Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
Jazirat Darsa (12°07'N 53°18'E, 1,640 ha) and Jazirat Semha (12°10'N 53°02'E, 3,980 ha) are two rather inaccessible islands, referred to as Al-Ikhwan (The Brothers), lying to the south-west of Socotra in the Gulf of Aden. Both are c.10-15 km long, rather flat-topped and sheer-sided.
See table for key species. The higher altitudes of Jazirat Darsa are covered with guano, and boobies in great numbers have been seen, presumably nesting
Sula dactylatra and/or
S. leucogaster.
Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: the important Socotran endemic species Dendrosicyos socotranus and Euphorbia arbuscula occur at the base of the escarpment on Jazirat Semha, indicating a potentially rich flora.
Jazirat Darsa has low shrubland on the coastal plain and lower slopes, and rises to 385 m. There is c.20 km of shoreline. The higher altitudes in the centre of the island are as yet unsurveyed. There is very little fresh water. The main human activities are fishing (seasonal) and fish-salting on the north shore. Jazirat Semha rises to 780 m, has c.28 km of shoreline and is covered in low, open shrubland and open dwarf-herb communities. Only the coastal plain and foothills have been provisionally surveyed, and the escarpments and plateau are unexplored. There is a village settlement; main human activities are fishing and grazing goats.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Jazirat Darsa is infested with rats, which may severely inhibit the nesting success of the boobies. No other information is available on current problems or potential threats.
Data-sheets compiled by Francine Stone (assisted by Dr A. Miller and Dr M. Morris) and M. I. Evans.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Al-Ikhwan (Socotra) (Yemen). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/al-ikhwan-(socotra)-iba-yemen on 26/12/2024.
