Expatriate doctor hails Seychelles’ conservation efforts |05 July 2016

Doctor Dusan Stojikovic, working in Seychelles since 2015 in a private clinic and an enthusiastic fan of the islands change destination (he is trekking around every weekend), has described Seychelles as “really a sanctuary for wildlife ... where the environment is cherished and taken care of”.

The doctor made these comments after a “breathtaking” experience during a picnic with a friend at Anse Royale.

To avoid the crowd of tourists and Seychellois families enjoying the large beaches in front of the road, they went through the rocks to the last secluded little beach in front of Ile Souris, preparing themselves for a nice snorkelling experience.

But suddenly they saw something moving in the sand beside them and a little baby turtle appeared, followed shortly by many others, trying to reach the sea water with unexpected energy.

Dr Dusan and his friend, all alone watching this “rare and breathtaking” event, felt like they were witnesses of a little miracle, the miracle of life.

Dumbfounded that something like this happens 200 metres from the main road, on a very well-known beach hosting dozens of people, they felt like they were the only people on earth, in a prehistoric virgin environment, the only human people in the whole Seychelles, in front of something magic: the never-ending cycle of birth and death represented by those small creatures just born and surprisingly ready to face a risky life guided only by their instinct and need to survive.

“This event shows how Seychelles is really a sanctuary for wildlife and where the environment is cherished and taken care of. It is a sign of hope for the future of sea turtles, already under protection by law, and perhaps because of that undisturbed nesting on our beaches,” said the doctor.

“It is fantastic that an expatriate on a picnic could experience something like that,” added the doctor, who has posted pictures of the event on the web to “share it with everybody and highlight the beauty and fascination of the nature of Seychelles”.

Accompanying the article are some photographs of the “breathtaking” spectacle captured by the doctor.

Contributed