Protect Sea Turtles & Ecosystems in Seychelles

Endemic Tree Nursery & Habitat Restoration

Our vegetation rehabilitation efforts significantly intensified over the past three months, supported by the arrival of a new team member dedicated to the management of the endemic tree nursery.

During this period, over 800 saplings of endemic and native species were potted, and 160 trees were planted across the island. The most recent nursery inventory recorded a total of 1,184 plants, reflecting strong progress in propagation capacity.

Invasive Plant Removal

With the acquisition of a new GPS unit, we initiated spatial mapping of invasive plant removal and subsequent replanting with native and endemic species, improving both monitoring and planning.

Over the quarter, 903 invasive coconut sprouts were removed, along with invasive beach creeper liana.

Aldabra Giant Tortoise Monitoring & Juvenile Care

Since January, 44 additional Aldabra giant tortoises (AGTs) were surveyed (measured, photographed, and recorded in the database), including 6 newly microchipped individuals.

The period also saw a notable increase in hatchling and juvenile observations. While none of the previously marked nests hatched, 6 hatchlings were opportunistically found on the coconut plateau and safely relocated to the nursery pen. Additionally, one approximately 1-year-old juvenile was recovered and transferred to the pen.

We are pleased to report the inauguration of a new baby tortoise enclosure, made possible through donor support.

To date, the island hosts 159 officially recorded AGTs, including 130 juveniles and adults, and 29 individuals aged from a few weeks to approximately 5 years old, currently under managed care.

Hawksbill & Green Turtle Monitoring

Since 1 March, systematic tracking of patrolling effort has been implemented.

The 2025–2026 hawksbill turtle nesting season (September–March) has now come to an end. A total of 9 nesting females were identified, including 4 newly tagged individuals. Although hawksbill activity was lower compared to the previous season, long-term trends for both hawksbill and green turtles remain positive.

Over the past three months:

17 nests were relocated to protect them from erosion or crab predation 

53 hatching events were recorded 

Since 1 January, a total of 36 nests has been recorded. The first green turtle nest of the season was laid on 31 March.

Other Ongoing Projects

Beach Profiling Monitoring

Beach profiling surveys continued as part of our long-term coastal monitoring program.

Marsh Rehabilitation Project

Rehabilitation activities commenced on 13 March, beginning with the cutting and trimming of vegetation obstructing water flow within channels and surrounding the marsh system.

A list of plant species has been established, and sapling production has begun accordingly to guide future replanting efforts following the planned earthworks.

Black Mud Terrapin Monitoring

A protective enclosure was constructed to safeguard the endemic black mud terrapins ahead of planned earthworks scheduled for the driest period of the dry season (July–September).

Individuals are safely captured using crab traps, then measured, notched for identification, photographed, and relocated to the enclosure.

To date:

27 terrapins have been translocated, including 16 adults (6 males, 10 females) and 11 juveniles (temporarily marked using a coded system) 

A total of 38 individuals has been recorded since 8 January

Fish Identification & Marine Monitoring

Marine biodiversity monitoring continued through weekly snorkelling and diving surveys. Notable sightings included two adult Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins accompanied by a calf, reinforcing the importance of ongoing reef monitoring efforts.

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.