IOTA Newsletter June 2024

IOTA welcomes new team members

We are thrilled to announce that our team is growing. We have recently welcomed four new team members to our team. Three new members will be joining us on Curieuse Island National park for our rat eradication project and one member has joined the Mahe Island team. These individuals are passionate about conservation and their expertise will be invaluable as we continue to develop and implement our initiatives on these islands.

Meet IOTA’s new team members:

●       Curieuse Island Team:

○       Alan Grant (IAS Project Manager): With six years of experience working on Curieuse Island, Alan is leading the eradication team on Curieuse as the IAS Project Manager.

○       Ricky Adeline: An experienced ranger who has worked on various islands, Ricky has joined us as the field officer on Curieuse Island National Park.

○       Vanessa Dufrene: Like Ricky, Vanessa has worked on various islands such as Silhouette and Aride Island as a ranger, she joined us as the field assistant.

Mahé Island Team:

○       Georgette Savy: Fresh off working on Aldabra atoll, Georgette brings her knowledge gained on Aldabra giant tortoises to the project team, she has joined us as IOTA project officer.

Our new team members will play a crucial role in our success. Please join us in welcoming Georgette, Alan, Ricky and Vanessa to IOTA.

Alan Grant (IAS Project Manager)

Georgette Savy (Project Officer)

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Approves Black Rat Eradication on Curieuse Island National Park

In March 2024, IOTA signed a grant agreement funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) at the SeyCCAT headquarters. The funds will be used to support the eradication of black rats (Rattus rattus) on Curieuse Island National Park. The two-year project is a collaboration between IOTA, Goodnature, Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), and the Seychelles National Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA).

Rich Baxter singing the grant agreement with SeyCAT CEO Marie- May Jeremie ©SeyCAT

The eradication will utilize Goodnature A24 self-resetting traps. These traps are designed to reset automatically. The A24 traps are unique, toxin-free, and humane, using chocolate as an attractant and powered by CO2 canisters, which provide approximately 24 strikes per cartridge. This reduces the need for daily trap checks.

The project commenced with a two-year pilot study to gather data and test new strategies using self-resetting traps. This phase provided sufficient information to develop the main trapping array. The eradication process involves systematically trapping rats from the east to the west side of the island. Approximately 400 traps will be deployed in waves to ensure comprehensive coverage. Additionally, IOTA has employed two dogs trained to locate rats.

Once all rats have been eradicated, a three-month monitoring period will follow to ensure complete elimination, as even one pregnant female rat could repopulate the island within a year. IOTA also aims to establish long-term biosecurity measures to prevent reinvasion. This eradication will allow natural processes to resume and support the recovery of species and ecological processes.

Twelve tortoises find a new home on D’Arros Island

Relocation of Aldabra giant tortoises from in past years has allowed some of the inner islands to establish free roaming giant tortoises. In March this year, IOTA in collaboration with Save Our Seas Foundation successfully translocated twelve Aldabra giant tortoises from Mahe to D’arros Island. D’arros island is part of the Amirante islands group, located in the outer island’s coral archipelago in Seychelles. The island is located west of the granitic inner islands 255 km south of Mahe, Seychelles.

Twelve tortoises, including two adults named Manu and Flash, five hatchlings, and five juveniles, were generously donated by private owners. Before their journey to their new home, the tortoises underwent health assessments and were microchipped. They spent two weeks in quarantine on Mahe, where they were fed only grass to prevent the spread of invasive plant species.

The tortoises in quarantine pen on D’arros Island  ©SaveOurSeasFoundation

During their 22-hour journey on the D’Arros supply barge, each tortoise was placed in a small enclosure and covered with slings to prevent overheating. Upon arrival on D’Arros Island, they were moved to another quarantine enclosure for an additional two weeks of monitoring. After this period, the tortoises were released and are now freely roaming and exploring their new home.The new arrivals will enhance the genetic diversity of the giant tortoise population on the island, leading to a healthier population and a more authentic Seychelles outer island ecosystem.

IOTA provides training to North Island Environmental staff and Volunteers

In March this year, the project team at IOTA, Georgette Savy and Rich Baxter spent a week on North Island with the environment team and volunteers. The week was spent training the island staff on Aldabra giant tortoises. The training consisted of two presentations and a series of on the field training sessions where the staff learnt how to measure , assess health, determine sex and microchip tortoises.

The visit began with an introductory presentation on how to measure, assess health, and microchip tortoises. This was followed by a hands-on field training session, allowing the North Island team to apply their new skills. On the second day, a presentation focused on the species and ongoing research was delivered. The subsequent days were dedicated to intensive microchipping, resulting in fifty percent of the tortoises on the island microchipped.

Presentation and on site training with the North Island Environment team  © IOTASeychelles

Microchipping tortoises play an important role in wildlife conservation, as it provides a reliable method for identifying each individual tortoises, which allows continuous data to be collected. The skills learnt by the North Island team will be important for the continuous monitoring of the tortoise population. IOTA aims to return to the island to continue with microchipping efforts.

Group photo of IOTA with North Island Environment team  © IOTASeychelles

Fifty tortoises find a new home on Aride Island

In June, the Island Conservation team (ICS), with the support of IOTA, successfully translocated fifty Aldabra giant tortoises to Aride Island. These tortoises were generously donated by a private donor based on Mahe island. The tortoises weighing between 1.5 to 13 kilograms, were previously raised in captivity. Prior to the tortoise's journey to freedom, they remained in quarantine on Mahe Island for a period of three weeks, where they were fed mainly grass. This was done to prevent the spread of invasive species through their dung.

The translocation process involved microchipping each tortoise and recording their vital details such as weight and size measurements. The tortoises were then placed in small, breathable containers and transported via a 15 minute Zil Air helicopter ride to Aride Island. Upon arrival on Aride Island, the tortoises were initially placed in a quarantine pen to prevent any seeds that the tortoises may have eaten on Mahe to spread on the island and to monitor the health of tortoises.

IOTA and ICS microchipping the tortoises before their journey  © ICSSeychelles

The introduction of the new tortoises to Aride will enhance the island's ecosystem and vegetation through herbivory and seed dispersal. The addition of more tortoises on the island will also help increase the foraging activities of Magpie robins on the island, by disturbing the leaf litter and topsoil so that insects are exposed and the bird can forage more efficiently. The tortoises are now free roaming and exploring their new home. This is the first stage of the translocation project, as there will be additional translocations of tortoises to the island in the future.

 Seychelles National Tortoise Census continues in 2024

The Seychelles National Tortoise Census, initiated in 2023, aims to assess the population of Aldabra giant tortoises on the main islands of Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue. This effort is a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, and the Biodiversity Conservation and Management (BCM) division. The BCM team is responsible for the northern part of Mahe, while IOTA oversees the southern region.

The ongoing census is vital for gaining insights into the tortoise population and their habitats in Seychelles. This initiative not only helps in understanding their living conditions but also plays a key role in educating the public about tortoise care. It offers valuable advice to tortoise owners on proper care, health, nutrition, and suitable living environments.

During the census, it became evident that providing accurate information to the public on tortoise care is essential. For instance, some tortoises were found in very small enclosures. However, with guidance from the census team, these tortoises were allowed to roam freely around their homes, underscoring the importance of education. Given that Aldabra giant tortoises are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, this initiative is particularly significant.

The census involves home visits where the team measures, determine the sex, assess the health, and microchip the tortoises. These microchips help track growth and provide identification numbers in case the tortoises go missing. To date, IOTA has microchipped 220 tortoises this year. However, the registration process has not been smooth, as many private owners are reluctant to register their tortoises, which slows our progress. Many tortoises remain unregistered and need to be counted.

IOTA is encouraging the public to register their tortoises to facilitate the census. Registration forms are available on IOTA’s website or can be collected from the Biodiversity and Conservation office at the Botanical Gardens.

Herd of microchipped tortoises enjoying a well deserved snack  © IOTASeychelles

Aldabra giant tortoise education and awareness.

Education plays an important role in the conservation field. IOTA is dedicated to educating the wider community about the Aldabra giant tortoises and their importance to the ecosystem. We have been working on raising awareness and educating the public about these gentle giants through various presentations and outreach programs. By organising presentations, IOTA provides valuable insights into the tortoises’ habitat, behaviour, and the challenges they face. These efforts are designed to engage a wide audience and make learning about these magnificent creatures both informative and enjoyable.

Reaching out to the younger generation is crucial for long-term conservation efforts. IOTA has collaborated with Montessouri international school and the University of Seychelles, where Rich, IOTA director, presented Aldabra giant tortoises to students and teachers. These educational presentations aim to foster a sense of curiosity and respect for wildlife and inspire future conservationists.

Another key aspect of our educational efforts is presenting research and conservation strategies at international conferences. IOTA presented at the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) conference in the USA in August. These conferences provide a platform for sharing information, discussing challenges and exploring new methods. It is also a great way to form collaborations with other conservation organisations and scientists.

For IOTA, education is not only aimed at spreading knowledge but also about building a community of informed and passionate individuals who can contribute to conservation efforts. Educating the public about the Aldabra giant tortoises help gather support for conservation initiatives, secure funding and influence policy changes. Through the various presentations we have provided, we are making a significant step in raising awareness and fostering a global community dedicated to preserving these incredible animals for future generations.

Rich Baxter presenting at the University of Seychelles © IOTASeychelles