Cosmoledo

Cosmoledo Atoll is situated in the Aldabra Group. It lies 1,045 kilometres southwest of Victoria, 35 kilometres north of Astove and 115 kilometres southeast of Aldabra. It is a raised coral atoll of 460 hectares land and a roughly oval lagoon of 14,500 hectares up to 8.2 metres deep. It stands on the same volcanic basement as Astove which rises from a depth of over 4 kilometres. Two main passes lead from the ocean to the shallow lagoon, one northwest of South Island and one (Grande Passe) between Pagode and Grande Ile (or Wizard). The Constitution names 19 islands although there are also a number of unnamed islets. Menai is the largest island. It is believed to have been named in honour of a Portuguese navigator, although it is not clear who this person was.

History

​Cosmoledo was permanently settled around 1880 and a visitor in 1895, noted 200-300 coconut trees, maize and goats.
Both Menai and Wizard are named after two British vessels that visited in July 1822.  In 1878, Rivers reported that judging by the turtle remains, fishermen and whalers frequently called. He found a recently destroyed hut and ‘turtle park’ on Menai; a hut on Wizard built from the wreckage of the Merry Monarch (wrecked in 1874), had also been burnt. He found  mangroves had been felled, but Menai was still virtually covered with tall trees. A few goats were seen by Rivers. Cosmoledo was settled shortly after this and Baty visiting in 1895, noted 200-300 coconut trees, maize and goats. In 1901 there were just two men on Menai, one on Wizard and four on Ile Nord-est. Exploitation of guano on Ile Nord-est was taking place. A small settlement was eventually  abandoned in 1992.

Conservation

Cosmoledo is an Important Bird Area due mainly to globally significant populations of seabirds. Seven land bird species that still survive on Aldabra have been wiped out but could be reintroduced one day. Five others remain. The flora is similar to that of Aldabra, with fewer species but including several plants endemic to the group. As on Aldabra there are areas of tall mangrove, especially on the lagoon side of Menai. Lizards include Madagascar Banded Lizard, the latter found nowhere else in Seychelles. Green turtle nest in reasonably large numbers. Despite the years of over-exploitation, Cosmoledo remains the finest unprotected site in Seychelles. Island Conservation Society have conducted surveys of key species and eradicated rats from Polyte and Grande Ile. The potential for further conservation and rehabilitation programmes is huge.

Economic Activities

​Cosmoledo has gained a reputation as the best fishery in the world for Giant Trevally. The GT (as it is known to fly-fishermen) has been likened to a hybrid of Pit Bull Terrier and Jack Russell. Fish up to 130 pounds are caught on fly with Bonefish, Yellowfin Tuna and Milkfish among prey species. Fly-fishermen travel by IDC plane to Astove, then travel by boat to Cosmoledo. Since 2018, a temporary eco-lodge has been set up on Wizard Island (Grand Ile) in the south east of the atoll. The facility does not only focus on fly fishing guests but is also for eco-oriented persons who are interested in a 'back to basics' safari experience. The containerized camp is a temporary facility until such time that IDC builds its guesthouse on the island.