Cousin Island
Cousin counts with a total area of about 27 hectares (0.27 km ²) to the lesser of 115 Seychelles Islands. It is located about 4 km south-west of Praslin, the second largest island of the archipelago, as well as about 2 km northwest of the neighboring island cousin.
Fauna and Flora
Cousin is an important refuge for rare endemic animal and plant species. The former coconut plantation is now dominated by Pisonia grandis, noni tree and Ochrosia oppositifolia. The restoration of the original habitat is carried out by the non-profit conservation organization Nature Seychelles.
The island was in 1968 by the International Council for Bird Preservation, today acquired BirdLife International. An important motivation for the purchase was the preservation of the world's last remaining stock of Seychelles warbler, which occurred on cousin in another 30 copies. Meanwhile, the population increased more than tenfold. On the island live more rare land birds such as the Seychelles sunbird, the paradise pigeon Or the Seychellenweber. The very rare Magpie Robin was introduced by Fregate again. In addition, come to cousin from seven species of seabirds ( Fairy Tern, White -tailed Tropicbird, Noddi, Schlankschnabelnoddi, Zügelseeschwalbe and two shearwater species) with more than 300,000 copies.
On Cousin the Aldabra giant tortoise lives as well as numerous geckos (Bronze Gecko and Small Seychelles Day Gecko ) and skinks ( Seychellenskink, Wright's Skink and Pamelaescincus gardineri ). In addition cousin is one of the most important breeding areas of the hawksbill turtle in the western Indian Ocean.
The mammals are represented by only two species: the endemic Seychelles flying fox and the black neck rabbits. Unlike most of the other islands of the Seychelles there are no cousin cats, rats or mice.
The line with the animal and plant world is at Cousin in the foreground, and the protection of nature and environment is given particularly careful attention. Therefore, the island is a popular destination for eco-tourists.