Vets help save paradise islands' wildlife
Abstract
British charity Wildlife Vets International (WVI) aims to help prevent critically endangered birds and reptiles from following the Dodo and Mauritius giant tortoise into the history books.
With no wildlife veterinary expertise available on the islands in the Seychelles, WVI is mapping out a programme to deliver veterinary training and support within the Indian Ocean Biodiversity Hotspot, one of the richest biodiversities in the world.
WVI co-founder avian vet Andrew Greenwood visited in November 2014 to assess the situation, progress plans and launch a fundraising campaign.
In the Seychelles he met David Rowat, Chairman of the Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Together with the Banyan Tree Resort Seychelles, they have launched the island's first turtle and terrapin rehabilitation and breeding centre. As the turtle and terrapin breeding season is well under way, WVI has provided diet advice for endangered mud turtle hatchlings rescued from a road.
On Cousin Island Mr Greenwood saw a healthy population of Seychelles magpie robins, brought back from the brink of extinction. A surviving single island population of just 12 birds on one island now numbers 280 across five islands.
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