Hotel keen to preserve its natural environment
20.07.2009
Managers of a La Digue hotel have shown their desire to protect the environment by releasing a group of 22 terrapins into their natural habitat.
The reptiles, which had been held in captivity for a year to keep them safe, were freed recently during a ceremony at the newly built Domaine de L’Orangeraie at Anse Severe.
Present to watch their release were technical adviser in the department of environment Michel Vely, wildlife enforcement director general Flavien Joubert, JFA Holdings group managing director Cyril Bonnelame and Domaine de L’Orangeraie general manager Stephane Burkhalter. Also there were the hotel’s environment officer Perly Constance, the district’s MNA Ansley Constance, officers from the Department of Environment, hotel staff, La Digue school wildlife club members and other guests.
The terrapins were removed from the marsh at the hotel site before building work began. They were kept in captivity in the hotel grounds on a raised island with an enclosure to stop them escaping and returning back to the marsh during dredging work.
The reptiles were monitored regularly by the hotel’s environment officer for any signs of sickness.
There are two species of terrapin, commonly known as torti soupap, on La Digue, both endemic. The greatest threat to them comes from development projects on and around marshes and from people who collect them for pets.
Other potential threats are drainage and activities that pollute marsh habitats.
Perly Constance, along with wildlife club members Virginie Ernesta and Mikael Ernesta, helped the terrapins to swim back into the marsh.
Addressing the audience, Mr Joubert said the activity is an exampl
e of the good relations between the Department of Environment and the private sector in conserving local species.
He congratulated all those who took the initiative to carry out such a project.
“It is important to preserve the environment, and the hotel has done its best to monitor and preserve the species even when the project was in its final phase,” he said.
He said the department is very happy to see that the hotel managers took the environment to heart by choosing to protect the terrapins on the site itself. The hotel has shown that the natural environment can be used to beautify any site, which is an exemplary model for all, he added.
Perly Constance said they had to move the terrapins as there was building work in progress on and around the marshes. He said as an environment officer, his role is to help preserve the species on site and the environment in general.
“The management of the hotel insisted on protecting and preserving the species on site, including the birds, plants and reptiles, while construction is in progress,” he added.
“Sustainable development is possible, and when construction is being done on a site we should ensure that minimum damage is done to the environment.
The project is a typical example of the good collaboration that can exist between the Department of Environment and the private sector in the domain of environment protection.”
The two kinds of terrapin on La Digue are Pelusios subniger and Pelusios castanoides, which is the more common. Before building work began on the marsh, 22 terrapins were found and later another five were captured. Out of these 27 reptiles there were 11 males and 16 females, and five of them later died.
Mr Constance said he does not know the exact cause of death but assumes they were probably killed by predators such as dogs and rats. He is convinced these predators can be taken care of to ensure the terrapins are protected.
He stressed that the reptiles have been put back into their natural environment, adding that marshes and other kinds of environment can be used to complement the attractions of a hotel or other development project.
“They have been released into their natural habitat. The marsh has been enlarged and rock armouring has been put in but no pollution has occurred,” he said.
He revealed that there are three territories where Seychelles paradise flycatchers are to be found at the hotel site. He is monitoring these closely to ensure the birds remain undisturbed in their natural habitat, as building work has not yet been completed.
Mr Constance ended by saying all environmental consultants at the hotel are Seychellois and they are making every effort to safeguard the environment.
Chief gardener Joel Maillet said landscaping is being done in such a way as not to damage the environment.
“All the plants that have been removed from the site during construction work are being placed back,” he said.
In future the hotel is expected to use the terrapins as a tourist attraction. They are to be trained to come on to land for feeding at certain times, when the guests will be able to see them and take photographs.