Martin Gabriel / Beach morning glory (Calystegia soldanella) , La Digue Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Vanilla fruit pods (Vanilla planifolia), La Digue Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles pitcher plant (Nepenthes pervillei), Morne Seychelles National Park, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles pitcher plant (Nepenthes pervillei), Morne Seychelles National Park, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Cousin Island Nature Reserve, one of the few remaining rat-free islands of the inner Seychelles, off the south-west coast of Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Cousine Island, a privately owned island and nature reserve, one of the few remaining rat-free islands of the inner Seychelles, off the south-west coast of Praslin Island, seen from Cousin Island, Rep...

Martin Gabriel / Granite boulders and shallow water scenery, Anse St. Jean, La Digue Island, Praslin Island in the background, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Pristine tropical rainforest and granite cliffs in mist, Morne Seychelles National Park, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Morne Blanc mountain and pristine tropical rainforest, Morne Seychelles National Park, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) growing in plantation, the soil protected with coconut husks, La Digue Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles grey white-eye (Zosterops modestus), Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes pervillei), Morne Seychelles National Park, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Morne Blanc mountain and pristine tropical rainforest, Morne Seychelles National Park, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles fruit bat (Pteropus seychellensis), flying, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Fairy Tern (Gygis alba) pair, Cousin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Fairy Tern (Gygis alba), couple, Cousin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Fairy Tern (Gygis alba), Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Fairy Tern (Gygis alba), chick, Cousin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) in flight, Cousin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) on nest, Cousin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), covered with sticky seeds of Pisonia grandis, making the bird unable to fly, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), a ranger removing sticky Pisonia grandis seeds, which made the bird unable to fly, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), chick, Cousin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor), adult in flight, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor), white-headed immature in flight, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris) incubating chick on its nest, breeding, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Lesser Noddy (Anous tenuirostris) incubating chick on its nest, breeding, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Lesser noddy (Anous tenuirostris), portrait, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Lesser noddy (Anous tenuirostris), Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), Curieuse Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Barred ground dove (Gepolia striata), Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) in winter plumage, La Digue Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Lesser crested tern (Sterna bengalensis) and Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), La Digue Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Madagascar Turtle Dove (Streptopelia picturata), Curieuse Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Madagascar turtle dove (Streptopelia picturata), feeding on coconut, La Digue Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Madagascar fody (Foudia madagascariensis), flock of males and females resting on a wire, Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Madagascar fody (Foudia madagascariensis), flock of males and females resting on a wire, Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Madagascar fody (Foudia madagascariensis), flock of males and females feeding on rice, Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Madagascar fody (Foudia madagascariensis), male singing, La Digue Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles magpie robin (Copsychus sechellarum), Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles Fody (Foudia sechellarum), male, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles Fody (Foudia sechellarum), female, Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles Sunbird (Cinnyris dussumieri), adult male singing, Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles Sunbird (Cinnyris dussumieri), adult female carrying food for chicks, Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles Blue Pigeon (Alectroenas pulcherrima), Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles kestrel (Falco araeus), adult perched on wire, Republic of Seychelles Vulnerable species.

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles kestrel (Falco araeus), adult perched on wire, Republic of Seychelles Vulnerable species.

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles grey white-eye (Zosterops modestus), Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles. Vulnerable species.

Martin Gabriel / Bronze gecko (Ailuronyx seychellensis), Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Wright's skink (Mabuya wrightii), Cousin Island, Republic of Seychelles Vulnerable species

Martin Gabriel / Wright's skink (Mabuya wrightii), Aride Island, Republic of Seychelles Vulnerable species

Martin Gabriel / Sundberg's day gecko (Phelsuma sundbergi), Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Stripeless day gecko (Phelsuma astriata), camouflaged between leaves, Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Dipsochelys dussumieri), mating couple, La Digue Island, Republic of Seychelles. Captive.

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger parietalis),Victoria Botanical Garden, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles. Captive. Critically endangered,

Martin Gabriel / Seychelles wolf snake (Lycognathophis seychellensis), portrait, Mahe Island, Republic of Seychelles.

Martin Gabriel / Mangrove crab (Cardisoma carnifex) , Curieuse Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Pale shore crab (Geograpsus crinipes), Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Palm spider (Nephila inaurata) in its web, female, Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Martin Gabriel / Pristine Coco de mer forest (Lodoicea maldivica) with brook, Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Praslin Island, Republic of Seychelles

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Cropped image

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Cropped image

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Cropped image

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Cropped image

Jen Guyton / East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) in seasonal pond. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Cropped image

Julian Hume / Illustration of extinct Aldabra brush warbler (Nesillas aldabranus) Ex. 1983. Endemic to Aldabra Atoll, Indian Ocean

Julian Hume / Extinct pigeons 3. Clockwise from top left: Madeira wood pigeon (Columba palumbus maderensis) Extinct 1904, Lord Howe pigeon (Columba vitiensis godmanae) Extinct 1853; Bonin Islands pigeon (Columba ve...

Chien Lee / Seychelles Stilt Palm (Verschaffeltia splendida) grove, Mount Copolia, Seychelles

Chien Lee / Perville's Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes pervillei), Mount Copolia, Seychelles

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) carapace / shell detail from above, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) remains of one that fell into deep crevice in the eroded coral, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in the dunes on the south coast of Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) grazing on grass, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in rocky terrain, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) group of six in sand dunes near lagoon, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Eroded coral landscape on Picard island, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra 2005

Willem Kolvoort / Jellyfish pool on Picard island, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra 2005

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) resting in a pool to keep cool, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) resting in a pool to keep cool, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) resting in a pool to keep cool, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) two resting in a pool to keep cool, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in eroded coral landscape, Picard island, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra 2005

Willem Kolvoort / Eroded coral landscape on Picard island, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra 2005

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) resting in a pool to keep cool, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Coral 'mushroom' above low tide in the lagoon, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra, Indian Ocean

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) portrait on Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) grazing on grass on Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) close up of retracted head, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) on Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra

Willem Kolvoort / Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in rocky habitat with head raised, Grand Terre, Natural World Heritage Site, Aldabra