Frégate Island Private appoints Indian Ocean's firts resident zoologist (Seychelles)
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Frégate Island Private appoints Indian Ocean's firts resident zoologist (Seychelles)
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Category: Africa Indian Ocean - Seychelles - Careers -
Appointments
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-12-22
The multi-award-winning Frégate Island Private has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to environmental principles with the appointment of a resident zoologist - a first for an Indian Ocean resort. This pioneering development will see Madel Wilkens in charge of Frégate’s thriving conservation projects when she takes up her post on 28 December 2008, ensuring the ongoing, steadfast protection and preservation of the island’s natural environment and biodiversity.
This appointment will complement the work of the eco retreat’s resident ecologist, allowing even greater specialised focus on fauna and flora respectively. Madel will establish a comprehensive library of all conservation activities and document the populations of endemic species on the island; monitor turtle and terrapin populations; prepare habitats in anticipation of the re-establishment of the Flycatcher and Black Parrot; and assist the diving instructor with the coordination of underwater snorkel-walks and dive-hikes. Furthermore, Madel will initiate exchange programmes and information networks with universities and other specialists in the field.
Madel has extensive experience in nature conservation, having conducted research projects at Tembe Elephant Park, Ndumo Game Reserve and Mkhuze Game Reserve in her native South Africa, including the monitoring of elephants, black rhinos, lions, African wild dogs, cheetahs and invasive vegetation. With a clear passion for zoology, Madel recently completed a Masters thesis at the Technical University of Pretoria, examining impacts on indigenous birdlife living in the swamplands beneath a man-made dam.
The uncompromising preservation, protection and nurturing of its unique flora and fauna has always been - and continues to be – a fundamental raison d’être for Frégate Island Private. Frégate is one of the most important sanctuaries for rare endemic and indigenous species, setting an inspiring example for others to follow with conservation projects that have yielded dramatic results: the Seychelles Magpie Robin, still the world’s seventh rarest bird, has been rejuvenated from a global population of just 22 - all on Frégate Island - in 1995 to over 180 today, including a family of 16 recently translocated to neighbouring Denis Island; the Seychelles Whiteye population is up from 31 in 1995 to over 100 today; and the critically endangered Seychelles terrapin has been nurtured back from just eight individuals to over 100 today.
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