Happy World Turtle Day! |23 May 2017

Today, May 23, is World Turtle Day, which was created by the American Tortoise Rescue in 2000 as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world. 

This is relevant to Seychelles which is home to some of the most exciting turtle and tortoise populations in the world.  The Inner Islands and the Amirantes Islands groups of Seychelles host one of the world’s four largest national breeding populations of the Critically Endangered Hawksbill turtle. Aldabra Atoll boasts the largest nesting population of Endangered Green Turtles in the Western Indian Ocean. Our Aldabra Giant Tortoise is unique in the world; and there are also two species of marsh terrapins (Torti Soupap).

During August each year since 2013, Seychelles has also celebrated its own turtles day, through the Seychelles Sea Turtle Festival which focuses on the school children and includes a day of turtle oriented fun on the beach at Beau Vallon.  The Sea Turtle Festival Committee is already making plans for the 5th Annual Sea Turtle Festival.  This year, the Sea Turtle Festival will feature activities on both Mahé and La Digue islands during the second week of August.  We will keep the Seychelles public posted about proposed activities. Meanwhile, anyone wishing to find further information about turtles or the festival, please visit our website at:  www.seychellesseaturtlefestival.org

Submitted by Sea Turtle Festival of Seychelles Committee