Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The site lies c.320 km south-west of Mahé on the western edge of the Amirantes group. It is a small, sandstone platform island, with no resident human population. There is a small sandy beach, but it is difficult to land due to heavy swells even during calm weather. There are no trees. The island may be one of the most pristine cays in the western Indian Ocean, with no introduced vegetation.
See Box for key species. This is one of the last two strongholds of
Sula dactylatra in Seychelles. In addition, c.500 pairs of
Puffinus pacificus breed.
Non-bird biodiversity: The turtles Chelonia mydas (EN) and Eretmochelys imbricata (CR) nest and may be taken by poachers.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The island is protected under the Wild Birds Protection (Nature Reserve) Regulations 1966. However, enforcement of the law is extremely difficult as the island has no human presence to report the activities of poachers. In 1976 a large number of
Sula dactylatra were killed and many rings recovered. Rats are not present on the island.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Boudeuse Island (Seychelles). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/boudeuse-island-iba-seychelles on 26/11/2024.
