(Seychelles News Agency) - Excitement, exploration and interesting discoveries on the issue of environmental conservation and endemic species on Aldabra await a group of students who began their travels Monday morning.

The group of 11 students and their teachers left Mahe, the main island, for a five-day visit on the Aldabra Atoll, a trip that serves as the prize for winning the eco-school competition. The students are from Anse Etoile, Baie Lazare, Anse Royale, Beau Vallon, English River and Plaisance schools.

The Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), which manages the world heritage site, has sponsored the group for this once-in-a lifetime experience for those who have done well in educational environment programmes.

SIF’s Communication’s Officer Lynsey Rimbault says that the foundation is taking care of all the logistics for the trip with the support of the Ministry of Education.

Cheyenne Bristol and Jean-Yves Mancienne both from Anse Royale primary school have started their trip to Aldabra. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

“We have an exciting programme, with the whole team focusing on the kids; they will be doing land, and sea bird identification, fish identification, mangrove touring, snorkelling and walking in the lagoon, and they will also be camping out,” said Rimbault.

She added that all staff on the atoll will be ensuring that the students and their teachers spend a memorable time, not only exploring but learning as much as possible about the rich and unique environment of Aldabra.

The Aldabra atoll lies 1,120 kilometres south-west of the main island of Mahe and is considered one of the most biologically diverse and undisturbed raised coral atolls in the world, hence its UNESCO World Heritage Site status since 1982. It is classed as a strict nature reserve by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

11 students and their teachers left on Monday on a trip to Aldabra that serves as the prize for winning the eco-school competition. (SIF) Photo License: CC-BY

The trip is not only to get the students to learn more about the unique environment of Aldabra but also to share this world treasure to as much Seychellois as possible. As well as raising awareness on environment conservation and protection in general.

The eco-school programme promotes environment conservation and protection and sustainability, through activities such as rainwater harvesting, recycling, waste management, school garden and other green practices.

Sheyenne Bristol from Anse Royale and Liam Barbe from Anse Etoile primary schools said they are excited to discover the atoll, snorkel, swim among the baby sharks and discover much more from this adventure. They said it would be an exciting story to tell their family, friends and school mates.

The flight from Mahe to Assumption takes around two and a half hours, and from there the students will take a boat trip of one and half hour to Aldabra.