10 Interesting Facts About Seychelles

For many people, the Seychelles is merely a beautiful tropical island holiday destination. And while this is absolutely true, there are so many things about Seychelles that make it incredibly unique. Here are 10 interesting facts about the Seychelles that many might not be aware of.

1. Seychelles was once home to crocodiles

Many Seychellois are also unaware of this fact, but the Seychelles was once inhabited by saltwater crocodiles. These predators are the largest living reptile, with the males capable of being weighed in at over 500kgs. They are also known to reach lengths of up to 4.9 m.

Saltwater Crocodile, Obtained from Molly Ebersold of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Early visitors to Seychelles reported seeing these large reptiles on their journeys between the islands. In fact, they were the most-sighted creature along the coasts.

It is largely believed that human contact along with ensuing environmental changes is what led to the extinction of these huge animals. Much later, it was discovered that these saltwater crocodiles were endemic to the Seychelles and were not the Nile crocodile as previously believed. Saltwater crocodiles are still found in parts of Australia and South-East Asia.

2. Seychelles is the home of Esmeralda — world’s heaviest land tortoise