The habitat of the world’s largest giant tortoise is being threatened by a Qatari-funded hotel development aimed at attracting luxury yachts, private jets and wealthy tourists to a remote Indian Ocean island, conservationists have warned.
Plans to build a luxury resort on Assumption Island, part of the Aldabra archipelago, are currently being discussed by Seychelles authorities, and work has already been completed to expand the airport to allow larger aircraft to land on the 11.6 square kilometre (4.5 square miles) coral island.
The developers say they will follow world-class sustainability practices, but wildlife groups and biologists say the project is being rushed through without a thorough analysis of the risks. They say the project should be halted until an independent study can be carried out into the risks to the island’s fauna, which includes whales, turtles and many bird species.
There are also fears that the impact could have a knock-on effect on Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO-protected ecosystem just 17 miles (27 kilometers) from Assomption. Aldabra is considered one of the world’s conservation jewels. It is best known as a sanctuary for some 150,000 giant tortoises, the species of which bears the same name and is known for its long lifespan and large size, with males weighing an average of 250 kilograms and having a shell length of more than 122 centimeters.
The oldest recorded turtle in captivity was Adwaita, who died at age 255 in 2006 at the Kolkata Zoo in India. Others include Darwin, who died at age 105 at Blackpool Zoo, and Esmeralda, who was said to be 180 years old.
In the 19th century, giant tortoises were wiped out from most of the Indian Ocean islands due to predation by sailors, but Aldabra’s isolation allowed its population to continue to thrive. Along with 400 other endemic species and an extraordinary landscape of colour, the Aldabra archipelago was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
In recent decades, access has been largely limited to researchers, but this new luxury development could bring some of the world’s wealthiest people closer.
UNESCO said it had been informed by a third party that the plans for Assomption Island could affect the Aldabra Atoll World Heritage Site. “UNESCO is closely monitoring the situation and, mindful of the need to protect the outstanding universal value of the site, has requested further information from the Seychelles authorities,” a spokesman said. The UN agency has written to Seychelles President Wabel Ramkalawan to express its concerns.
Local conservation groups have also warned authorities about the ecological risks posed by the hotel proposed by Qatari company Asset Group, including invasive species, disturbance to turtle and tortoise habitats, destruction of sand dunes to make way for the construction, pollution, increased air and sea traffic, and damage to soil and vegetation.
A report by the Island Conservation Society, which oversaw the environmental impact assessment and seen by the Guardian, said the main impacts would be on Assumption Island, but there were also concerns about threats to Adambra island.
The Indian Ocean Turtle Alliance said the development put at risk Seychelles’ reputation as a global leader in protecting the marine environment. “The Assomption Island development project has the potential to cause significant disruption and irreparable damage to one of Seychelles’ most precious national treasures and one of the most pristine and unique natural areas still remaining on Earth,” alliance founder Thomas Kaplan said in a filing earlier this year.
Another group, the Seychelles Islands Foundation, called for an immediate halt to construction until a biosecurity management plan is in place. The foundation said that while it is not opposed in principle to economic development on Assumption, it should not be rushed.
“Given Assomption Island’s proximity to Aldabra, it is vital that biosecurity measures are in place to prevent the introduction of invasive alien species to either island, which could have devastating effects,” the spokesperson said in an email.
Questions have also been raised about the speed at which the project has been carried out and the lack of an independent review. The environmental impact assessment is responsible for the Island Conservation Society, which is part of the Island Development Corporation (IDC), the body behind the project. The society is led by Glennie Savy, one of the most influential people in the Seychelles.
IDC says it followed due process and is supporting the Seychelles economy. The company maintains that the Assumption development will not interfere with Aldabra Atoll’s habitat, and in any case, it says the turtles have adapted well to past development and that restoring native vegetation and providing a water source for the hotel will benefit the giant reptiles.
IDC said in an email that concerns about disruption of whale migration routes or contamination of the marine environment are unfounded, as motorized water sports will not be permitted near Assomption and marine traffic will be limited to resupplying boats and vessels carrying staff, guests and visitors. It said strict biosecurity protocols have been implemented during the construction and operational phases of the development. Six horses will be introduced to allow guests to tour the island without using motorized vehicles. IDC said it has the experience and capacity to ensure environmental protection measures are appropriate.
“The bottom line is that we believe Aldabra should be accessible to the world, just like the Galapagos Islands, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Currently, access to Aldabra is limited to a select few, unlike the Galapagos Islands, which welcome visitors from all over the world,” the spokesperson said in an email.
Asset Group, a mostly privately owned developer in the Gulf, said it was committed to preserving and protecting Assumption and its ecosystem. The company said it had worked with local groups and carried out all necessary environmental impact assessments.
“Our approach is to protect species and reintroduce native species. All plans and future buildings will be carried out in a responsible manner that follows sustainable best practices, along with effective waste and water management, to regenerate the island’s biodiversity, which has been severely impacted in recent decades,” he said, referring to decades of guano mining on Assomption Island. “Once the planned development begins, we will be working with leading sustainability experts to revive and regenerate Assomption Island.”