University of Kent

Male Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher (©Jeff Watson) Out of necessity, Seychelles has become a leader in rescuing critically endangered bird species from extinction on single islands by establishing additional populations on several secure islands. The Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher is Seychelles last IUCN Red-listed critically endangered bird species with a single small population found within a 160ha range on La Digue Island. The population appears to be at carrying capacity in a shrinking habitat threatened by the increasing demands of development.

Habitat requirements for the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher have been well researched and have led to a comprehensive species recovery plan. The species recovery plan recommends the creation of additional flycatcher populations on other islands. Intensive restoration activities on some Seychelles islands, including successful rat and cat eradications and replanting of native forest habitats preferred by flycatchers, have now produced environments suitable for supporting additional flycatcher populations.

The local community on La Digue have a strong affinity with the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher, which they see as a unique ‘flagship’ species on the island. Consequently, securing the long-term future of the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher requires close work with the community on La Digue. The necessity of working alongside local communities to conserve wildlife is a well known concept globally. This Darwin Project seeks to work with the local community on La Digue to foster an awareness of the fragility of the single flycatcher population on La Digue, and the need for creation of an additional population beyond La Digue.

Principal Investigator - Dr Jim Groombridge

Project Officer - Rachel Bristol

Project Dates - 2006 - 2009 This 3 year project aims to:

Provide education, awareness and incentives to catalyse support for in situ conservation action for the flycatcher and creation of an additional population.
Undertake a translocation to a restored island habitat to create a ‘safety-net’ population of flycatchers to secure the long-term future of this critically-endangered species.
Restore further broadleaf native forest habitat on the target island to allow the new population to increase it’s population size in the future.
Investigate socio-economic benefits that the local La Digue community could benefit from through the increased profile and conservation of the flycatcher.
Quantify socio-economic costs and benefits of habitat restoration and species rehabilitation on small islands.

This project is in collaboration with Nature Seychelles, the Government of Seychelles Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, RARE, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Wildlife Vets International, and Kent Business School.

Background publications:

Veríssimo, D, Fraser, I, Groombridge, J, Bristol, R and MacMillan, DC (2009). Birds as tourism flagship species: a case study of tropical islands. Animal Conservation, 12: 549-558.

Bristol, R. 2005. Conservation introductions of Seychelles fody and warbler to Denis Island, Seychelles. Reintroduction News. 24: 35-36.

Currie, D., Bristol, R., Millet, J and Shah, N. J. 2005. Demography of the Seychelles Black Paradise-flycatcher: considerations for conservation and reintroduction. Ostrich 76(3&4): 104-110.

Currie, D., Bristol, R., Millett, J., Hill, M. Bristol, U., Parr, S. J. & Shah, N. J. 2003. Habitat requirements of the Seychelles black paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina: a re-evaluation of translocation priorities. Ibis 145, 624-636.

Currie, D., Hill, M., Millett, J., Bristol, R., Nevill, J. & Shah, N. J. 2003. Conservation options for the critically endangered Seychelles black paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina. Bird Conservation International 13:91-114.

Currie, D., Bristol, R., Millett, J. & Shah, N. J. 2003. The distribution and population of the Seychelles black paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina: implications for conservation and translocation. Bird Conservation International 13:307-318.