Aride Island
Encyclopedia
Aride Island is the northernmost granitic island in the Seychelles
and is 10 km north of Praslin
. It is 68 hectares in area and is a nature reserve
. Aride is leased and managed by the Island Conservation Society
of Seychelles. The only human inhabitants are the reserve's staff; currently four Seychellois rangers and two wardens. They live in small plantation houses on the south side of the island.
Over 1.25 million seabirds regularly breed on Aride including the world's largest colony of lesser noddy
, the largest Seychelles population of roseate tern
s and the world's largest colony of Tropical Shearwater. There is also an enormous roost of non-breeding frigatebird
s. The Seychelles Warbler
was introduced from Cousin Island
to Aride in 1988 and its population is now the largest in the world with over 2,000 pairs. The Seychelles Fody
was also introduced from Cousin in 2002, as well the Seychelles Magpie Robin
from Fregate Island
. The Seychelles Blue Pigeon
and the Seychelles Sunbird
have re-colonised Aride naturally.
Reptilian fauna includes several species of skink
, three species of gecko
and three species of non-poisonous snake
s. Green turtles and Hawksbill turtle
s are regular visitors to the beaches of Aride.
Aride is the only place in the world where the flowering shrub Wright's Gardenia Rothmannia annae
is endemic.
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
and is 10 km north of Praslin
Praslin
Praslin is the second largest island of the Seychelles, lying 44 km north east of Mahé. Praslin has a population of around 6,500 people and comprises two administrative districts; Baie Sainte Anne and Grand' Anse . The main settlements are the Baie Ste Anne, Anse Volbert and Grand' Anse.It was...
. It is 68 hectares in area and is a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
. Aride is leased and managed by the Island Conservation Society
Island Conservation Society
Island Conservation Society was registered as an NGO in Seychelles in April 2001. The articles state the goal and mission of the organisation as follows:...
of Seychelles. The only human inhabitants are the reserve's staff; currently four Seychellois rangers and two wardens. They live in small plantation houses on the south side of the island.
Over 1.25 million seabirds regularly breed on Aride including the world's largest colony of lesser noddy
Noddy (tern)
Noddies are members of the tern family Sternidae in the genera Anous, Procelsterna, and Gygis. They are a tropical group, characterised by the notch-wedge shaped tail; coastal and pelagic oceanic...
, the largest Seychelles population of roseate tern
Roseate Tern
The Roseate Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in bill colour and minor plumage details....
s and the world's largest colony of Tropical Shearwater. There is also an enormous roost of non-breeding frigatebird
Frigatebird
The frigatebirds are a family, Fregatidae, of seabirds. There are five species in the single genus Fregata. They are also sometimes called Man of War birds or Pirate birds. Since they are related to the pelicans, the term "frigate pelican" is also a name applied to them...
s. The Seychelles Warbler
Seychelles Warbler
The Seychelles Warbler , also known as Seychelles Brush-warbler, is a small songbird found on four granitic and corraline islands in the Seychelles. It is a greenish-brown bird with long legs and a long slender bill. It is primarily found in forested areas on the islands...
was introduced from Cousin Island
Cousin Island
Cousin Island is a small granitic island of the Seychelles, lying 2 km SSW of Praslin. It is a nature reserve protected under Seychelles law as a Special Reserve and is run by Nature Seychelles, a national non-profit organization and Partner of BirdLife International .Until 1968, Cousin...
to Aride in 1988 and its population is now the largest in the world with over 2,000 pairs. The Seychelles Fody
Seychelles Fody
The Seychelles Fody Foudia sechellarum is a small yellowish songbird that lives in the Seychelles islands of Aride Island, Cousin Island, Cousine Island, Fregate Island, D'Arros Island and as of 2004 Denis Island. The IUCN has recently changed the status of the bird from "endangered" to "near...
was also introduced from Cousin in 2002, as well the Seychelles Magpie Robin
Seychelles Magpie Robin
The Seychelles Magpie Robin is a medium-sized endangered bird from the granitic Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.This species of magpie robin is approximately 25 cm in length. It has a glossy coal-black plumage with a white-colored bar on each wings. It is considered a long-lived species whose...
from Fregate Island
Fregate Island
Frégate Island or sometimes Frigate Island is a private island and is the easternmost of the granitic Inner Islands of the Seychelles. It is only and is primarily known as a secluded, private luxury resort and its Anse Victorin beach was voted "The World's Best Beach" by The Times. It was named...
. The Seychelles Blue Pigeon
Seychelles Blue Pigeon
The Seychelles Blue Pigeon is a medium-sized pigeon which inhabits woodland areas of the granitic Seychelles archipelago....
and the Seychelles Sunbird
Seychelles Sunbird
The Seychelles Sunbird is a small passerine from the family of sunbirds. It is named after the French explorer Jean-Jacques Dussumier. It is native to the Seychelles, where it is known as kolibri in Seychellois Creole. This bird is variously placed in the Cinnyris genus.- Description :It can reach...
have re-colonised Aride naturally.
Reptilian fauna includes several species of skink
Skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...
, three species of gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
and three species of non-poisonous snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s. Green turtles and Hawksbill turtle
Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E...
s are regular visitors to the beaches of Aride.
Aride is the only place in the world where the flowering shrub Wright's Gardenia Rothmannia annae
Rothmannia annae
Rothmannia annae is a species of plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Seychelles. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles 1998. . Downloaded on 23 August 2007....
is endemic.