Aldabra is the only coral atoll in the world where Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus… (1/3)

SEP 03 2025 · 18:55

🦩 Aldabra is the only coral atoll in the world where Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) are known to breed — making it one of just two oceanic nesting sites globally for flamingos (the other being the Galápagos). They are not found anywhere else in Seychelles, and are thought to have migrated from East Africa. 🌊 Their feeding and nesting grounds are Aldabra’s brackish pools — shallow waters formed when rainwater mixes with seawater during high tides. With salinity levels in between fresh and marine water, these pools support the algae, crustaceans, and invertebrates that flamingos depend on for food (and that give them their pink colour). ⚠️ Despite being the tallest birds in Seychelles, flamingos here are extremely sensitive to disturbance. Even a glimpse of people from afar can send a flock into flight — making them one of Aldabra’s most striking, and most elusive, residents. Photos by the wonderful @evileyelander