
Fruit bats - Mahé, Praslin, La Digue
»
Sooty terns - Bird Island
»
Sea turtles - Bird, Cousin, Fregate, North, Aldabra
»
Sharks - Off most islands
PLANTS
The coconut palm and the casuarina are the Seychelles' most common trees. There are a
few banyans and you're also likely to see screw pines, bamboo and tortoise trees (so
named because the fruit looks like the tortoises that eat it).
There are about 80 endemic plant species. Virgin forest now exists only on the higher
parts of Silhouette Island and Mahé, and in the Vallée de Mai on Praslin, which is one of
only two places in the world where the giant coco de mer palm grows wild. The other is
nearby Curieuse Island.
In the high, remote parts of Mahé and Silhouette Island, you may come across the
insect-eating pitcher plant, which either clings to trees or bushes or sprawls along the
ground.
National Parks
The Seychelles currently boasts two national parks and seven marine national parks, as
well as several other protected areas under government and NGO management. In all,
about 46% of the country's total land mass is now protected as well as some 45 sq km of
ocean.
