Protect Sea Turtles & Ecosystems in Seychelles

All conservation work on North Island continues to be led by the island’s Environmental Team under the guidance of Conservation Coordinator, Mathilde Le Gressus. Wildlife ACT remains in a supportive role, assisting where needed and helping ensure that field monitoring and ecological data collection align with the broader goals of the island’s long-term Noah’s Ark restoration project.

The ongoing recovery and management of the Aldabra Giant Tortoise population has been a major focus this year. In March, the island welcomed fifty new tortoises translocated from Mahé, followed in May by the release of seventeen new adults once they completed their two-week quarantine period. Since April 2025, the Environmental Team has recorded eleven tortoise nests across the island, two of which were translocated to safer locations to reduce predation risk and improve hatch success.

By July, all babies within the island’s pen had been microchipped, and two new wild-born hatchlings were discovered elsewhere on the island, bringing the total to thirty-nine babies in monitored care. Six additional adults were microchipped in September, and by December the confirmed population count stood at 162 individuals, with several unchipped tortoises still known to occupy the upper hill areas. These efforts reflect a steady strengthening of the island’s restored tortoise population.

Sea Turtle monitoring has also remained consistent throughout the year. The island continues to serve as an important nesting site for both Hawksbill and Green Turtles, with a total of 404 nests recorded since 1 January 2025. Hatching data from the year shows a clear seasonal pattern, with the highest number of successful hatches occurring during the peak nesting months when environmental conditions are most favourable. This ongoing monitoring, led daily by the Environmental Team and supported by ecotourists, contributes to long-term understanding of nesting trends on the island and informs regional marine conservation planning.

Habitat restoration remains central to the vision of the Noah’s Ark project. Since January, at least 287 indigenous trees have been planted, most of them on the Plateau where increasing vegetation cover is helping to stabilise soils and rebuild natural forest structure. In support of this work, 196 coconut sprouts were removed during the past month alone, reducing the spread of invasive vegetation and strengthening the recovery of native plant communities.

Along the coastline, marine protection efforts have continued with determination. A total of 925.191 kg of ocean waste has been collected from the island’s beaches over the course of 2025, reflecting both the scale of global marine pollution and the essential role that continuous clean-up efforts play in safeguarding nesting turtles and coastal species. All waste data is recorded and contributes to broader international datasets that help track pollution trends across ocean systems.

The achievements of the past year reflect the dedication, professionalism, and daily presence of the North Island Environmental Team. Wildlife ACT remains grateful to support their work and to contribute to the long-term protection of the island’s ecosystems. We also extend our sincere thanks to GlobalGiving donors, whose continued support helps ensure that this critical conservation work can continue throughout the year.