Curieuse Island

Curieuse Island

Nickname: Ile Rouge
Geography
Location	Seychelles, Indian Ocean
Coordinates	4°17′00″S 55°43′25″E / 4.28333°S 55.72361°E / -4.28333; 55.72361
Archipelago	Inner Islands, Seychelles
Adjacent to	Indian Ocean
Total islands	1
Major islands	Curieuse
Area	2.93 km2 (1.13 sq mi)
Length	3.6 km (2.24 mi)
Width	1.6 km (0.99 mi)
Coastline	11.5 km (7.15 mi)
Highest elevation	172 m (564 ft)
Highest point	Mont Curieuse
Administration
Seychelles
Group	Inner Islands
Sub-Group	Granitic Seychelles
Sub-Group	Praslin Islands
Districts	Baie Sainte Anne
Largest settlement	Park rangers station (pop. 7)
Demographics
Population	7 (2014)
Pop. density	2.4/km2 (6.2/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Creole, French, East Africans, Indians.
Additional information
Time zone	SCT (UTC+4)
ISO code	SC-07
Official website	www.seychelles.travel/en/discover/the-islands/

Curieuse Island is a small granitic island 1.13 sq mi (2.9 km²) in the Seychelles close to the north coast of the island of Praslin. Curieuse is notable for its bare red earth intermingled with the unique coco de mer palms, one of the cultural icons of the Seychelles, only growing on the two neighboring islands.

Originally named "Ile Rouge" due to its red coloured soil.^[1] In 1768 the French claimed possession of the island, naming it after the schooner "La Curieuse", a ship that was under the command of explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne. Like a number of islands in the Seychelles, there was a native giant tortoise population that was quickly extirpated.^[2]

In 1829, Curieuse was first used as a leper colony, and it functioned in this capacity until 1965. This helped protect the ecosystem from human influence. Today, ruins of the leprosarium remain, as well as the former physician's residence at Anse St. Joseph (now an educational center and museum).

In 1967 a fire destroyed much of the vegetation on the island, including more than 150 coco de mer palms. Following this event, the government took ownership of the island and introduced various restoration and conservation projects.

In 1979, Curieuse and surrounding waters were declared the Curieuse Marine National Park in order to protect the native wildlife. Between 1978 and 1982, a conservation project relocated Aldabra giant tortoise from Aldabra to Curieuse. Today, it is the home of more than 300 Aldabra giant tortoise, some staying around the Ranger's Station and the rest roaming around elsewhere on the island.

On the southern part of the island is a mangrove swamp that is traversed by a walkway for park visitors. The island is also known for coco de mer palms, giant takamaka trees, a large hawksbill turtle rookery and several bird species, such as the rare Seychelles black parrot Coracopis nigra barklyi, a parrot found only here and on Praslin. Though black parrots are found here, it is worth noting no breeding has been recorded to occur. Instead it is recorded in the mature palm forests of Praslin.^[3] Among the plant species on the island, several are native and endemic to Curieuse; Porcher (Cordia subcordata), Bois Chandelle (Dracaena), Lalyann dile (Secamone schimperiana, Bwa bannann (Gastonia sechellarum) and Bois Cassant de Bord Mer (Guettarda speciosa)^[4]

There is also currently a satellite camp for the Seychelles branch of Global Vision International, a volunteer group that focuses on conservation of the island and surveys local fish, coral, turtle and coco de mer numbers.^[5][6][7]

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  Aerial of Curieuse island
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  Tortoises on Curieuse island
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  Beach on Curieuse island, Seychelles
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  Laraie Bay on Curieuse
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  Aldabra giant tortoise living in Curieuse Marine National Park
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  Map 1
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  Map 2
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  image
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