TURTLE POACHERS ARRESTED IN SEYCHELLES
Nirmal Shah, July 23 2009.
Two men have been arrested for possession of turtle meat and spearguns. The taking, selling or buying of turtles is illegal under the Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act. Offences under this law carry a maximum fine of SR500,000.00 (about 36,000.00 USD) or a maximum term of two years imprisonment. Spearguns have been banned in Seychelles since the 70’s under Fisheries legislation and the Penal Code.
SEYCHELLES: PROTECTING OUR SEAS IS GOOD FOR SOCIETY
HOPE FOR SEYCHELLES' LAST CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES
The first Seychelles Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina chicks to fledge successfully outside La Digue Island, Seychelles for over 60 years is flying on Denis Island, a coral island in the inner Seychelles group. The newly-fledged birds are flying well, very noisy, and being fed by their parents –"typical normal and healthy flycatcher chicks", according to Nirmal Shah, Director of BirdLife Partner Nature Seychelles, the Species Guardian for the paradise-flycatcher.
OF MOORHENS AND MAGPIE ROBINS
Moorhens, or poul do in Kreol, are funny looking birds that are well known in Seychelles. With conservation succeeding on several islands, the moorhen population has been exploding. On Cousin Island Special Reserve, Nature Seychelles noticed a decline in the Seychelles Magpie-Robin population, from 47 birds in December 2005 to 27 birds at the moment, in sharp contrast with the increasing moorhens’ population. Moorhens are medium-sized, ground-dwelling birds, which are usually found near water. They are not endemic to Seychelles but are considered native and can be found in all over the world. Nature Seychelles is now closely monitoring the population of moorhens and to see whether they are a threat to endemic species of Cousin Island. Eric Blais the Conservation Officer on Cousin is being assisted by students from the UK to undertake this work.