Legendary turtle scientist Dr.

SEP 10 2025 · 18:29

Legendary turtle scientist Dr. Jeanne Mortimer has been protecting sea turtles in Seychelles since the 1980s. In this powerful interview with @greenprophet_ , she shares why the 37 beachfront villas now being built on Assomption Island pose a catastrophic threat to nesting sea turtles. Some of the images of the development featured in this reel come from the hotel website (www.aldabraislands.com) and from Annex 5 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project. This Annex, described as a “Landscape Environment Design Approach” by Grant Associates, a firm celebrated for “pioneering” landscape design, shows plans for villas built directly on critical nesting habitat. It’s shocking that this was ever approved - especially when other sea turtle hotspots, like Florida, Costa Rica or Australia, have strict guidelines to prevent exactly this kind of destruction. “The biggest issue is lighting,” says Dr. Mortimer, known locally as Madam Torti. “Turtles won’t nest if there’s light on the beach. Hatchlings get disoriented. It’s one of the most studied impacts we know.” A huge thank you to @greenprophet_ for their in-depth investigative reporting and for shining a light on this hidden crisis. Read the full story: “They Call Her Madam Torti. She Might Be the Only One Who Can Save Seychelles Turtles.” #AssomptionIsland #Aldabra #SeaTurtles #Conservation #Seychelles #MarineConservation #Biodiversity