Cousin Island, Protected nature reserve in Seychelles
Cousin Island is a small granite island covering approximately 0.13 square miles (0.34 square kilometers) located about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) west of Praslin, featuring native woodland, sandy beaches, and a hill rising to 226 feet (69 meters) in elevation.
Originally used as a coconut plantation that depleted native vegetation, the island was acquired by BirdLife International in 1968 to initiate restoration efforts after the Seychelles warbler population had declined to just 26 birds.
Cousin Island serves as a model for environmental management and conservation in the Seychelles, hosting research stations used by universities and international organizations to study ecosystem recovery and endemic species protection efforts.
The island is accessible by boat from Praslin and welcomes visitors during weekday mornings only, remaining closed on weekends and public holidays to ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife and preservation of habitats.
The island supports over 300,000 nesting seabirds across seven species, including large colonies of lesser noddies and brown noddies, along with populations of hawksbill turtles and approximately a dozen Aldabra giant tortoises.
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