ICS Seychelles

29/05/2026

Ever checked what’s under leaves? 🍃

Recently, we've been getting close and personal with some of the islands smallest residents!

Our Alphonse team is busy doing leaf-litter counts, surveying the incredible invertebrates that call these forests home.

You might be thinking: “Why count bugs?” 🐜

Well, it’s a part of our journey better understanding our island biodiversity from the ground up. By surveying these tiny inhabitants, we’re protecting the natural balance of the ecosystem.

Acting locally for global impact 🌍

It sounds big, but it starts right here in the dirt. By monitoring and protecting our local species, we are:
✔️ Supporting global efforts to halt biodivery loss by 2030.
✔️ Promoting sustainable development for our island community.
✔️ Ensuring a healthier planet for everyone.

Every beetle, snail, and spider we count is a win for nature. We’re proof that taking care of our own “backyard” is exactly how we help save our planet!


📷 lindell | ©️ Island Conservation Society

28/05/2026

🌊 Strengthening Capacity for Marine Protection

ICS recently participated in the Marine Enforcement Training Programme hosted by SPGA under the Hifadhi Blu Project — bringing together enforcement officers and conservation partners working across Seychelles 🇸🇨 to strengthen the protection and management of marine protected areas.

The programme combined both classroom-based and field training over several days.

Sessions covered :

➡️ Management effectiveness tools

➡️ Marine legislation and enforcement procedures

➡️ Evidence handling, surveillance approaches, and incident response.

Participants also had the opportunity to learn more about SPGA’s use of EarthRanger 🌍technology and visit their command centre to better understand how monitoring and coordination support marine protection efforts.

The field component at the Ste. Anne Marine Park 🏝 provided valuable practical exposure, allowing participants to apply aspects of the training within an active marine protected area setting while exchanging experiences and challenges faced across different islands and conservation contexts.

We leave the training with strengthened partnerships, a better understanding of the legal and operational frameworks surrounding marine enforcement, and valuable knowledge that will continue to support conservation work across the islands and marine ecosystems where ICS operates.

Thank you to SPGA, the facilitators, and all partners involved for organising this important initiative. 💙🌍

21/05/2026

13/05/2026

Thank you to SPGA - Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority for the opportunity to participate in this exchange workshop bringing together conservation practitioners from across Seychelles and the Maldives. 🌊

ICS is proud to be part of this important week of collaboration, learning, and knowledge sharing for our marine ecosystems. 🐢💙

11/05/2026

Strengthening partnerships for stronger seabird conservation across Seychelles. 🐦🌍

Great knowledge exchange with the SPGA team on Aride Island Special Reserve.

11/05/2026

Fairy terns of Aride : A breeding journey “from pairing to fledging”

The Blue-billed white tern-Gygis candida (previously known as the Fairy tern) is one of the many seabirds we observe and monitor weekly on our island. These elegant, all-white birds breed year-round on Aride🏝, reaching a peak season between February and May.

Our staff has attempted for the first time this year a second seabird census, focusing this time exclusively on the Fairy tern, during their peak season.

The data 📊collected is in the process of being analysed, and we hope the results will provide crucial information on Aride’s estimated population.

📷 Mersiah Rose Jude Brice | ©️ Island Conservation Society

23/04/2026

🐢🌍 Earth Week Spotlight: Tortoise Census Complete! 🌍🐢

This Earth Week, we’re celebrating a major conservation milestone on Desroches — our latest island-wide census has recorded nearly 200 Aldabra Giant Tortoises roaming free.

Over several days, the team covered every corner of the island — tracking tortoise trails through forest, grassland, and even the farm — building a clearer picture of how these iconic ecosystem engineers use the landscape.

Moments like these remind us that conservation is not just about numbers, but about understanding and protecting the natural processes that keep island ecosystems thriving.

And in true tortoise fashion, one of the largest individuals on the island proved the hardest to find — a reminder that even the giants of our ecosystems can remain hidden in plain sight.

This Earth Week, we celebrate not just their presence, but the continued efforts to restore and protect island biodiversity for generations to come. 💚



📷 James Wareing | ©️ Island Conservation Society

08/04/2026

Exciting News! 📢

🔍 A century-old mystery—finally seen alive.

These are the first-ever photographs of Bradina aerolalis, a tiny moth species endemic to Seychelles. 🦋

First described in 1899 by Joseph de Joannis, this species was known only from a preserved specimen collected on Praslin and housed in Paris. For over 100 years, no live observations had been recorded.

That has now changed!

The species has been observed and photographed alive on Silhouette Island 🏝 by our team—marking a significant moment for Seychelles’ biodiversity research and highlighting how much remains under-documented, even today.

📸 Pierre Barralon | © Island Conservation Society

01/04/2026

In 2016, Farquhar was struck by Category 5 Cyclone 💨, named “Fantala”.

Powerful winds and storm surges reshaped the lagoon, displacing vast amounts of sand and transforming a small 0.3 ha sandbank into a rapidly growing island.

By 2019, it had risen above the high tide mark—and today, it exceeds 7 hectares in size .

Since then, life has begun to take hold 🏝 . Pioneer species such as the coastal shrub Bwataba (Tournefortia argentea) have begun to colonise the island, marking the first stages of ecological succession. 🌳

ICS continues to monitor this process through frequent vegetation and biodiversity surveys, helping us understand how vegetation and biodiversity establish on newly formed land.

The island is already being used by nesting seabirds and visiting turtles—showing just how quickly nature can respond and adapt.

📷Emma Cotton | ©Island Conservation Society

30/03/2026

🐢 A Big Step for a Small Tortoise 🌿

Last week we released another group of juvenile Aldabra Giant Tortoises on Desroches — one of our favourite moments of the year.

At around 9 kg, these tortoises are roughly seven years old and big enough to survive in the wild. From here, they’re free to roam the island for what could be the next 100 years.

Each release is the result of years of care in the Tortoise Sanctuary, giving them the best possible start in life. Now they can help revegetate the island.

A big thank you to Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island and their guests for helping make this event possible. 💚

📷 Vidot | © Island Conservation Society