Cousin Island

Cousin Island

Cousin Island Location of Cousin Island in Seychelles
Geography
Location	Seychelles, Indian Ocean
Coordinates	4°19′48″S 55°39′48″E / 4.33000°S 55.66333°E / -4.33000; 55.66333Coordinates: 4°19′48″S 55°39′48″E / 4.33000°S 55.66333°E / -4.33000; 55.66333
Archipelago	Inner Islands, Seychelles
Adjacent bodies of water	Indian Ocean
Total islands	1
Major islands	Cousin
Area	0.34 km2 (0.13 sq mi)
Length	0.7 km (0.43 mi)
Width	0.5 km (0.31 mi)
Coastline	2.3 km (1.43 mi)
Highest elevation	69 m (226 ft)
Administration
Seychelles
Group	Inner Islands
Sub-Group	Granitic Seychelles
Sub-Group	Praslin Islands
Districts	Grand'Anse Praslin
Largest settlement	Cousin (population 6)
Demographics
Demonym	Creole
Population	6 (2014)
Pop. density	17.6 /km2 (45.6 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Creole, French, East Africans, Indians.
Additional information
Time zone	SCT (UTC+4)
Official website	www.seychelles.travel/en/discover/the-islands/
ISO Code = SC-14

Cousin Island is a small (34 ha) granitic island of the Seychelles, lying 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Praslin. It is a nature reserve protected under Seychelles law as a Special Reserve. It is managed by Nature Seychelles, a national nonprofit organization and Partner of BirdLife International, by which it has been identified as an Important Bird Area.

A plateau covered with indigenous woodland extends over most of the island, which is almost encircled by a long sandy beach. The southern coast is rocky. A 69 m (226 ft) hill occupies the centre of the island’s southern half. There is an area of mangroves and three small, freshwater swamps. A marine reserve, protecting coral reefs, extends 400 m (1,300 ft) into the sea from the shoreline.

The island was formerly a coconut plantation that had been stripped of much of its native vegetation. The endemic Seychelles warbler had become almost extinct, with a population of only 26 birds. In 1968 BirdLife International, at the time known as the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP), bought the island and removed young coconut trees, thus allowing the native vegetation to regenerate and native fauna to recover. It was declared a special reserve in 1975.

The island’s woodland is dominated by Pisonia grandis, Morinda citrifolia and Ochrosia oppositifolia trees. Casuarina equisetifolia trees and Coconut palms fringe the coast. The rocky southern part of the island is characterised by Pandanus balfourii, Ficus reflexa, Ficus lutea and Euphorbia pyrifolia shrubs, with tall herbs and ferns.